Rural Services Network
The national champion for rural services, dedicated to championing the rights, needs, and potential of rural communities across England. 🔗 linktr.ee/ruralservicesnetwork
- Community-owned pubs are keeping rural places alive – but @plunkettuk.bsky.social warns the government’s new business rates discount won’t address the pressures they face. Plunkett is calling for more ambitious, long-term support for community ownership. ➡️ plunkett.co.uk/government-p...
- The #WarmHomesPlan aims to upgrade up to 5 million homes by 2030, but rural housing needs tailored solutions to make it work. Find out more 👇 rsnonline.org.uk/warm-homes-p...
- 💷Rural residents will continue to pay around 20% more in council tax on average than urban residents, because of lower Government-funded spending power. (RSN analysis) ➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-serious-... #FairFunding #DeliveringForAll
- 📊The Funding gap between places remains stark. Our analysis shows the most urban councils will receive 41% more Government-funded spending power per head than the most rural in 2026–27. ➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-serious-... #FairFunding #DeliveringForAll
- Join our Team! Thank you @countrysidejobs.bsky.social for sharing this fantastic opportunity within our team. Find out more 👇
- ⏳Last chance! Our Delivering for All survey closes tomorrow. 8–10 mins. Anonymous. Make your rural voice count. 👇 www.surveymonkey.com/r/delivering...
- A fair funding formula must be transparent, evidence-based and work for rural areas too. Read our full analysis 👇 rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-serious-... #FairFunding #ProvisionalSettlement #DeliveringForAll #LocalGovernment
- Call for Evidence: The Government is seeking evidence to inform a major review led by Alan Milburn on rising youth NEET levels. Rural challenges, from transport to digital access, must be part of the picture. 🗓 Deadline: 30 Jan 2026 🔗 rsnonline.org.uk/call-for-evi...
- 📊 Taking place now: the Sparse Group (Fair Funding) meeting is discussing the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and what it means for rural councils. With insights from Adrian Jenkins, Pixel Financial Management #FairFunding #RuralServices #DeliveringForAll
- Devon County Council has responded to the provisional local government finance settlement, cautioning that headline claims of a “23% increase” in funding are misleading. Noting that Core Spending Power includes assumed council tax rises rather than representing new government funding.
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- 🚨With less than a week to go, we encourage members to submit their responses to the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2026/27 consultation by 14 January. ➡️ consult.communities.gov.uk/local-govern... #FairFunding #DeliveringForAll
- Suffolk County Council says the provisional settlement leaves it “deeply disappointed”, with a £6m budget gap which is £3.5m worse than forecast. More ⬇️ www.suffolk.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news/statement-on-provisional-local-government-finance-settlement-202627
- Shropshire Council has raised serious concerns about the provisional local government finance settlement, warning that the #FairFundingReview will leave rural authorities worse off. Full response here ⬇️ newsroom.shropshire.gov.uk/2025/12/shro...
- Early analysis of the Provisional Settlement suggests ongoing disparities: • Urban councils could receive 41% more Gov funded spending power per head • Rural residents projected to pay 20% more in council tax • Funding growth: 21% urban vs 1% rural More➡️ bit.ly/49eLxJ2
- 🎄 Merry Christmas 🎄 Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a warm, hopeful New Year. Thank you for being part of our rural community. 💚 www.rsnonline.org.uk
- Devolution could unlock affordable homes in rural England but only if rural priorities are written into local strategies. New research from the #RuralHousingNetwork shows how local leadership, strong partnerships & early action can make the difference. ➡️ englishrural.org.uk/devolution-r...
- Our thanks to everyone who attended the RSN & RSP AGM today. It was an important opportunity to review our work over the year and agree future priorities. We are pleased to confirm Cllr Phillips has been re-elected as RSN Chair for a fourth year. #DeliveringForAll #RuralServices
- Our final RSN #MemberExclusiveSeminar of 2025 is underway, focusing on Rural Health & Care. We're hearing from Citizens Advice, The Churchill Fellowship, @harperadamsuni.bsky.social & the Lincoln Institute for Rural & Coastal Health. #DeliveringForAll #RuralHealth
- RSN Responds To Fair Funding 2.0: Every person, in every place, deserves the same fairness and the same chance to thrive. ➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/rsn-responds...
