ACRE

We are excited to share a comprehensive new report by Rural England C.I.C, "Socio-Economic Change and Challenges in Rural Small Towns." This pivotal study examines the profound changes in rural economies and communities, highlighting the urgent need for targeted government support. Join the discussion on how we can drive sustainable growth in these vital areas. 📌 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eBmx2DqZ 🌍 #RuralEconomy #Sustainability #RuralTowns #RuralProsperity

Save the date! We are thrilled to announce the return of Village Halls Week from March 17-23, 2025 🎉 We are working with Action for Rural Communities in England, SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations), Community Enterprise, the TSI Network, the Scottish Community Alliance, Scottish rural network and others to make this the best UK-wide Village Halls Week ever! 🙌    Thanks to sponsorship from Utility Aid, rural community buildings in both countries are being offered free resources including bunting, badges and posters to help them hold local events and draw attention to their good work. Find out more about the campaign here: https://lnkd.in/ecMYHeUR. Register here to get free merchandise: https://lnkd.in/ev4dD3mW. #VillageHallsWeek2025

Well, That Was Hard… Leaving the Board of ACRE after seven years has been a sad experience. It has been a great pleasure to serve on this board, particularly with the incredible people involved. I fondly remember starting alongside Louise Beaton, and working with Richard Quallington, the former CEO, David Emerson CBE, the former Chairman, and the current CEO Corinne Pluchino and Chairman James Blake During my time on the board, I learned several important lessons about rural communities: No two rural places are the same: When you've seen one rural place, you've seen one rural place. Each community is unique, with its own set of challenges and opportunities. The English Rural_Urban classification identifies 8 different categories of rural settlement, but this is only the start of setting out just how diverse rural places are. Politics often trumps facts: Key decision-makers are often more persuaded by the political implications of supporting rural communities than by the facts. This makes lobbying for rural areas tricky, as only a small percentage of the population lives in rural places. In 2020, 21.3% of the England population lived in predominantly rural areas. Rural communities are innovative and dynamic: The distance from services makes people more imaginative, which is why social enterprises work so well in rural places.  Michael Winter’s wonderful (if now quite aged) literature review of the rural economy still resonates through the way it sets this all out. Health challenges in rural areas: Rural people live on average longer, but this often leads to neglect in understanding and communicating the real health challenges around loneliness, mental health, and a lack of adequate social care. Over half of the population in rural England will be over 65 by 2039. Access to the countryside: It is often assumed that people in rural areas have access to the countryside, but this is not always the case. The huge agenda around renewables infrastructure is going to involve some really unpleasant trade offs for rural people in accommodating all the kit required to manage a “just” transition. I don’t think we have thought anywhere nearly enough about this issue. Village Halls are the lifeblood of rural communities: These spaces are not trivial; they are essential for community cohesion and activities. They provide a venue for social, educational, and recreational activities, which are crucial for the well-being of rural residents. During my time at ACRE, I also served on the Board of Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire. I shall be very sad to leave that role as well and wish Jenny, Alex, and the Chair Adam all the best for the future. As I move forward, apart from my two current jobs and ongoing service on two other boards, I find myself pondering: how should I fill my time?

As the days get colder & the nights draw in, many #villagehall committees will be wondering what they can do to make their building more energy efficient ❄️ Earlier in the year we published an excellent #NetZero design guide authored by Ben Stagg. This provided a commentary on how to go about refurbishment projects drawing on the experiences of six pioneering communities, as well as information on the technology that can be deployed. It was very kindly sponsored by Baxi Heating UK, FAKRO GB, Heatable, Herschel Infrared Heaters, Knauf Insulation UK & Ireland, Selectaglaze Ltd, Utility Aid, & ZOLB EV DOWNLOAD: https://lnkd.in/egHyFmPw