Latest News.....

Review of the Rural Community Buildings Loan Fund ACRE has released a review of the Rural Community Buildings Loan Fund.  Managed by ACRE and overseen by Defra the loan fund is unique in providing small short term loan funding for all types of rural community buildings.  This review demonstrates the value of the loan fund for volunteers managing refurbishment, extension and new building projects in today’s funding environment. View here

ACRE Briefing:  Workhubs – flexible space for micro enterprises

Workhubs are office centres offering flexible work spaces as and when micro-businesses and home and mobile workers need them. view ACREbriefing

“DO or DIE” Challenge for Rural Communities

The Rural Coalition, under the chairmanship of Lord Matthew Taylor, has launched its report: The Rural Challenge – Achieving sustainable rural communities for the 21st Century.  This report follows on from their last publication, The future is rural too, published in September 2009. 

Sylvia Brown, ACRE’s Chief Executive, said: “Rural communities already demonstrate the Big Society in action, but with a supportive context set by central and local government, they can and will do far more to respond to new opportunities. We are pleased to see the Rural Coalition’s backing for using the principles of Community Led Planning to help local people decide on how they can better meet their aspirations.”

ACRE is a founder member of the Rural Coalition.

Click here for press release and the full report.

New Policy Position Paper, Implementing the Big Society ACRE’s new policy position paper considers rural implementation of the Big Society initiatives and how, if implemented appropriately, they could open up significant opportunities for communities to secure a more sustainable future.  The risks inherent in decentralising the planning system, the Right to Build, Buy and Bid, as well as the Community Organisers scheme, are outlined alongside ways of ensuring implementation delivers best value in the outcomes that communities can achieve through these measures.

‘Community benefits’ funding awarded to local groups by ACRE

Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), and members of the Rural Community Action Network (RCAN), have announced grant awards to 57 local community organisations, totalling £437,500 under this year’s COMMA fund.

COMMA, the Community Aggregates Fund, aims to compensate communities affected by quarrying, by supporting community-based projects in their area. A record 287 applications were submitted this year. The 57 successful projects, all undertaken by local people themselves, received grants of between £3,000 and £20,000. Please follow the link to view the full press release

New Policy Position Papers

ACRE has added three new resources to its current suite of Policy Position Papers. Digital Inclusion, Social Inclusion and Sustainable Development are now available for download. These papers take a look at how rural communities are addressing these key areas; backed up with case studies they set out the issues and the solutions developed by communities, for communities. view here

Affordable housing keeps villages alive Many villages face a challenging future - with local services under threat as people are priced out of rural communities. ACRE and members of the Rural Community Action Network have contributed to this joint publication led by the National Housing Federation with support from the Commission for Rural Communities and other national rural-focused organisations.  view more here

Defra Abolishes Commission for Rural Communities

The Defra Secretary of State announced on 29 June 2010 that The Commission for Rural Communities will be abolished.  Whilst paying tribute to the work of CRC and the Rural Advocate in acting as a champion and helping shape national policy, she said in her statement that the Government believes policy advice should be carried out by Departments, not arms length bodies. Defra will, therefore, reinforce its capacity to undertake rural work within the Department; a strengthened Rural Communities Policy Unit will work across Government to ensure that the interests of rural communities are fully reflected in policies and programmes.

The Secretary of State said ‘We are committed to improving the quality of life for those living in rural areas and we will put the fair treatment of rural communities at the centre of Government. Focusing rural policy making within the department will give rural communities and interest groups a direct link to central policymakers and a stronger champion for rural issues at the heart of Government’.

The full Ministerial announcement is at  http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/2010/06/29/agencies-shake-up/

New Report: The economic impact of community buildings in rural communities

ACRE has now released the first in a series of Reports analysing data from their survey of rural community buildings; it examines the economic impact of community buildings in rural communities.  The Report demonstrates the significance of investment in rural community buildings in terms of employment  and finance and considers less tangible impacts on rural communities.   The Key Findings Report was launched in Westminster in November 2009.

view report here

ACRE and AMT to examine how local authorities can make the most of Community Led Planning and promote the Big Society

Government sponsored project will draw upon existing resources and best practice from across England and result in a practical guide for local authorities read more...

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