Our history: successes and challenges
These articles are brought to you by volunteer citizen-historians from around the ACRE Network.
They provide historical perspectives on contemporary issues in English rural life. You will find archival treasures and real-life stories, proving that through collective community action we can, we have, and we will make a difference in our rural lives.
For context, and to discover the meaning of the many acronyms you are likely to meet, here’s an organogram of key players in the Rural Development movement (click the image for a larger view).
Themes A-Z
Remembering ACRE from its birth. By Jeremy Martineau chair from 1987-90
Rural Community Councils: the Perennial Community Harvest.
Parish councils and their national and county associations, David Francis June 2021
Phil Turner and Trevor Cherrett recall an ambitious and highly engaging attempt to link UK rural community development workers with their counterparts in the rest of Europe.
by Louise Beaton
and the 2020 Domesday Book of Village Halls. Catch up on our national Village Halls Surveys from 1998 to 2020 and discover the Domesday Book of Village Halls.
by Alan Rogers and the college alumni
RCCs have worked hard over the years to help people living in rural areas access transport without which many areas continue to be cut off from many essential services and opportunities