Defra’s Rural Social and Community Programme (RSCP) was a Government response to the Haskins’ report and the subsequent publication of Defra’s 5-year Rural Strategy, which commits to supporting sustainable rural communities and to tackling rural social exclusion wherever it occurs.

The Programme ran from April 2006 to March 2008 and consisted of an element for core funding for Rural Community Councils in recognition of their pivotal role in supporting the rural voluntary and community sector and a "flexible fund" aimed at tackling issues of rural social exclusion and community capacity building, through locally determined projects that reflect local needs.

Defra devolved responsibility for the "flexible fund" to sub regional partnerships, subject to the preparation of a business case for the proposed investment to be submitted to Government Offices for approval.  The programme comprised revenue funding only and aimed to kick start projects that identify and address unmet needs or explore new ways of working together for the benefit of rural communities.

In Northumberland the RSCP "flexible fund" was managed by NSP which facilitated a partnership approach to the development of the business case and the individual projects and managed the devolved fund through its existing programme management arrangements.   It comprised seven projects:

• Rural and Community Transport - Northumberland County Council
• Affordable Housing - Federation of Northumberland Development Trusts
• Social Policy - Alnwick Citizens Advice Bureau (for theNorthumberland CABx)
• Rural Voices Network - Northumberland County Council
• Parish Councils Support - Community Action Northumberland
• Community Buildings Support - Community Action Northumberland
• Volunteering Northumberland - Castle Morpeth and Wansbeck Council for Voluntary Service

The final overview report on Defra’s Rural Social and Community Programme in Northumberland will be posted here shortly.

Click here for the national assessment of the RSCP commissioned by Defra and produced by GHK Consulting. An Executive Summary is also available - click here to download.