CRC Work : Young People in Rural Areas

CRC launches ‘Insights from users and providers of Children’s Centres in rural communities’

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:58:40 UT

For many children and young people, the idyll of living in the countryside is far from the reality. Their remoteness from essential services is often made worse because of limited access to transport and the hidden disadvantages which affect poorer families.

The study published today highlights the barriers and solutions to the provision of children’s services in rural areas, raising important issues for providers and funders around accessibility, provision of employment and training, isolation and poverty.

The research was undertaken for the CRC by Capacity Ltd, with expert advice from the Coalition for Rural Children and Young People. The work of selected children’s centres was profiled and analysed against local health, education, employment, transport and social conditions. The centres involved were:

My Start Children’s Centre: Ilfracombe, Devon (Action for Children)
Millom Children’s Centre: Cumbria (Action for Children)
Wiveliscombe Children’s Centre: Somerset (The Children’s Society)
Wainfleet Children’s Centre: Lincolnshire (Local authority-managed

The report’s author, Margaret Lochrie, stated that; “While children’s centres are doing a good job, they could have an important role to play in helping out-of-work families to gain and sustain employment, including more support for parents to gain qualifications, helping with transport, advising on benefits and tax credits, and helping to create local enterprise.”

Children's Centres provide access to a range of community health services: parenting and family support, outreach services, early education and childcare, and links to training and employment opportunities for families with children under five. They are a key mechanism for improving outcomes for young children, while reducing inequalities, and helping to bring an end to child poverty.

Read our summary document on Capacity's 'Peace and quiet disadvantage: insights from users and providers of children’s centres in rural communities' publication.

Read the full press release.

'Whatever, yeah?' Local councils and youth provision

Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:34:34 UT

We've supported a new NALC publication 'Whatever, yeah? Local councils and youth provision' highlighting some of the innovative approaches local councils are taking to better represent and involve young people.

Local councils have the advantage of being the tier of local government closest to the community and in the best position to understand its needs and respond to them. Engaging young people is a key concern for a great many local councils.

Positive engagement can help young people feel more integrated into the community, help them to make a positive contribution and reduce instances of anti-social behaviour often caused simply out of boredom. NALC’s new publication highlights six innovative approaches to youth provision from across the country.

Visit NALC's website to read the full press release or download a copy of 'Whatever, yeah? Local councils and youth provision'

Young People Making a Difference - The Social Inclusion of Rural Youth

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:16:48 UT

We're sponsoring this Rural Youth Network conference highlighting the contribution young people can make to rural communities, through community planning, participation and empowerment.

'Young people making a difference - the social inclusion of rural youth' will provide a platform to share good practice from around the country, in addressing the challenges of social inclusion of young people in rural areas.

Visit the Rural Youth Network website to find out more and book your place

Rural Advocate visit: 'Growing up in 21st Century Rural England' - child poverty and disadvantage

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:48:10 UT

Stuart Burgess, our chair and the Government's Rural Advocate,is visiting Norfolk to visit a range of projects which will highlight the challenges and successes of working with disadvantaged children in rural England.

Organised in partnership with the Coalition for Children and Young People, the two day visit is focusing on child poverty and disadvantage in rural areas.

As well as visiting projects including a Children's centre, mobile service for young people and a young parents project, Stuart will be talking to families about financial poverty.

The Coalition for Rural Children and Young People brings together large national charities working with the most disadvantaged children, young people and families in both urban and rural areas. Coalition members are The Children’s Society, National Children's Bureau, NCH, NSPCC and The Prince's Trust.

Possible Rural School Closures

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:38:14 UT

Press reports over the past few days have highlighted the threat of possible rural school closures.

Although Government policy is a presumption against the closure of rural schools, some local authorities are reviewing the situation in the light of falling pupil numbers.

We're continuing to work with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and others to reinforce the evidence on the impact of school closures on rural communities.

Stuart Burgess, our chair and the government's Rural Advocate, has responded to the press reports:

"The closure of village schools is not an attack on country life but a challenge to both central and local Government. The Commission for Rural Communities has monitored the rate of closure of rural schools and has seen it fall from an average of 35 per year in the mid 1990s to around 5 per year in the past decade."

"However, the current round of closures has brought into sharp focus the need for central Government to address funding, demographic changes, falling school rolls and the role that village schools play in their community. For example, the current Department for Children, Schools and Families funding formula is not transparent and discriminates against rural schools because it does not fully take into account the additional cost of delivering accessible education in rural areas."

"In the case of local Government declining pupil numbers mean they face difficult decisions with limited freedom of movement. They have a responsibility to create sustainable rural communities which meet the changing needs of young and old alike and they need central Government support in managing finances flexibly to this end."

"Given the current situation of rapidly falling pupil numbers we are concerned that rural schools do not bear the brunt of action to reduce surplus places and we urge the government to continue to maintain its commitment to both rural schools and rural communities."

His letter has now been published in the Telegraph