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 UK housing crisis has a continued presence in our headlines, and rural communities are among those feeling the strain the most. These rural areas are facing a growing affordability gap, leaving many residents struggling to find suitable housing. Our Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) Ollie Brice plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges by promoting and developing affordable housing in areas where it’s needed most.  

In an effort to uplift rural areas and assist local communities, the government has initiated the Unleashing Rural Opportunity Strategy. As a part of this strategy, a network of Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs) have been appointed across England where a need to support the provision of rural homes through Rural Exception Sites. The Rural Housing Enablers will be in post until March 2025 to address the critical need for affordable housing in rural England.

Many of you reading this will know about ThinkingFuel, our collective heating oil buying scheme. And you’ll know that the aim is to help support householders across Norfolk who depend on heating oil to heat their homes, and for whom the unregulated cost of heating oil is a constant worry.