Action In Rural Sussex

Advocacy: Rural Voice

Action in rural Sussex undertakes its rural advocacy and influencing role under four main headings:-

1.    A Voice for Rural Sussex

There are a number of ways in which Action in rural Sussex will seek to be the voice for rural Sussex. These include:

  • a quarterly 'Action' Newsletter which provides information for rural community activists and for Action in rural Sussex members on rural issues;
  • an Action in rural Sussex website which will provide information and focus on key issues/ opportunities and events during the year;
  • the Action in rural Sussex Annual Conference on 7th November 2008 will focus on Rural Services – "Hard to reach or hard to find?";
  • Working with the West Sussex Rural Partnership and East Sussex Rural Partnerships to engage with rural stakeholders on a variety of issues throughout the year;
  • Organise a Sussex Village of the Year Competition and the Richmond Award, both highlighting best practice and active rural communities.

2.    Influencing through representation

Action in rural Sussex has representation on key strategic partnership bodies within both East and West Sussex, and on District Local Strategic Partnerships or sub groups of those Partnerships. It provides a rural insight for those bodies and organisations and seeks to identify local rural needs, providing support and advice in the rural-proofing of public policies and strategies.

The East Sussex and West Sussex Rural Partnerships identify and influence the rural agenda in both Counties in relation to the Local Area Agreement and in Sustainable Community Strategies. Action in rural Sussex provides an organisational and partnership role on both bodies and in particular assists in developing the links with the West Sussex Public Service Board and East Sussex Strategic Partnership. This has included engaging with organisations and officers to ensure that rural needs are understood and identified as part of the process.

Action in rural Sussex has a similar role on some regional and national partnerships such as the South East Rural Forum, South East Rural Community Councils, South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) and the Government Office for the South East (GOSE). This helps to ensure that the needs of rural Sussex are understood and considered by those bodies when developing policy positions and delivery agendas.

3.    Shaping Policy

Action in rural Sussex continues to play its part in shaping the policy decisions of organisations and authorities which in turn influence the delivery of services and facilities in rural areas. The organisation will seek to ensure that those who are currently disadvantaged in rural areas are positively affected by changes in policy. To achieve this, we will be an active partner in both the East Sussex and the West Sussex Rural Partnerships, assisting in their role in identifying and influencing the policies that improve the quality of life in rural areas.

To support this role,  Action in rural Sussex continues to seek the views of Sussex residents on rural issues and will ensure that its own priorities are set by the needs of rural communities. These positions are supported through the use of its own consultations, surveys and project work, all of which add to the evidence of rural needs. This information is also used to assist AirS in publishing its own Policy Statements during the year.

Action in rural Sussex continues to develop its own research and thus improve the evidence base for rural needs in Sussex. It disseminates the results of research it has undertaken as well as research undertaken by others. All of this information helps to identify practical and innovative ways of addressing rural issues

4.    Attracting Resources to Sussex

Action in rural Sussex will seek to ensure that resources made available to the area will benefit rural areas. In particular, this will concentrate on the SEEDA Rural Access Services Programme and the Rural Development Programme England (RDPE/Leader approach).

The organisation will also actively seek to identify and secure funding from appropriate initiatives and programmes, and will seek to build on its existing success. 

For more information please click here to contact us