How Secure Rural Homes Support Children’s Education

We all know how important it is for children to have a safe, stable place to call home. But a recent report by the Children’s Commissioner has put that into sharp focus - showing just how much housing instability can affect children’s education. And in rural areas, where these issues are often hidden, the impact can be even greater.

The report found that children who move house a lot, live in temporary accommodation, or don’t have a stable home often fall behind at school. Their GCSE results suffer, and they’re less likely to stay engaged with education. It’s not just about grades, either - stress and anxiety from unstable housing can affect their wellbeing too.

In the countryside, it’s harder to spot and even harder to solve. There’s less temporary housing, fewer support services, and public transport is patchy. That makes it tough for families and even tougher for children trying to get to school and stay on track.

So What Can Be Done?

That’s where people like Ollie Brice, our Rural Housing Enabler, come in. Ollie’s job is all about helping rural communities get the affordable, secure homes they need. He works with parish councils, housing associations and local people to understand what’s needed and make sure new homes are actually built where they’re most needed.

“We’re not just building houses,” Ollie says, “we’re giving families the stability they need to build a future.”

Looking Ahead

You’ll be hearing more from Ollie soon, he’ll be sharing blog posts about what it’s really like to deliver a project like this, the challenges, the wins, and the honest conversations happening in our villages and parishes.

In the meantime, if you’d like to learn more about rural housing and what we’re doing to help, click here to read more.