The ACT Blog: Action on Rural Poverty
5th December 2023
At our recent AGM, we shared our new statement of principles on rural poverty. The statement sets out our beliefs, how we support communities to take address poverty, how we champion locally led action and how we, as an organisation, continue to work towards the reduction of rural poverty. You can read our statements of principles here.
Nobody should be disadvantaged by where they live. Rural poverty can be hard to measure and hard to see, so in order to address it - we need to understand how it differs from poverty and disadvantage in urban areas. The rural idyll, beautiful scenery and plentiful holiday cottages can all create the impression that areas are affluent, so it’s important to look beyond this.
There are higher levels of ‘poverty denial’, self-reliance and stigma associated with rural poverty. It’s made worse by a lack of affordable housing, lower pay and higher levels of self-employment, poorer digital connectivity, lower benefit entitlement take-up, higher transport costs and poorer access to appropriate advice and information. Housing in rural areas is often less energy efficient (properties tend to be older and harder to insulate) and energy prices remain high - fuel poverty is an increasing issue.
There are many things that can be done, both in terms of tackling the root causes of rural poverty and helping those who are experiencing it. Rural proofing plays an important part, making sure that when ideas, policies and initiatives are developed, they are assessed and take into account the effects on rural areas. Sharing good practice and advocating on behalf of rural communities helps ensure that there is good knowledge and understanding about what can and needs to be done to reduce rural disadvantage.
At a local level, we see brilliant examples of how rural communities are taking care of each other. Once again we’re seeing Warm Spots setting up across the county, offering companionship and support. Warm Spots (or whatever the community decides to call them!) are places for everyone, those who need a bit of company, those who might need a bit of support – they reflect what people in the local community want and need. Some run all year round and others just over the darker, colder months when there are fewer activities happening in the area. Cumbria Community Foundation recently launched this years ‘Warm Spots Fund’ and you can find out more on their webpage. If you need any support to set up a Warm Spot in your local community, please get in touch with Jozi Brown, email: jozibrown@cumbriaaction.org.uk or telephone: 01768 425648