We are an advocate for rural issues

Two dogs sitting at a rural bus stop

We want to support you, by making sure your voice is heard

We have a rural advocacy and support service which is kindly funded by Defra.

We want rural issues and the ‘rural voice’ to be heard. Not only by us but by all levels of government (especially those who create policies that can affect rural communities).

The Government at national, regional and local levels, regularly issue ‘policy statements’. These can potentially impact communities in rural Yorkshire.

The feedback we get from communities is really important to our work, we want to know how you are being affected, what is working well and not so well for you?

If you have a concern in your area, let us know as this helps to build a bigger picture and we can help report these problems to a higher level. Share your thoughts by emailing info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

You can keep up to date with all the latest rural news and consultations in our monthly e-newsletter, Rural News. Subscribe here.

From floods to pandemics

We tend not to think about emergencies until it’s too late!

Communities Prepared and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) have developed a guide to rural community resilience. They used the experience of local rural charities and existing initiatives to create the guide to help rural communities become more robust in the face of emergencies before they occur.

It provides practical tips for rural residents to prepare themselves for times of crisis.

The guide shows how volunteer groups can be set up to develop emergency plans that identify local risks. It also maps out the resources and support which can be accessed should situations arise that threaten the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of people in the local area.

If you would like more information on this have a look at ACRE’s blog.

Effective community engagement

Are you wanting to increase the engagement within your community, but aren’t sure where to start?

We have created this handy resource, comprising a guidebook and toolkit, which brings together learning from a range of communities and provides a step-by-step guide to running an effective community engagement project.

Get involved

Areas we are keen to hear your thoughts on are:

  • Rural broadband
  • Transport and services

For any opinions on these or any other issues you are being affected by, please contact us on 01904 704177 or email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk