ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is the national body for the 38 county-based rural community action and development bodies (RCCs, the rural community councils). ACRE was formed in 1987, but its history can be traced back to 1920 when the – then National Council of Social Service established a Rural Department. Over the succeeding decades, the Rural Department encouraged the creation of RCCs throughout rural England, and also some in parts of Wales and Scotland, too.
Throughout its history, ACRE has fulfilled three main roles, the relative balance between which has varied from time to time:
- Providing support, co-ordination and occasionally resources to the RCCs.
- Monitoring rural issues and seeking to influence decision-makers within and outside Government, including through partnership working with other bodies.
- Establishing, operating and evaluating innovative ways of working, for the benefit of rural communities.
Less frequently, ACRE has also provided resources and other support directly to individual community groups.
ACRE and its predecessors have also championed a range of different rural issues and challenges from time to time, often involving the deployment of specialist staff to support local action via the RCCs. Examples of these issues include housing, shops, public transport, ICT (information and communications technology), parish councils, community businesses, social care and renewable energy. A more-permanent feature in ACRE’s history has been its work with village halls and similar community buildings, where its services have included:
- The channelling of grants and loans for new-builds and improvements
- Influencing Government departments, agencies, funders and other bodies regarding policies, taxation, resourcing, regulatory compliance and many other issues which affect the operation of village halls
- Providing training and other support for the nation-wide network of RCC-based village halls advisors
- Providing a range of model documents, advice notes and topical updates for village hall management bodies.
Go to Places to explore the map and find out about this work county by county.