Regional Rural Network
The Regional Rural Network is a project developed jointly by Humber and Wolds Rural Community Council, Rural Action Yorkshire and the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Forum. The project is funded by the Big Lottery BASIS programme and will run from July 2009 to June 2013.
The project has three strategic aims:
• To ensure that the needs and priorities of all rural VCS organisations are effectively collated, analysed and represented.
• To increase the influence of front-line rural VCS organisations on regional policies, strategies and practices.
• To increase effective two-way communication and collaboration between specialist rural VCS organisations and the wider VCS infrastructure.
The project partners have identified the current lack of a comprehensive rural VCS voice which would articulate and represent the concerns, needs and priorities of the sector in Yorkshire and the Humber. In essence the project provides the staff resource and capacity to deliver its stated aims. Two members of staff (Sophie Price and Danielle Firholz) have been recruited within the partnership to undertake this work. The project staff, with the support of the three project partners, will develop and implement the following mechanisms and processes:
Consult rural VCS organisations - Project staff will create mechanisms for consulting front line groups in rural areas about their needs, concerns and priorities. Consultations will be both general (probably annually) and specific to emerging policy papers impacting on rural communities. When appropriate we will use focus groups or other events to facilitate discussions on specific policy consultations.
Enable rural VCS organisations to network - The project will establish and maintain a comprehensive regional rural network (RRN) that brings together the full range of VCS organisations in Yorkshire and the Humber that have an interest front-line VCS issues in rural areas. The project will develop and engage with a regional rural network ensure the rural voice is as comprehensive and effective as possible.
Ensure that issues which are specific to rural VCS organisations are taken into account by other specialist networks - The project will ensure that infrastructure organisations and networks whose primary focus is not rural become aware of the special needs and interests of front-line groups working in rural areas.
Inform and Influence policy-makers and regional stakeholders - By utilising the full range of existing channels known to the Regional Forum and the two Rural Community Coucils, and by developing new ones, the project will inform and influence regional organisations policies and structures to ensure that the voice of rural VCS groups and organisations is represented. This will ensure that there is a policy response from the rural VCS wherever this is thought appropriate.
Project Contacts (based at the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Forum in Leeds)
Sophie Price, Network Manager ((JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
Danielle Firholz, Policy Officer ((JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).