The sun is now out but for a while it was looking dodgy. However ruralnet have landed at the The Belfry and we're ready to roll for ruralnet|2007.
More pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ruralnet/sets/72157602330373946/
DELEGATES ONLY
ruralnet|2007
Photos from ruralnet|2007
Conference live - Goodbye ruralnet|2006
No sooner than it begins than ruralnet|2006 is coming to an end.
However the collaboration still continues online. Delegates can access presentations and more information by logging into ruralnet|online. Simply enter your User ID and Password on the left-hand side of the ruralnet|2006 website.
If you have forgotten or mislaid them, email support@ruralnet.org.uk or call 0845 130 5480.
Keep a date for your diary, ruralnet|2007 is 10-11 October 2007!
Your feedback
Although ruralnet|2006 is now over, it's not too late to fill in an event evaluation form if you have not already done so. Click here to complete the survey online.
Conference live - ruralnet|trial
Finally it was time for justice to be served at ruralnet|2006.
Gordon Morris, freelance writer and researcher made the case for the prosecution - the charge being 'Agencies involved in rural development are charged with exaggerating the issue of rural deprivation'
In a thorough and erudite speech he asked four fundamental questions:
Firsty, what is being exaggerated? He argued that the concept of rural derprivation rather than the reality was being exaggerated, and that we already know who and where the rural poor are. Secondly, in what ways is it being exaggerated? Mr Morris produced two exhibits showing the deliberate overcomplication of the issues leaving the room in a soup of 'Definitional Delights'.
Conference live - Interim court proceedings: not guilty verdict
Finally it was time for justice to take to the floor of ruralnet|2006.
For the prosecution Gordon Morris, freelance writer and researcher took on defence counsel Professor Michael Dower, University of Gloucestershire - 'Agencies involved in rural development are charged with exaggerating the issue of rural deprivation'.
A majority verdict of 9-3 from 12 pillars of the rural development community that made up the jury decided in favour of the defence, but Judge Marshall warned that the agencies were on probation... more soon in a full court report.
Systematic Exploitation of your Rural Assets - SUSTRANS
John Grimshaw, described by the BBC as ‘the antidote to Jeremy Clarkson’, said he was a little apprehensive to stand before a room of rural organisations since, in his experience, rural people often disliked cyclists! John has inspired thousands of people to make the National Cycle Network a reality. He has motivated funders, officials, his own staff and volunteers.
SUSTRANS is a charity which has been set up to change transport policy to make it sustainable in the UK. John covered three areas: the making of the national cycle network, climate change, and the challenges and opportunities for rural communities.
Continue reading "Systematic Exploitation of your Rural Assets - SUSTRANS" »
11.50 - 12.45: Post your ruralnet|trial questions here
Can you sway the motion, 'Agencies involved in rural development exaggerate the issue of rural deprivation?'
Make your case, whether for the prosecution or for the defence here.
Conference live - Anti-Panel
Day one of ruralnet|2006 ended with a twist on the usual format of the panel session, with panellists James Paice MP and John Mills, Rural Policy Director, Defra being the ones asking the questions on rural housing - a controversial subject and also a hot topic of the moment.
The Rural Affordable Housing Commissioner, Peter Bradley did an excellant job of pitting the panel against the audience, with questions flying in both directions.
Peter started the ball rolling by asking: 'how important is it to provide housing for young people in order to keep them in the countryside areas?' and 'how can young people aspire to going from renting to home ownership?'
Cybercafé powered by CTX
During all of the conference delegates have been able to keep in contact with the outside world through the ruralnet2006 cybercafé. This has proved a real blessing for those who had problems getting a useable signal on their mobile 'phones!
Delegates can use their own laptops as well as computers provided by ruralnet|uk. The wireless network that makes all of this possible was created using hardware provided through the CTX (charity technology exchange) programme. This is organised by one of the exhibitors, Charity Technology Trust, and distributes hardware and software donated by Cisco and Microsoft. UK charities are eligible for the programme which offers substantial savings over the usual retail or educational channels. CTX can be found here.
