ruralnet|uk

Talk About Local at Collaborate|2009

Angela — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:11:23 +0000

ruralnet|uk is delighted to announce that Talk About Local an exciting new project from William Perrin will form one of the sessions at the one day Collaborate|2009 event on 25 June.

Talk About Local, backed by Screen West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands and 4IP the web venturing arm of Channel 4, is a unique empowerment project to help people find a voice online in their communities.

This will be just one of the sessions delegates can attend at ruralnet|uk’s third sector event Collaborate|2009 on 25 June. A limited number of FREE PLACES are still available, to secure your place simply book online putting AGB1606 in the booking refernce.

Village SOS

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:23:18 +0000

Village SOS is a major new initiative from the Big Lottery Fund and the BBC. They will be searching for six UK villages with a great enterprise idea to benefit their community. They are also looking for six enterprising individuals to act as Village Champions and help them achieve their ambitions. There will be a chance to show the nation, what villages can do with a community enterprise idea and what change it can achieve in rural areas.

To find out more, tune into the One Show on BBC One on 01, 02, 03 June at 7pm. if you miss the broadcasts, log on to Village SOS 01 June.

Last Chance to Apply to Nationwide Foundation

Angela — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:54:00 +0000

The Nationwide Foundation has launched a £3.2m grants programme for charities dealing with financial exclusion, housing issues and homelessness. The fund will be split between a small grants programme and an investor programme. The investor programme will offer three-year grants of up to £300,000 to charities with annual incomes of up to £10m. One-off grants of up to £5,000 for charities with incomes below £500,000 will be offered through the small grants programme. Charities offering financial and housing support to victims of domestic abuse and to elderly people will be the fund’s main beneficiaries.

Applications for the investor programme must be made by 31 May, but the small grants programme has no deadline. More information on the grant programme is available at: http://www.nationwidefoundation.org.uk/grants.asp

CRC Reports on Rural Financial Inclusion

Angela — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:11:51 +0000

Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has sent a report to Hilary Benn, Sectretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, outlining the impact of the recession on rural areas. The report highlights, amongst other things, the gulf between demand for and availability of debt advice and affordable credit in rural areas, focuses on specific policy issues and makes suggestions for Government actions.

The full report, which can be read here, will form part of Hilary Benn’s contribution to the National Economic Council which meets weekly to consider impacts of the recession and recovery measures.

Office of Third Sector to Address Collaborate|2009

Angela — Fri, 01 May 2009 11:50:34 +0000

Delegates to ruralnet|uk’s Collaborate|2009 event will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of Helen Stephenson, Deputy Director, Third Sector Support Team. Helen will address the morning plenary session, outlining the measures put in place by the department to help third sector organisations during the current economic hardships.

ruralnet|uk has been running the collaboration events since 2006, bringing together a range of third sector organisations to share new and innovative ways of working more effectively. This year’s event, supported by Charity Bank, will include:

Help from Business Link
The work of the Regional ICT Champions
Use of social media
Initiatives from Charity Bank
Collaboration for funding

An Early Booking discount rate of £40 (excl vat) is available until 25 May; thereafter a price of £55 (excl vat) will apply. Book now as places are strictly limited.

For further information please visit the Collaborate|2009 website

Book now for collaborate|2009

Angela — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:56:02 +0000

ruralnet|uk is pleased to confirm the date and location for its annual collaboration event. Collaborate|2009 will take place at The Dunchurch Parl Hotel, nr Rugby on 25 June.

Book now and save over 25%.

From now until the 25 May, places cost £40 (excl vat) - normal price £55 (excl vat)

Since 2006 the ruralnet|uk collaborate events have given third sector organisations the opportunity to discover new and innovative ways of collaborating, learn from case studies presented by peer organisations and develop new ideas and partnerships. Collaborate|2009 will be no exception!

Sessions this year include the help available from Business Link, how social media can help you reach new audiences and a way of earning money just by searching the internet. All this plus the chance to network with old and new friends over a delicious lunch.

For more details about the day and to reserve your place visit collaborate|2009

ruralnet|uk responds to call for Rural Broadband evidence

Angela — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:49:48 +0000

ruralnet|uk has responded to a request from Rural Service Network (RSN) for evidence on the impact of broadband in rural areas, by producing a fascinating report outlining the current situation facing thousands of individuals and organisations across rural Britain. RSN particularly wanted to know:

If the lack of availability of broadband in the UK is hampering service delivery in rural areas
What services cannot or are not being delivered due to the infrastructure contraints
Where there is innovation in services
What efficiencies have been obtained through increased online/digital delivery

Jane Berry who carried out the research and compiled the report said:

‘ruralnet|uk co-founded the Community Broadband Network in 2004, and it was great to re-visit some of the pioneers and find them still very active - but it was disappointing to see these rural community champions still battling to get the same coverage and bandwidth that those in urban areas can now take for granted.’

Read the full report below

Rural Broadband - response to a call for evidence

ruralnet|uk take VIP trip with Minister for a Digital Insight

Sam Adams — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:29:02 +0000

ruralnet|uk’s Simon Bland was amongst seven VIP guests to join Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, this week on a ‘digital fact-finding’ tour of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

The tour was organised by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) in the latest of a series of ‘Rural Experience’ visits designed to give senior executives an insight into rural issues.

Speaking ahead of the visit Hilary Benn said: “Technology has helped rural entrepreneurship to grow, and broadband is transforming lives, communities and jobs.

“I know that broadband is essential for rural communities and businesses. I will make sure that access for rural areas is central part of government plans for the future of broadband”

Read the full CRC press release below:

CRC Press Release - Rural Experience

Download the full report from the visit from the CRC website here.