This is a list of suggested story titles that our Citizen Historians may wish to choose from. It is based on a review of the works undertaken by the ACRE Network Members. The comments on this page should indicate which stories have already been tackled (or are in progress) – but please Contact the Webmaster before starting any research to be sure you’re not duplicating effort! We’ll try to highlight stories that are in progress (or completed) with a green background.
The stories are grouped by Theme, and for each there is an indication of the Issues that it might make sense to consider.
The titles are notional – do feel free to change them! The listed issues are suggestions, there will certainly be more things than these to consider. Also, do keep checking back as we are certain to modify and extend this list as time goes by.
Community Planning
The impact of planning for Parishes, Villages and Neighbourhoods
- Parish Plans
- Community & Village Design Statements
- Neighbourhood Plans
Enabling Community Planning: Resources and Support
- Development Workers
- Toolkits
- The Participatory Planning Campaign
The Best Kept Village Competition
- History
- Changes and off-shoots
- Encouraging community planning
Case Studies: Advanced Planning for Communities
- Integrated Rural Development
- Emergency Planning
- Green Infrastructure Planning
Services
Overcoming Fuel Poverty in Rural Communities
- Fuel Poverty
- Energy Efficiency
- Oil Buying Groups
- Renewable Energy Schemes
The Development of Service Networks in Rural Areas
- 625-line TV Reception
- DC-funded TV-Aerials
- Mobile Phone Reception
- Broadband roll-out
- Telephone networks
The Impact of Communications Services
- local newspapers’ impact on rural community development
- Impact of the technology boom (phone.fax, mobile, computers…)
- Ease-of-travel impact (+/-)
Not For Granted: A History of the Provision of Essential Services
- Save our Services (SOS) campaign
- National Grid
- 3g, 4G, 5G telecoms
- Broadband
- Water
Health & Well-Being
Accessing Health Care for the Vulnerable and Isolated
- Village Care Programmes
Agents For Health
- Community Agents
- Walking for health
- HeartStart defibrillation training
- Good Neighbours
Empowerment
Digital Inclusion in Rural Communities
- Service Provision
- Access
- Training
Shared Social Care
- Tackling Isolation & Loneliness
- Volunteering
Real social networks
- Active citizens and a sense of community
- Older People/Old people’s welfare
- Younger People/Youth Officers/Youth Services
- Carers
- community groups
Education
The off-shoots of Adult Education
- Drama
- Music
- Local History
Training for Self-Help
- How to get funded
- HSE/Risk Assessments
- Marketing
- Organising
Village Schools
- Save our Schools campaign
The Wye College Rural Environment Services Programme: Its History and Influence
- This story was introduced in January 2021 based on materials contributed by Alan Rodgers and ex-students of the programme
Environment
Managing the Rural Environment
- Conservation
- Carbon Reduction
- Flooding
- Water Quality
Managing and Sustaining Biodiversity
- Ecology surveys
- management plans
Economy
Unemployment Relief
- new coalfield communities in East Kent
- Councils of Community or Social Service
- Activities for the unemployed and their spouses
Rural Employment Solutions
- Facilitating rural business before CoSIRA
- Community Owned Shops, Social Enterprise & rural innovation
- Community Right to Challenge
- Affordable Offices
- Promoting Tourism
Regeneration & Development
- Community Funding
- Local Action Groups
- EU Objective 5b, Obj 2, RECHAR, LEADER
- Domestic rural development programmes
- Regional Development Agencu programmes
- National Lottery support
Funding of community development agencies
- Government
- Charitable
- CARNEGIE TRUST and RURAL COMMUNITY MOVEMENT
Organisational Structures in, or and for Rual Communities
- Formations
- Alliances, Partnerships and Mergers
- Dissolutions
- Management and Business Process development since 1970
- The Development Commission
- Charity Reviews
Village Halls
A History of Village Halls
- History
- Surveys
The Management and Use of England’s 11,000 Village Halls and Community Buildings
- Village Halls Advisers
- Volunteer Management Committees
- Use and services provided
- Village Halls Week
Sustainable Financing for the Village Hall
- Financial sustainability and fund-raising
- Defra loan fund
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) constitution
- Taxation
Sustainable Financing for the Village Hall
- Financial sustainability and fund-raising
- Defra loan fund
- Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) constitution
- Taxation
Organisations
Reviving the Parish Council: formation of the National Association
The development of playing fields and play facilities
Churches
Housing & Other Buildings
Affordable Housing in Low-Income, High-Rent Rural Areas
- Community Led Housing
- Community Right to Build
Community Led Development
- Community Right to Bid
- Community-Led Local Development
Transport
Transport Innovation in Rural England
- Shopmobility scooter schemes
- Buses on-demand
- Community mini-buses
- good-neighbour schemes
- Community Rail Partnerships
Heritage
Heritage Preservation in the 21st Century
- Heritage Skills
- Heritage Landscapes
- Rural Industries Scheme
- Planning & Conservation
The Impact of Heritage on Well-Being and Economy
- Heritage Centres
- Heritage Volunteering
- Heritage Walks
National Emergency
World War 2
- CAB Services
- Dig-for-victory schemes
COVID-19
- Impacts
- Advice & Information
- Case Studies
People
The life and times, and enduring impacts, of our Founders, Leaders and Leading Lights.
- As a number of ‘cameo’ type stories
Historiographies
Reaping a community Harvest