The needs of the poorest and most vulnerable people living in the countryside are ignored by the UK Government in a way that would not be acceptable in urban areas, say academics in a new book.
Rural Poverty Today explores how and why people in rural areas experience and negotiate poverty and social exclusion.
The book explores the role of societal processes, sources of support and the role of place. It concludes that the UK’s welfare system is poorly adapted to rural areas, with the Covid-19 pandemic, Brexit and cutbacks exacerbating pressures.
A place-based approach
The book recommends a combination of person-based and place-based approaches to tackle rural poverty.
Mark Shucksmith, Professor of Planning at Newcastle University is one of the book’s authors. He said: “Rural citizens should expect fairness and similar rights of citizenship - that is, fair outcomes including access to services which meet needs, investment in social and economic infrastructure, transparent decisions based on evidence, equal opportunities to participate in society, and a fair hearing and an effective voice in decision making.”
Rural Poverty Today is written by Mark Shucksmith, Jayne Glass, Polly Chapman and Jane Atterton. It is published by Policy Press.