Rural social exclusion
‘I used to think village life was the ideal – lots of community spirit and friends – and I suppose it is - until you fall off the edge.’
That is a quote from ORCC’s well-respected 2004 report on rural social exclusion, “Breaking Down Barriers”. In rural Oxfordshire individuals or households face social exclusion even within communities which are generally affluent and where community life is active. Their needs are difficult to identify and to meet, as they are scattered over a large rural area across many generally small communities, rather than concentrated in particular geographical areas.
In 2004 we concluded that “statistics have a limited use in identifying areas of ‘rural deprivation’”. Now, helped by pioneering work commissioned by the South East Rural Community Councils, ORCC is campaigning to get policy makers and service providers to identify more accurately the depth and extent of rural disadvantage. The evidence, produced on SERCC’s behalf by Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion, uses a method of analysing data based on the “Rural Share of Deprivation”. This is proving to be a powerful tool in helping argue the case that rural deprivation is hidden – not non-existent.
ORCC performs a unique role in promoting rural social inclusion:
That is a quote from ORCC’s well-respected 2004 report on rural social exclusion, “Breaking Down Barriers”. In rural Oxfordshire individuals or households face social exclusion even within communities which are generally affluent and where community life is active. Their needs are difficult to identify and to meet, as they are scattered over a large rural area across many generally small communities, rather than concentrated in particular geographical areas.
In 2004 we concluded that “statistics have a limited use in identifying areas of ‘rural deprivation’”. Now, helped by pioneering work commissioned by the South East Rural Community Councils, ORCC is campaigning to get policy makers and service providers to identify more accurately the depth and extent of rural disadvantage. The evidence, produced on SERCC’s behalf by Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion, uses a method of analysing data based on the “Rural Share of Deprivation”. This is proving to be a powerful tool in helping argue the case that rural deprivation is hidden – not non-existent.
ORCC performs a unique role in promoting rural social inclusion:
- We take a “whole community” view of how social exclusion can occur – and who is likely to be at risk – in rural communities
- We work to encourage rural communities themselves to be inclusive and to do what they can to prevent or address social exclusion locally
- We encourage inclusive Community-Led Planning projects, so that the needs of everyone in the community can be identified and then addressed. Some isolated individuals may have very different priorities from the majority, but their needs may be more acute.
- We aim to be a central reference point for examples of good inclusive practice. Our Good Practice Guidelines are on this website
- We support the county Rural Inclusion Group - a network of voluntary and statutory agencies keen to share information and discuss common concerns.
- We rural-proof policies and service delivery and in doing so take particular account of the needs of people who are socially excluded. ‘Rural-proofing’ alone may not make enough difference to the minority facing social exclusion.