New guide set to help rural services

A practical guide to help improve access to the region’s rural services will be launched next week.

The seven step guide, commissioned by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly and aimed at organisations and groups involved in providing services for rural communities, is supported by a framework giving a new insight into accessibility issues rural parts of our region face.

The guide gives advice on how to assess and analyse an access problem and provides an understanding of how to deliver the most sustainable solution to meet the needs of the community.

It is hoped the guide also will help reduce unused rural services and facilities and enable more effective use of public resources.

Chair of the Assembly, Peter Box said: “I hope the guide will provide both a helping hand and a common understanding and approach to ensure the most important, appropriate and sustainable services are delivered to residents and communities in rural parts of our region.”

The Yorkshire and Humber Rural Access to Services Intervention Framework and accompanying guide will be launched on 24th May in York.

Background Information

The work has been commissioned by the Assembly and has been supported by a variety of regional and local partners. These include the Humber Rural Pathfinder, Yorkshire Forward, the regional network for Rural Community Councils, Action for Market Towns, Bradford Council, North Yorkshire County Council and Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber.

The Intervention Framework and guide is targeted at organisations and individuals who are working to make life better for rural people and are tackling poor access to services (i.e Local authorities, service deliverers or community organisations) and looks at how best to promote joined up working between organisations involved in delivering services.

Both documents are available from 24th May. If you would like a copy of either document please visit the rural research section of www.yhassembly.gov.uk or contact Amanda Johnson at the Assembly on 01924 331605 or email amanda.johnson@yhassembly.gov.uk