Centre for Rural Development

Action in rural Sussex, the charitable company which operates as the rural community council for East and West Sussex, has given the Centre for Rural Development the responsibility of undertaking research and consultancy on a wide range of rural development issues within a changing countryside.
As a result, the Centre operates as a research and consultancy arm of Action in rural Sussex (AirS) and aims to be self-supporting and generate additional income for the charitable company (AirS).

As partly funded through Interreg II for its setting up, the Centre aimed to undertake cross-border exchanges of knowledge and good practice and to run workshops for common reflections on rural issues. Although Interreg funding expired in 2001, the Centre continues to operate with a research and consultancy form and is keen to incorporate a European dimension and involvement.

CRD also contributes to AirS’ programme of workshops, seminars, and conferences, together with the collation and dissemination of information and study facilities.