Wooler

Rural Advocate with Glendale Gateway Trust

Empowering Northumberland

​In March 2023, Professor Mark Shucksmith from Newcastle University presented findings from research about hardship and vulnerability in rural areas at an event at the Cheviot Centre in Wooler.  

​The research raised 9 challenges: 

  • ​Many rural residents are at risk of poverty 
  • ​There is a real rural cost of living crisis 
  • ​The welfare system is not well adapted to rural lives 
  • ​Rural work opportunities are often volatile and irregular 
  • ​There are barriers to entering self-employment and developing small businesses in rural areas 
  • ​Centralisation and digitalisation in the organisations providing support mean they do not reach well into rural areas 
  • ​Accessing suitable and affordable housing in rural areas remains difficult  
  • ​There is a crisis in social care delivery in rural areas. 
  • ​Developing a hopeful narrative about an area is important to the well-being of rural areas  
Cheviot Centre Exterior

A Rural Advocate role

​Following a presentation of the findings there was workshop to review what support is currently being provided, where the gaps are and how services could be improved. It became clear at the workshop that something innovative was required in order to better support rural communities in North Northumberland. People can often feel isolated from the services and people at Northumberland County Council and other organisations. A role was required to help alleviate those feelings of disconnection and react quickly to issues that occur and provide information to the communities in a timely manner.  

​The Glendale Gateway Trust developed the idea of a Rural Advocate, working in partnership with Thriving Together and Northumberland County Council agreed to fund a 12-month pilot. 

The CEO of The Glendale Gateway Trust,

Karen Froggatt, explains more: 

What it offers

​The Rural Advocate role will create a platform/forum: 

  • ​To promote co-ordination, partnership, information flow and joint problem solving. 
  • ​To provide a Voice for our rural concerns to NCC, NTCA, NHS etc. 
  • ​Be a voice for NCC in rural areas 
  • ​Build on existing services and initiatives (through CAN and other organisations)
  • ​Create local champions and advocates 
  • ​Promote rural impact assessment and rural proofing on all policies affecting Northumberland 
  • ​Work sensitively and be grounded in local people’s knowledge and experiences. 
  • ​Build a platform grounded in local community activities drawing on the positive aspects of Covid 19 and Storm Arwen experiences where the community came together. 

Areas of interest

​Key areas that the Rural Advocate role will focus on: 

  • ​Support Services: there are problems in provision and access to mainstream services due to fragmented provision by both the public and voluntary sectors. 
  • ​Housing: insecure tenancies and pressure from second homes/ holiday lets 
  • ​Social circumstances: hidden needs, anxiety about support available, fear of stigma and invasion of privacy, an older demographic, isolation exacerbating needs. 
  • ​Transport: general lack of public transport and hence access to services. 
  • ​Fuel Poverty: where properties are off grid and mains gas 
  • ​Poor digital connectivity 
  • ​Lots of great work going on but it is not co-ordinated and is often fragmented and unsustainable. 
  • ​There is a lack of cohesion in thought and activity 
  • ​We need a more strategic and integrated approach 

Future plans

​The plan is to make the next 12 months a resounding success and secure funding for the Advocate role to continue. Data and information will be collated with a focus on the tangible differences made.  If this project is seen as best practice, it can be shared with other regions of the country who have large rural populations. There is a firm belief that this role can make a real difference and the hope is that the post can be funded for another 3 years to ensure persistent momentum and that real links can be created and maintained and rural communities continue to feel valued, supported and listened to. 

Our USP

​This is a unique role in Northumberland and perhaps the North of England. The role requires a specific skill set allowing the Advocate to communicate at a very local level and at a strategic level with Local and Regional Government. It is a part-time role so there is a lot of work to undertake very quickly.  

Our top tips

  • Face to face meetings where possible 

  • ​Listen and value people’s experiences and opinions 

  • Provide timely and accurate feedback. 

Karen said:

"​People in rural areas are finally given a voice that can be heard at local and regional government level and this voice should influence the decisions made around the changes and development of statutory services. People in rural areas will feel less disconnected from the decision makers and understand how they can access services and keep safe and well."

Contact details:

​Karen Froggatt

​ceo@wooler.org.uk 

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