Faced with declining or threatened local services, limited job opportunities, not enough affordable housing and looming public expenditure cuts, we need new ways to sustain the quality of life in rural communities.
DATE: 27th January 2010
LOCATION: Cavendish Conference Centre, London (map and directions)
Delegate Booking Form (download Word doc)
Exhibitor Booking Form (download Word doc)
Latest News
Jim Paice MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Alun Michael MP, Vice President of the Local Government Association confirmed as keynote speakers.
Jim Paice MP was appointed Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture and has remained on the front bench ever since. Following the 2001 General Election, Jim was appointed Shadow Minister for Police. Then in September 2004 he was promoted to Shadow Secretary of State for Agriculture and Rural Affairs. He has been the spokesperson for Agriculture and Rural Affairs unbroken since that time. Jim is also Chair of Conservative Rural Action.
We are delighted that Alun Michael MP will be making a keynote presentation in the morning session of the event. Labour and Co-operative Party MP Alun Michael is one of the most respected voices on rural co-operative and social enterprise in the UK and is currently Vice President of the Local Government Association.
The Event
Speakers include:
Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation
Jim Paice, Shadow Secretary of State for Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Alun Michael MP, Vice President of the Local Government Association
There is a strong tradition of independence and self-reliance in our rural areas. Across the world, rural communities are taking action through a variety of enterprising initiatives where they take ownership of the challenges affecting them. However here in the UK there are unnecessary barriers which prevent rural people from exploiting this community enterprise potential. Communities are not yet in control.
This conference will go beyond the political rhetoric to explore a specific and practical proposition to return power to rural communities: the Right to Try. If a village shop is threatened with closure, the community should have the right to try to replace it before it is sold off. If lack of affordable housing is a concern, rural communities should have the right to try to secure land and raise finance. If a bus operator plans to withdraw a service, the community should have the right to try to put in place an alternative service. In short, the scales need to be tilted more firmly towards the community.
This conference will explore what rural community-owned enterprises are doing across the world to take control of the issues affecting rural people. It will highlight barriers which need to be removed in developed and regulated societies like the UK, and the types of support needed to make the right to try a reality. The event will engage politicians, policy makers and shapers, funders and support organisations – those with the ability to make change happen.
Twitter: Twitter uses please use the hashtag #righttotry when tweeting about the event. You can follow Plunkett Foundation tweeters Mike_Plunkett, Ema_Plunkett and PeterCouchman for the latest news on the event.
Contact us:
For further information on the event, please email info@plunkett.co.uk or call 01993 810730.