Editorial, Comment and Opinion

Stronger partnerships key to unlocking rural affordable housing

28 Apr, 2026by Julie GibsonEditorial, Comment and Opinion, Housing

Access to affordable housing remains one of the biggest challenges facing rural communities. New insights highlight how stronger partnerships between organisations, communities, and housing providers are helping to unlock solutions, while reinforcing the vital role of Rural Housing Enablers in making schemes happen on the ground.

New Government Plan Focuses on Stronger, More Cohesive Communities

27 Apr, 2026by Julie GibsonEditorial, Comment and Opinion

The UK Government has published a new policy paper, Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive and resilient United Kingdom, setting out its vision for a fair, tolerant and resilient society.

Rural areas risk being overlooked in devolution plans

25 Mar, 2026by Julie GibsonEditorial, Comment and Opinion, Rurality

Devolution is often seen as a way to give local areas more control over decisions that affect their communities. But the Rural Services Network (RSN) has warned that rural areas could be at risk of being overlooked. With smaller populations and higher costs for delivering services, villages and towns outside cities may not get the attention or funding they need, potentially widening the gap between urban and rural communities.

Renewed hope for fundraising in 2026

24 Mar, 2026by Julie GibsonEditorial, Comment and Opinion, Funding

After a challenging period for the voluntary sector, there are signs that fundraising may be turning a corner. New digital opportunities, changing supporter behaviours, and a renewed focus on relationships are creating a more positive outlook for charities in 2026.

Unlocking Land for Housing: What’s Changing and Why It Matters for Rural Communities

17 Mar, 2026by Julie GibsonEditorial, Comment and Opinion, Planning, doing and learning

Finding the right land to build new homes isn’t always straightforward—especially in rural areas. A new report from the National Audit Office highlights the challenges of “unlocking” land for housing and questions whether current approaches are delivering the homes communities really need. Here’s what it means, and why it matters for places like rural Norfolk.

Concern Following Sudden Closure of Access Community Trust Services

03 Mar, 2026by Julie GibsonEditorial, Comment and Opinion

Community Action Norfolk (CAN) were sad to hear of the immediate closure of services delivered by Access Community Trust, including the STEAM House Cafés in King’s Lynn and Gorleston.

UK Poverty in 2026: What It Means for Our Communities in Norfolk

02 Mar, 2026by Julie GibsonEditorial, Comment and Opinion

The latest UK Poverty 2026 report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that more than one in five people across the UK are living in poverty. While this is a national picture, the findings have real implications for communities here in Norfolk, where rural challenges can make financial pressures even harder to manage.

The UK’s Impact Economy: A Force for Good – and Worth £428 Billion

02 Mar, 2026by Julie GibsonEditorial, Comment and Opinion

A new report from New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) highlights just how powerful the UK’s “impact economy” really is. The Impact UK report shows that organisations working for social good - including charities, social enterprises and purpose-led businesses - contribute an impressive £428 billion to the UK economy each year.