Public Policy and Service Provision in Rural Areas

Because of differences in the distributions of their populations, rural and urban areas present quite different challenges for the optimal design of services. Assessing and addressing rural service needs is an area of particular expertise for RAE Consulting. In addition to working with a range of local rural service organisations to help them effectively articulate the needs of their rural constituencies and produce appropriate policy responses, team members are involved in national and regional policy initiatives to promote a better understanding of service needs in rural areas.

Areas in which we have established expertise include:

• The measurement of rural deprivation and service need
• Rural-urban inequalities in resource allocation and service provision
• The evaluation of projects relating to social exclusion and service deprivation in rural areas with a view to identifying and promoting best practice
• The significance of rurality to partnership working in service provision.
• The economic impact of rural service deprivation

Members of RAE Consulting have worked with public and private agencies operating in rural areas in a range of sectors (e.g. health, social services, education, tourism). If you would like to discuss ideas about commissioning research to support service planning and evaluation in your area, please contact us.