RMTG member organisations can book up to 2 places on each of the RSN seminars.

This meeting is open to all RMTG members and will be an opportunity for member councils to network, share best practice and develop the rural market town collective voice.

This meeting will include a group discussion around the key issues and opportunities facing rural market towns.

We would love to hear about any projects you have been involved in. 

If you would like to share a project or success story, please contact us events@sparse.gov.uk by Monday 2nd March. 

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of The Rural Services Network has written to the Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, to raise serious concerns about the removal of the remoteness adjustment from the new Local Government Funding Formula.

Our open letter highlights the significant impact this decision will have on rural and remote councils, where distance, sparsity and limited infrastructure already drive up the cost of delivering essential services. It sets out why recognising remoteness is vital for fairness, service sustainability, and the health of the rural economy. Click Here

Tens of thousands of pensioners and children will be forced through their doors this Christmas.

New figures from Trussell reveal a sharp rise in the need for winter food parcels compared to five years ago.

• Food banks in the Trussell community expect to provide a food parcel every 10 seconds this winter.
• Over a quarter of a million food parcels were provided for children last winter – that's over one  in every three parcels, according to new figures.
• The level of support provided by food banks to people aged 65 and over last winter was three times higher (over 24,000 parcels) than what it was before the pandemic.
• Food banks in the Trussell community have seen a 40% increase in overall parcels provided over the winter period, compared with five years ago.

The Rural Services Network has put together an initial overview of the Government’s 2025 Budget, highlighting the headline measures and the early implications for rural areas across energy, transport, housing, public services, skills and local government funding.

At this stage, many Budget announcements remain broad and high-level, and further guidance will be needed to understand how they will operate in practice. Our overview therefore focuses on the immediate issues that stand out for rural communities, with fuller analysis to follow once more detail is released.
Read More

The Government has launched a major consultation on Exploring the Role of Alternative Clean Heating Solutions.  

We encourage RSN members to review the consultation, participate and share your insights, particularly around what this means for rural, off-gas and hard-to-treat homes. Your experience on the ground is essential in shaping fair, practical and workable policy.

The consultation closes at 11.59PM on 10 February 2026.

The number of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) has reached 638,000, and is projected to rise to almost 840,000 by 2029, an increase of 32% in just four years. Councils say the system was never designed for this level of need, with families facing long waits and a 55% rise in tribunal appeals over the past year. Read More

The finalists for the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Star Council Awards 2025/26 have now been announced following a rigorous assessment process and a record number of nominations from across England.

The awards celebrate excellence and innovation across the parish and town council sector, recognising councils, councillors, county associations and clerks who demonstrate outstanding leadership, commitment and positive community impact. Winners will be announced at NALC's Parliamentary Reception on 24 February 2026 at the House of Lords, where finalists will gather to celebrate their achievements.  Read More

DIGITAL DIVIDE - THE ACCESS FOUNDATION

The Access Foundation awards grants to support charities and CICs to mitigate the digital divide by making IT facilities, support and learning available to disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

They generally award grants between £10,000 and £50,000. This funding will normally support a project that lasts no more than a year. Applications are welcomed from a number of countries, including the UK. Find out more here.

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