Our Work
ACRE aims to help develop and sustain vibrant rural communities. To help achieve this, we work closely with members of the Rural Community Action Network (RCAN). Our work with a wide range of statutory and voluntary partners ensures a national platform for the work of our members. Through this partnership work, ACRE brings the knowledge and experience of RCAN’s dedicated rural practitioners into the sphere of policy making at national, regional and local levels.
One of ACRE’s primary functions, national advocacy, relies on understanding how best to connect rural needs and opportunities into national policy arenas. ACRE’s national involvement spreads across social, environmental and economic aspects of work, creating multiple partnerships with statutory and third sector partners. We work with a wide range of partners, including being an active member of the Community Sector Coalition and the newly formed Rural Coalition. We are active in a wide range of areas to support work with communities, such as providing guidance on Community Led Planning, promoting Community Assets and highlighting the need for appropriate services and affordable housing in rural communities. Our technical advice is offered through various means, including the Community Led Planning toolkit, village hall information sheets, specialist guidance, technical advice on licensing issues and representation to funders such as the Big Lottery Fund. The following pages highlight our work in specific areas.
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| Climate Change The climate change pages highlight some of the issues facing rural communities and also give examples of how RCAN members are currently working with communities to address the challenges they face. For more information on our approach and examples of some of the solutions provided through RCAN members take a look. |
| Community Assets All facilities that are owned and managed by rural communities are classed as community assets. The best known community asset is usually the village hall held on a charitable trust and managed by a committee of volunteers. ACRE provides comprehensive Village Hall information and Advice for RCAN members. |
| Community Led Planning Community Led Planning (CLP) is a step-by-step process that enables every citizen to participate in, and contribute to improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of their local area. These pages show how CLP can enable communities to take action for themselves and explain the support needed for this to happen. |
| Rural Services Rural communities have experienced significant social change over the last couple of decades. ACRE and RCAN work a cross a wide spectrum on issues to support the development of sustainable rural communities. This section of the website features information on transport, housing, broadband, children and young people, older people, broadband, social inclusion and sustainable communities. |
| The ACRE Standards The ACRE Standard is endorsed by the Charity Commission and contains requirements that define organisational good practice for RCAN Members. The standards cover 9 areas of good practice. All RCAN members are assessed against the 3 progressive levels of The ACRE Standard, more information can be found here. |
| Collaboration Benefits Collaboration Benefits was one of the National Support Services, funded by Capacitybuilders, which ran until April 2011. Its aim was to promote and support collaborative working. ACRE undertook the rural strand of this programme, developing an approach to building parish partnerships in 5 areas across the country. |
| COMMA Since 2007 ACRE has delivered this annual grants programme funded by Defra’s Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF). In 2010 we distributed £500,000 to support community projects in settlements affected by the impacts of quarrying. |
| Policy Position Papers ACRE has produced a series of Policy Position Papers looking the key challenges faced by rural communities and how the Rural Community Action Network (RCAN) can provide solutions and help shape rural communities in the future. The most recent publication sets out our vision for the implementation of the Big Society in rural areas. |
| Resources This part of our website compiles ACRE's resources in one place. Including briefings, case studies and village hall publications. |
