ACRE and the Rural Community Action Network
ACRE is the national body of the Rural Community Action Network (RCAN).
Our members in RCAN provide comprehensive support and advocacy to help rural communities take action for themselves to achieve a vibrant and sustainable future. Through regional and national networking, RCAN members use grass roots intelligence, good practice and innovation across England to give credibility to their advocacy. RCAN helps improve the well-being of rural people, particularly those most in need of support, by stimulating local community action and seeking locally-led solutions.
RCAN members work includes specialist expertise on community-owned assets, community-led planning and responses to rural challenges in the environment, housing, transport and access to services.
Regional Coordinators
The eight Regional Coordinators in RCAN bring together the work of the individual members within their region. They are also the regional leads for the Evidencing Rural Needs resources and project.
- South West ACRE Network: http://www.swan-network.org.uk/
- South East Rural Community Councils: http://www.sercc.org.uk/
- East of England (Rural Action East): http://www.ruralactioneast.org.uk/
- Rural Community Action East Midlands: http://www.rcaem.org.uk/viewpage.php?page_id=1
- West Midlands Rural Community Action Network: http://www.wmrcan.org.uk/
- North West: http://www.acre.org.uk/about-rcan/north-west-rural-community-councils
- Yorkshire and Humber: http://www.acre.org.uk/about-rcan/yorkshire-and-the-humber-rural-community-action-network
- North East http://www.acre.org.uk/about-rcan/north-east-rural-community-councils
OCSI
Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (OCSI) develop and interpret the evidence base to help the public sector and other organisations deliver better services to the public. We are committed to improving social and economic outcomes by providing high quality rigorous research and analysis that meets the needs of our clients.
Since launching in 2003, OCSI have worked with more than 80 public and voluntary sector agencies at local, regional and national level to improve policy-making and service delivery. We are a “spin-out” research consultancy from the University of Oxford that developed the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). See www.ocsi.co.uk for more information.
DEFRA
Defra have provided Ordnance Survey data and licensing for the project.