ruralnet|uk news

Capacity Building in Progress!

Networks Online relaunches with a new interface.

Networks Online, the collaborative ICT network provided by ruralnet|uk has been relaunched. A capacity building grant from the Active Communities Directorate has enabled ruralnet|uk to radically overhaul its online services.

This has allowed ruralnet|uk to make its service simpler, easier to access and more effective. This will benefit over 4,000 Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) customers by simplifying access to the capacity building resources contained within the network.

Get your voice heard - the rural post office network - www.ruralaction.org.uk

Everyone has a view on the future of the rural post office network - but will everyone's views be heard? Perhaps you have a good idea on the future of the network; perhaps your own experience shows a vital aspect has been over-looked. Now there is a simple way to get your point across quickly and easily. The recent popularity in 'blogging' - contributing to a weblog or online message board - has inspired ruralnet|uk to set up a blog for this issue: a simple technique allowing thousands to add their personal comments to the debate. Over half of all UK homes have access to an online computer - as well as libraries, youth clubs, schools, day centres, UK online centres, and even some Post Offices! Anyone with an interest can visit the blog and leave their comment on the consultation questions, and read what others are saying.

Capacitybuilders Grant to Help Rural Communities

It’s a great start to the year for Rural Regeneration Charity, ruralnet|uk who have secured £96,000 grant funding from Government body, ‘Capacitybuilders'.

The funding will be used to provide isolated rural communities with the expertise and support to use ICT to build capacity and overcome isolation.

In partnership with the ‘Teesdale Village Hall Consortium’, the programme will initially benefit 33 community groups. It will then be promoted on a national basis through further partnerships.

Regeneration Sector Acquitted at ruralnet|2006

The closing session of the ruralnet|2006 conference once again demonstrated the innovative nature of this event.

Professor Michael Dower, University of Gloucestershire and Gordon Morris, a freelance writer and researcher took on the role of council for defence and prosecution respectively. In a 40 minute court room drama they eloquently argued a case where rural regeneration agencies were charged with:"Exaggerating the issue of rural deprivation".

ruralnet|2006 exhibition is a sell-out!

Rural charity ruralnet|uk’s annual conference is again set to be a sell-out event.

- All 30 exhibition spaces are now taken

- All 60 bursary delegate places funded by Defra and Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) have been allocated

- The last remaining delegate places expected to be filled this week

net:gain shortlisted for SEC award

ruralnet|uk has been shortlisted for this year's "Enterprising Solutions" awards by the Social Enterprise Coalition. ruralnet's entry outlined the successful first year of the innovative net:gain programme, which uses a social franchising model to build the ICT and strategic planning capacity of Voluntary and Community organisations across England.

The awards, the winners of which will be announced in October, recognise innovation and entreprenuerial spirit, both of which are fundamental to the ethos of ruralnet|uk.

Peter Bradley to Chair Rural Housing Anti-panel Session

ruralnet|uk are pleased to confirm that Peter Bradley, a member of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission is to chair the ruralnet|2006 conference anti-panel session.

The former MP for The Wrekin (1997 – 2005) was one of the rural community’s most influential advocates in Parliament, first as Chair of the Rural Group of Labour MPs, and then as a Parliamentary Private Secretary at Defra.

ruralnet|uk promotes Good Governance to Rural Voluntary Organisations

ruralnet|uk has joined forces with the Governance Hub to provide support for Trustees and Chief Executives of rural voluntary and community organisations.

Through a Code of Good Governance, the hub has set out a number of main principles of best practice.  As good governance plays a huge role in how voluntary and community organisations are held accountable, the principles of this code will inform and guide the decision making process of trustees and the work of the board.

Charity Times Awards - Double Whammy for ruralnet|uk

ruralnet|uk was today confirmed as a double shortlist entry for this year's Charity Times UK Charity Awards, in categories ‘Best Use of Technology’ and ‘Trustee Board of the Year’.

ruralnet|uk urges convention attendees to invest in making collaboration work

“Collaboration doesn’t just happen, you have to work at it”, was the key message from Simon Berry, ruralnet|uk’s Chief Executive, at their Collaboration Convention held in Warwick last week.