CRC Work : Rural Advocate http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/projects/ruraladvocate/ en-us Copyright 2010 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:27:39 UT Latest items from Rural Advocate on http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:27:39 UT Rural Advocate report 2010 launched http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5521 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5521 Our Chairman and the Government's Rural Advocate, Dr Stuart Burgess, has launched his Rural Advocate Report 2010 to the Government today (Thursday 4 March).


This year’s report focuses on issues affecting children and young people living and working in rural England. Dr Burgess has outlined several issues affecting the sustainability of the countryside, substantiated with robust recommendations. The report also focuses on some examples of inspirational individuals who have overcome some of the challenges facing their communities.


Download the Rural Advocate report 2010

Download State of the Countryside Update: Children and educational services

Read the press release

]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:58:38 UT Rural Advocate visits flood devastated area of Cumbria http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5308 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5308 On Wednesday 25 November Dr. Stuart Burgess Chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities, and the Government’s Rural Advocate will be visiting Cockermouth in Cumbria to see first-hand the effects of the unprecedented levels of flooding in the area. He will be taking the opportunity to talk to local residents and businesses about how they are coping with the emergency.

The effects of the floods – on individuals, farmers, businesses, schools and voluntary and community groups – is likely to be felt for many months ahead.  The physical rebuilding and repair of buildings and transport infrastructure will inevitably take time.

Continued focus will be needed to ensure the needs and concerns of all communities – towns and outlying areas – are taken into account. Cooperation between Government, insurance companies and industry will be needed to ensure a timely response to the incident.

In his role as Rural Advocate Stuart will be reporting back to Government on what he has seen and heard during his visit on how people living and working in rural communities are being affected by the flooding.

]]> Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:50:12 UT Rural Advocate interviewed by Justin Griggs, NALC at the Rural Reception http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5171 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5171 NALC's Justin Griggs interviewed Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, on camera after our recent Rural Reception at the Conservative party conference. Stuart talks about his role and some of the issues facing rural communities.


Watch the interview with Stuart on YouTube


We also held Rural Receptions at the recent Liberal Democrat and Labour party conferences. The receptions were held to mark 100 years of rural representation at the heart of government.

]]> Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:58:58 UT Rural Advocate Visit to East Riding: Coastal Communities http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5169 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5169 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, will be visiting East Riding to investigate issues facing coastal communities.


]]> Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:51:11 UT Stuart Burgess, the Rural Advocate, interviewed in Regeneration & Renewal http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5158 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5158 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, has been interviewed in the latest issue of Regeneration & Renewal.


Stuart talks about the issues facing rural areas including hidden poverty, affordable housing and fibre broadband.


Download the Regeneration & Renewal interview with Stuart

]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:29:46 UT Rural Advocate visits County Durham to see initiatives to combat fuel poverty http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5102 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5102 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, is visiting Easington in County Durham today, to investigate the issues surround fuel poverty in rural areas.


Stuart will be meeting Durham County Council members and officials to explore measures to tackle fuel poverty:


“I am looking forward to visiting County Durham to see the progress that is being made to tackle rural fuel poverty. People in rural areas face many of the same causes of fuel poverty as their urban counterparts but there are also some additional challenges."

  • 1/4 of all those in fuel poverty live in rural areas

  • As many as 42% of rural homes are not connected to mains gas, have to rely on more expensive fuels and aren't eligible for ‘dual fuel’ discounts

  • 1/3 of rural homes have solid walls which more costly to insulate yet just 10% of Warm Front grants go there


The visit will also help identify identify locations to take part in a rural fuel poverty study & pilot scheme we're running with the Rural Services Network. The findings will be used to help us advise Government on ways of combating fuel poverty and addressing energy conservation.


Download the full press release for Stuart's fuel poverty visit to County Durham


]]> Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:45:18 UT Rural Advocate visit to County Durham: Fuel Poverty http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5071 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/5071 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, will be visiting Easington in County Durham to investigate the issues surround fuel poverty in rural areas.


]]> Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:23:35 UT Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Rural Advocate, made a CBE for public and voluntary service http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4682 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4682 We'd like to congratulate Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, who has been made a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for his public and voluntary service.


