An advocate for Rural issues

Community First Yorkshire has a rural advocacy and support service which is kindly funded by DEFRA.

Community First Yorkshire aims to ensure that rural issues and the ‘rural voice’ are heard, acknowledged and addressed by the decision and policy makers at all levels of government. Our work with communities means that we are well positioned to influence and advocate on current and future service provision.

Government at national, regional and local levels, regularly issue policy statements which potentially will impact on rural Yorkshire.

Feedback from communities is really important to our work.  If you have a concern in your area, let us know as this helps to build a bigger picture.

From floods to pandemics – a guide for rural communities

The Guide to Rural Community Resilience aims to help rural communities become more resilient in the face of emergencies.

Communities Prepared (a Groundwork South programme) and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) have drawn on the experience of local rural charities and existing initiatives to develop the guide. It provides practical tips for rural residents to prepare for, and help each other, at times of crisis. The guide shows how volunteer groups can be set up to develop emergency plans that identify local risks, and maps out the resources and support which can be mobilised should situations arise that threaten the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of people in the local area. Read ACRE’s blog for more information.

Effective Community Engagement

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