- Exciting news! The CCRI will soon be releasing ‘The Rural Climathon Toolkit’, a comprehensive guide to organising your own rural #Climathons - launching 26th Nov2025 📷 Interested? Stay tuned for the toolkit launch, coming soon... ccri.ac.uk
- We’re disappointed that today’s policy statement fails to apply the remoteness adjustment across all services. Distance & sparsity clearly increase the cost of delivering local services in rural areas. We’ll share more once we’ve examined the detail. ➡️ bit.ly/4i7lkAg #FairFunding #RuralServices
- Will rural communities benefit from the Government’s new 10-year affordable homes programme? 📌 rsnonline.org.uk/a-decade-of-... #RuralPolicy #RuralHousing #DeliveringForAll
- We’re pleased to have worked with @countrysidejobs.bsky.social to highlight how fair policy for rural workers can unlock the countryside’s potential. Rural areas contribute £19 billion to the economy each year, yet still face higher costs and lower funding. Read more 👇
- Thank you to everyone who joined today's SPARSE Rural (Fair Funding) meeting, an engaging discussion on how remoteness impacts local service delivery and funding for rural councils. ▶️ rsnonline.org.uk/delivering-f... #DeliveringForAll #RuralEconomy #Rural
- 📊The new English Indices of Deprivation 2025 include, for the first time, a Rural Supplementary Report, recognising that deprivation in rural areas can be harder to see and measure. ➡️Read more: rsnonline.org.uk/new-imd-ackn... #RuralData #DeliveringForAll #RuralFairFunding
- Thanks to everyone who joined our RSN Member Exclusive Seminar on #RuralPlanning🏡 From trees in our landscapes to planning reform, digital engagement & affordable housing , discussion was packed with insight, challenge & inspiration for shaping thriving rural places. @cprecountryside.bsky.social
- RABI has launched its 2025–2030 strategy to close the wellbeing gap for farming people, focusing on prevention, access to support, and stronger community resilience. ➡️Read more: rsnonline.org.uk/rabi-launche... #ruralresilience #ruraleconomies #ruralcommunities
- 🏡£45m boost for rural affordable housing in Cumbria! Eden Housing will use new funding to build and improve homes across the Eden Valley and North Lakes, supporting tenants and tackling rural housing need. 🔗 rsnonline.org.uk/eden-housing... #Ruralhousing #DeliveringForAll #RuralEconomy
- Digital innovation has huge potential to improve rural health but only if solutions fit local needs. A new NICRE led project is exploring how to make that happen 👇 nicre.co.uk/news/2025/oc...
- Rural councils shoulder greater delivery costs across dispersed communities, yet funding systems still fail to reflect this. #Fairfunding must recognise real need and ensure every community has equal access to quality local services. rsnonline.org.uk/rural-counci... #FundingReform #DeliveringForAll
- 🏠 Findings from @healthequals.bsky.social show that more than 1 in 4 people in the UK live in homes with damp, mould or cold, putting their health at risk. In rural areas, older housing, higher fuel costs and off-grid homes make things worse. 🔗 Read more: bit.ly/3JzPwao
- Funding boost for rural pubs 🍻 £440,000 will help community pubs diversify and serve local needs, from cafés & play areas to village shops. Every £1 invested creates £8 in social value! #PubIsTheHub Read more ➡️ rsnonline.org.uk/funding-boos... #RuralEconomy #RuralCommunities
- Rural residents: Your experience matters! Take 10–15 minutes to complete Rural England CIC’s Energy & Water Use Questionnaire before it closes 24 October 2025. Your responses will help researchers understand how rural households manage energy & water. 👇 app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leicester/...
