Image credit: Carnegie UK Trust (from the Rural Manifesto Report published today)
The experiences of pioneering rural communities in championing sustainable lifestyles can inspire neighbourhoods everywhere according to a report published today by the Carnegie UK Trust, building on evidence gathered through a collaboration with Big Lottery Fund and forty-four organisations and communities on the front line.
The report can be downloaded from here.
Kate Braithwaite, Director of Carnegie’s Rural Programme said: “although this report draws on innovative ideas from rural communities, it is relevant to neighbourhoods everywhere. All communities are increasingly faced with radical change where there are no existing solutions. We need new structures and new thinking to achieve our vision for the future”.
Gerald Oppenheim, Director of Policy and Partnerships at Big Lottery Fund said: ” This report examines some of the most pressing challenges facing rural communities. The findings provide a rich source of inspiration and action for policy makers and funders.”
Key findings from the Manifesto suggest:
- New entrepreneurial organisations like development trusts are flourishing but elected representatives have to collaborate more
- In times of austerity application of locally raised finance needs to be allied with funding redistributed from large regeneration programmes
- Communities play a growing role in delivering tailor-made rural services
- A realisation that the pursuit of growth is not everything: ‘well being’ matters
- Without a sense of place it is difficult for people to feel like they belong
- In terms of infrastructure, distributed and localised solutions to rural affordable housing and transport are leading the way
- Rural communities are guardians of food, energy, water resources for all of us
