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| Commitment
The Rural Charter members commit themselves to putting rural thinking into the mainstream of planning and delivering their policies and activities. 'Thinking Rural' means rural proofing your policies and activities. By adopting this Charter, members undertake to reflect the needs and characteristics of the rural areas of the East Midlands in their policies and build the principle of Rural Proofing into their decision-making.
Thinking rural by rural proofing
Rural Proofing involves evaluating policies and actions to ensure they take account of rural needs. As their policies are planned, developed and implemented, Charter members undertake to:
- consider whether they are likely to have a different impact in the rural areas because of particular rural circumstances or needs
- assess those impacts and, where they are significant, consider adjustments to policy or alternative means of delivery.
Rural proofing is a core part of the Rural Charter but the aim is neither to increase bureaucracy nor to introduce a time-consuming process. The important thing is for members to assess whether a policy is likely to have significant differential impacts in rural areas compared to other areas - and if it does, to do something about it.
In carrying out rural proofing, members should apply an appropriate checklist of key questions to policies and their delivery.
Rural proofing should begin early in the policy making process so that it can have an influence before key decisions are taken. To ensure this happens, rural proofing should be actively promoted throughout member organisations to ensure that it is understood and acted upon.
Rural Proofing is much more likely to succeed where there is backing at senior level, ideally with someone prepared to champion it from the top.
Rural proofing is a positive process. It has the potential to improve Charter members' policies and actions. Pro-active rural proofing should improve decision-making, helping to avoid unexpected negative side effects and reducing the need for additional remedial action and costs in the future.
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Benefits Organisations and companies that adopt the Rural Charter will be entitled to display a specially designed certificate on their premises and display the words "We think rural" - [Organisation or company name] is a member of the East Midlands Rural Charter committed to making a positive impact on the region's rural areas". They will also be entitled to display the wording with an authorised Rural Charter logo on their letters, brochures and other publications.
The key benefits of being a Rural Charter member for an organisation or company lie in the opportunity thinking rural gives to develop good practice, put in place more effective policies and be in the forefront of developing new and innovative ways of delivering services. For companies, the opportunity is to make a positive impact in rural areas through the way they do business, adding to overall competitiveness while also providing support to rural communities and economies. Moreover, the Charter provides an opportunity to demonstrate that your organisation 'thinks rural' and be included in the marketing that accompanies the Charter.
EMRAF will also be available to support you in any efforts on your behalf to publicise your Charter membership. We will discuss publicity related to your Charter membership individually after successful completion of the application process.
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