Rural Community Councils funding threatened

Ninety years of dedicated support for England’s 11,000 rural communities is under threat after the Government warned it may withdraw funding from the ACRE Network.

 This nationwide Network of rural community councils carries out crucial work to help our communities thrive.

 It funds, leads or enables thousands of projects to help people tackle the challenges they face – from lack of affordable homes, broadband or public transport to supporting the young, the elderly and the most vulnerable in our society.

 It is the only Network that provides advice to the 80,000 volunteers who keep England’s 10,000 village halls alive.

 Without the Network's support, communities will be less resilient, services will be lost and more people will become lonely and isolated.

 We call on Defra not to withdraw funding from the ACRE Network. To pull it now would fracture the Network, undermine years of investment and leave the most vulnerable in rural areas with nowhere to go.

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