The EMRAF Quality Services Group

Promoting transport options for rural areasThe dispersed nature of rural communities creates inevitable problems in terms of access to services. The challenge of delivering services in rural areas effectively and in a cost efficient way is different from that in urban areas. Good access to jobs and services in the rural area is vital, not only from a perspective of social exclusion, but in terms of supporting local businesses and in maintaining sustainable communities.

The original EMRAF Accessibility Subgroup was created as a specific outcome from an East Midlands Rural Transport Conference in late 2005, with an aspiration to further drive and develop the region's rural accessibility and transport agenda. The Subgroup has now evolved into the Quality Services Accessible to All Subgroup, to keep in line with the priorities stated in the East Midlands Rural Action Plan. The aim of this group is to provide a rural focus for accessibility and transport practitioners to identify, share and promote good practice and provide strategic representation on relevant regional groups.

The Subgroup which is Chaired by Vanessa Strange from Lincolnshire County Council and Vice Chaired by Penny Altham from Rural Community Action Nottinghamshire, has significant representation from key stakeholders including emda, Local Authorities, Rural Transport Partnerships, Rural Community Councils, The Federation of Small Businesses and The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England. Quarterly meetings and at least 2 events are held throughout the year at emda in Nottingham.

To enquire about becoming a member of the subgroup please contact us.




Newsflash
East Midlands Rural Framework 2010 - 2013 & New Regional Director for RCA East Midlands
The East Midlands Rural Framework has now been published and is available for download on the Action Plan page of this website. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the document please contact Lynn Hage EMRAF Communications Officer on 01623 727600. New Regional Director for Rural Community Action East Midlands (RCAEM) Julie Bowers will take up the position as Regional Director for Rural Community Action East Midlands with responsibility for the Co-ordination of the East Midlands Rural Affairs Forum from 1st April 2010. Julie will come to EMRAF from her current post as Performance Specialist with the Audit Commission. She has a background in sport and leisure management which included a post as Sports and Events Officer for a rural tourism partnership in Northumberland. Here she worked with local businesses and regional agencies to develop and promote everything from Mountain bike routes to Husky dog racing!! Julie also spent 2 years in Nottingham working within the health sector developing partnership projects and during her 7 years with the Audit Commission led on the development of a performance management framework for LSP’s and undertook a wide range of work across the East Midlands.



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