2. Public Policy, Grass Roots Action Major social policy influences and initiatives Characteristics of rural communities Putting policy into practice Sylvia Brown Chief Executive, ACRE

3. ACRE Sep 20032 Major Social Policy Initiatives Treasury Review of the Role of the Voluntary Sector  Infrastructure Strategy  Funding and Procurement  Social Enterprise  Volunteering  ‘Quality Governance’ in the sector Rural Delivery  Service delivery in rural areas  Social Exclusion in rural areas  Rural programme delivery

4. ACRE Sep 20033 Functions of Infrastructure: VCS Infrastructure Review Functions Developmental support Information and Advice Advocacy Partnership building / Brokerage Policy and research Key Themes  Volunteering  Black & Minority Ethnic communities  Social & community enterprise  Community development  Rural communities  Information and comms technology

5. ACRE Sep 20034 Characteristics of Rural Communities Small communities, lack of critical mass, dispersion and insularity Lack of facilities; higher cost of access or provision Higher reliance on voluntary and community activity Different structures in governance, funding and support infrastructure to most urban areas Need for ‘whole community’ approaches and different approach to public service delivery Lack of connection, influence and professionalism Distinctiveness and dispersion of rural social exclusion.

6. ACRE Sep 20035 The role of Infrastructure in rural areas Universal support for groups, communities and individuals Delivery or connections with specialist infrastructure Strengthen or build the capacity of:  Local community organisations, facilities and activities  Community governance  Connections between community activity and external agencies/networks Capacity for policy, research and rural proofing Involvement in direct service delivery or delivery partnerships

7. ACRE Sep 20036 Issues for rural infrastructure Integrated infrastructure delivery at local level Access to services:  community-led public service delivery  pulling in key public services Rural proofing in practice  mainstream delivery  separate rural delivery Rural social exclusion  support by generic provision  support to individuals