Evaluation shows the RCAN Investment Programme has benefitted rural communities

An interim evaluation, published today by Capacitybuilders, confirms that the £10.35 million Rural Community Action Network (RCAN) Investment Programme, delivered by Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) on behalf of Defra, is meeting its objective to improve the way in which the needs of rural communities are addressed by national, regional and local government.

The evaluation found that, after two years of the three year programme, the initiative had improved the capacity of RCAN members, who comprise the 38 county-level Rural Community Councils and their 8 regional coordinating bodies, to influence government policy-makers and delivery bodies in order to bring rural needs more fully into mainstream policy making. These successes included:

• Improving service delivery plans: so that they better suit the needs of rural communities.
• Securing funding: tapping into external sources, so that rural communities can access funding streams for acitivites such as improvements to community buildings.
• Improvements to policy processes: notably where rural proofing or community led planning approaches have been adopted by local authorities and partnerships.

A Defra spokesperson commented:

"The Rural Community Councils and the regional bodies play a valuable role in promoting the needs and interests of rural communities to local, regional and national government, and Defra is pleased that its investment in the network is bearing fruit in terms of improving RCAN members’ capacity to achieve their objectives.”

The interim evaluation was commissioned and managed by Capacitybuilders, and conducted by Brian Wilson Associates and David Atkinson Consulting. The report can be downloaded here, the executive summary is available here, and to printed copies can be requested from info@capacitybuilders.org.uk