]]> Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:38:31 UT How flexible taxi services can help connect rural communities http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4681 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4681 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, is visiting Cumbria with the Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) to find out more about the Rural Wheels initiative, a shared taxi scheme that provides subsidised travel for rural communities.


CfIT will be launching a campaign supporting their report calling for Government to announce and fund a large-scale shared taxi project, ‘TaxiPlus’.


"Rural bus provision has declined steadily over the past twenty years. This, combined with a reduction in local services, such as post offices and shops, has resulted in poorer access to many facilities for the 9.5 million people living in rural England."


"Today’s visit will help us understand how community schemes like shared taxis can deliver cheaper, subsidised transport even in areas where there is currently none at all, allowing people better access to jobs and services, as well as reducing car dependence and cutting emissions."


Read the full press release

Find out more about the Rural Wheels initiative


]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:36:16 UT Rural Advocate visits Berwick-upon-Tweed to hear about impact of major life events http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4486 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4486 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, is visiting Berwick-upon-Tweed to find out more about the impacts of major life events on rural people and their service needs.


People in rural areas experiencing major life events are at risk from lack of access to services when they need them most.


Stuart will see a range of different projects including a cancer group, a carers’ organisation, a youth project and the local Citizens Advice Bureau, to see first-hand how people are coping with these situations.


Read the full press release

Find out more about our work on Major Life Events

]]> Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:27:51 UT Rural Advocate Visit to Berwick-upon-Tweed: Major Life Events http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4464 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4464 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, is visiting Berwick-upon-Tweed to find out more about the impacts of major life events on rural people and their service needs.


Stuart's findings will inform our Major Life Events project which is examining those impacts and taking a practical and positive approach, looking for solutions to providing fair access to services for rural communities.


Find out more about our Major Life Events project


]]> Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:58:55 UT Rural Advocate Visit: Employment, Skills and Economic Wellbeing http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4456 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4456 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, will be visiting Derbyshire to explore issues of employment, skills and economic wellbeing.

]]> Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:52:33 UT Rural Advocate visits Duke of Westminster’s Forest of Bowland estate to hear upland views http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4419 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4419 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, is visiting farmers on the Duke of Westminster’s Abbeystead Estate to collect evidence for our inquiry into the challenges facing upland communities.


As well as meeting tenant farmers, he'll attend a meeting with other hill farmers, businesses and local community representatives from across Lancashire. The Duke of Westminster is joining Stuart on the visit:


"The traditional rural land uses of hill farming and shooting have shaped the Bowland landscape. "

"The challenge facing policy makers today is sustaining the rural economy, communities and businesses and determining the role for these tried and tested management systems."

“I hope that the views and opinions aired at the inquiry will form a basis for policy to support and strengthen the future for England's upland communities.”


Read the full press release

Find out more about our inquiry and how you can contribute


]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:51:40 UT Rural Advocate visit to Forest of Bowland: Upland farming communities http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4398 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4398 Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, is visiting farmers on the Duke of Westminster’s Abbeystead Estate to collect evidence for our inquiry into the challenges facing upland communities.


As well as meeting tenant farmers, Stuart will attend a meeting with other invited hill farmers, businesses and local community representatives from further afield across Lancashire.


Find out more about our Upland Communities inquiry


]]> Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:21:40 UT Sport England investing in sporting opportunities for rural communities http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4181 http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk/items/4181 Sport England have unveiled a £10 million investment fund that will create sporting opportunities for people in rural areas. It's the first in a series of themed funding rounds and will open for business on 1 April 2009.


People in rural communities have been chosen by Sport England for the first round because they face particular barriers to participating in sport, such as reduced choice in the sports available to them and transportation issues getting to and from facilities.


Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate, welcomes the announcement:

“I am delighted Sport England is investing such a substantial sum in our rural communities. This will come as a welcome boost to people living in rural areas facing a tough time in the teeth of the recession. I hope the funding will bring forward many creative ideas that will help overcome barriers, such as access to transport, that rural people face in taking part in sport.”


Find our more about Sport England and their funding programmes


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