It has been an exciting year for ruralnet|uk with lots of 'firsts', including a Home Office Minister, Fiona Mactaggart MP, addressing our national conference, and the introduction of marketing as a dedicated role. Published today, the ruralnet|uk annual report and accounts can now be viewed online; and make for an interesting read (see here for the report in .pdf format - 1.23M).
As well as the finances, the report details the charity's network and project developments throughout the year, its aspirations for the future, and the aims of the charity: "... the promotion, for the public benefit, of rural regeneration in areas of social and economic deprivation."
ruralnet|uk is an early and successful adopter of the social enterprise model, and so, although a charity, does not rely on grants and donations. Through a trading subsidiary it transfers the skills it has developed to other areas of work, and makes a surplus in doing so. This surplus is gifted back to the charity and used to fund rural regeneration work.
Highlights of the year included thriving relations with project partners and Royal endorsement from HRH The Prince of Wales, who wrote: " ... I could not be more pleased that ruralnet is focusing its conference this year on the innovative solutions which rural communities can adopt ... "
The charity's work in promoting access to broadband for rural areas was recognised through the DTI/interforum awards 2004, where ruralnet|uk were highly recommended in the broadband category. A letter from Rt. Hon Alun Michael MP was another accolade, commending the development of the Community Broadband Network, which was described as making, " ... a real difference to a great many local initiatives .. ."
ruralnet|uk Chief Executive Simon Berry said about the results for the year: "It has been a good year for ruralnet|uk, as we have grown our profile has risen two-fold."
Notes to editors
1. ruralnet|uk is a rural regeneration charity (no 1089238). See www.ruralnetuk.org
2. Bookings for ruralnet|2005 are being taken on 0845 1300 411 and the web at www.ruralnetuk.org/conference
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