- Community transport is not just about movement, it’s about access, inclusion & opportunity. Everyone deserves to reach work, school, healthcare and community life, no matter where they live. #ctweek25 ➡️https://rsnonline.org.uk/more-than-a-minibus-the-reality-of-rural-transport
- We’re on board for #CTWeek25! We’re joining Community Transport Association in celebrating the impact of #CommunityTransport across the UK 🚗🚐 #MoreThanAMinibus
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- The RSN has joined over 40 organisations calling on the Government to unfreeze Local Housing Allowance in the forthcoming Budget. Frozen rates mean support no longer reflects real rents, leaving many rural tenants facing shortfalls & hardship.➡️ bit.ly/3J2Xclk #RuralHousing #DeliveringForAll
- 💬Everybody deserves a safe, affordable home, in every part of the country. The £84m homelessness funding is welcome, but rural areas must not be overlooked. Hidden homelessness in the countryside must be recognised and addressed. www.gov.uk/government/n... #RuralHomelessness #DeliveringForAll
- A powerful coalition of more than 30 organisations, including the RSN, has come together to urge Government to safeguard the future of planning & ensure we have the planners needed to deliver homes, net zero, nature recovery and thriving communities. ➡️ rtpi.org.uk/levelseven
- It is the final day of #RuralConference2025 – this morning we focus on Rural Health and Care, tackling inequalities and building resilience with @newcastleuni.bsky.social, The Churchill Fellowship, Lancaster University, University of Lancashire and Young Somerset. #RuralHealth #RuralCare
- 📢We’ve launched our #DeliveringForAll survey at the #RuralConference25! Your views on housing, health, transport, connectivity & more will shape future policy. 📝 8–10 mins | Anonymous | Real impact 👉Take the survey: bit.ly/3VlVq1i ➡️ Read more: bit.ly/41WiWFK
- Day2️⃣of the National Rural Conference is underway with CCRI, Thakeham (Plunkett UK), ACRE and Hastoe Housing. This morning’s focus: Rural Housing & Planning – a critical issue shaping the future of our communities. #RuralConference25 #RuralPolicy #RuralHousing
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- ⏳ Deadline alert! The Fair Funding 2.0 consultation closes tomorrow at 11.59pm. The RSN will be submitting our response – make sure your rural voice is heard too. 📌Read more here: bit.ly/4oB0fAZ #RuralEconomy #DeliveringForAll #FairFunding
- 📢 Should where you’re born limit your potential? RSN Chief Executive, Kerry Booth explores the challenges facing young people in rural areas – and what must change to ensure everyone, everywhere, has the chance to succeed. 🔗Read the piece: bit.ly/3TC16TI #SocialMobility #RuralProsperity
- 🏦 Rural bank closures are back in the spotlight. RSN Chief Exec Kerry Booth spoke to Sky News and MPs raised the issue in Parliament recently. Access to cash, transport & digital exclusion are real concerns. 📣 How is your community being affected? 👉 rsnonline.org.uk/spotlight-on...
- Thank you to our members who joined today’s RSN Member Induction & BT Digital Switchover event! We look forward to welcoming more at next week’s session. #RuralCommunities #DigitalSwitchover #RSNEvents
- Be inspired by @plunkettuk.bsky.social's Impact Report 2025. ❓Did you know community businesses have, on average, a five-year survival rate of 99%. This is radically higher than the 39% survival rate of private small and medium enterprises over the same period. ⏩ plunkett.co.uk/be-inspired-...
- 🚀 Connectivity fuels economic opportunity. Mobile UK's latest report highlights key actions the UK must take to strengthen mobile networks—including for rural communities. 🔗Read More: www.rsnonline.org.uk/turning-connectivity-into-economic-opportunity #Connectivity #EconomicGrowth #RuralProsperity
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- Rural councils are under financial strain—rising costs, hidden deprivation, and stretched services. The Govt says funding reform is coming. RSN says: it must deliver for rural communities. 📢 Consultation opens in June. 📰 Read the update: bit.ly/4dozbzO #FairFunding
- 🌿Mental health matters—wherever you live. @worcesteruni.bsky.social has secured £2.2m to launch a new Rural Mental Health Research Unit which will tackle mental health inequalities and improve support for rural areas. 🔗 bit.ly/43mctDX #MentalHealth #RuralHealth #HealthInequality