Conference live - it's all about the front-line
Simon Hebditch's keynote address focused on the way in which Capacitybuilders are trying to help front-line voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) to become more effective.
Capacitybuilders was established by the government in April 2006, initially to manage the £70 million ChangeUp programme up to 2008, but with scope to expand their work and draw in further funding (from a variety of sources) in the future.
Simon began by reflecting on the government's interest in the voluntary and community sector (VCS); there's growing recognition that people's needs cannot be met by one sector alone - there needs to be collaboration across sectors. The government wants to see the sector do more, and provide more services. They also recognise the ability of VCOs to engage with people & communities. Bearing in mind the ever diminishing turnout at local elections, can VCOs play a part in increasing participation & involvement amongst individuals and communities?
Continue reading "Conference live - it's all about the front-line" »
16.35 - 17.30: Get your questions ready for the Rural Housing debate
Make sure your views are heard during the Rural Housing Anti-panel Session. Post your questions for James Paice MP, Moira Constable, Rural Housing Trust and for John Mill from defra here.
12.35 - 13.30: Post your questions for Simon Hebditch here
To ask Simon Hebditch any questions on how Capacitybuilders intend to build the rural Voluntary and Community Sector, post your it here. We will do our best to read it out during this next session.
Conference live - Market Towns Supplement
ruralnet|2006 was opened with an interesting session hosted by conference partners, emda.
Professor Andrew Atherton from University of Lincoln started the session with an introduction to the state of Market Towns in the East Midlands. He outlined his anaylsis rural non-urban settlements ('market towns' in the broadest sense). He showed interesting trends in economic activity, and connectivity (distance to nearest airport for example) outside of 5 main centres in the East Midlands and demonstrated that the picture is more complex than it may appear. He left the delegates with the question if non-urban settlements are more connected and more vibrant than we think, then is the region making the most of our market towns?
Matt Earnshaw from The Welland Sub-Regional Strategic Partnership went on to outline his experiences of benchmarking Market Towns in the Welland. He said that all 12 towns have been collecting data over the summer, and this data will soon be analysed in a series of reports that will provide a crucial baseline to help develop further projects.
Ray Edwards, Director of Rural Affairs, emda introduced a fantastic video telling the story of regeneration in the area. He also launched EMMTAS the East Midlands Market Towns Asset School, a new initiative for market town partnerships to help realise their assets.
Bruce Wakeling, Spalding Town Centre Manager than gave a fascinating insight into the Spalding Water Taxi which has now carried 40,000 passengers in less than two years and showed how what difference it has made to the town.
Finally Jim Hanrahan, Clerk to Newark Town Council gave an enlightening account of their experiences of working on projects in Market Towns. He described how partnerships are the catalysts for mixing the right 'chemicals' to produce positive results, including one of the key ingredients for Newark which is music.
The presentations from all of the above sessions are available on the ruralnet|2006 conference area of ruralnet|online.
Delegates will need your ruralnet|online login details and password. If you have forgotten or mislaid them, email support@ruralnet.org.uk or call 0845 130 5480.
If you did not attend the conference but would like to access presentations and more from this year's conference visit www.ruralnet.org.uk/join.htm for your free 14 day trial of ruralnet|online.
Conference live - Breaking news, as seen on TV!
Watch out for ruralnet|2006 tonight on TV - Andrew Atherton who spoke in the morning Market Towns Supplement being interviewed for BBC Midlands Today.
Conference live - emda supplement underway
Joined by Frank Horsley, Andrew Atherton, Matt Earnshaw and Jeff Moore, the emda supplementary session gets underway.
Focusing on the past, present and future of market towns in the East Midlands, Andrew Atherton speaks first by mapping the East Midlands economy and identifying what a market town actually is.
NOTE: Geoff Plummer is no longer speaking at the end of the first session
09.00 - 11.30: Post your Market Towns questions here
If you have a question for one of the speakers about the future of market towns, post it here and we will do our best to make sure it is read out during the session this morning.
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