The Rural Services Network is undertaking its second survey into the views and experiences of rural people in England. Last year as part of the Rural Insight Survey it generated over 1300 responses. The results of the survey can be viewed at www.ruralinsight.org.uk. We do hope you will assist us with the development of this survey which will provide a really important data source. Responses will help us to both chart the key issues in rural England and consider how the views and experiences of rural people about living and working in the countryside have developed over the last 12 months. We encourage you to complete the survey as we can then get a more comprehensive breakdown of the results at a Leicestershire level. More »

On Tuesday May 8th the Shepshed and Hathern Area Forum had its Decision Night to vote on how to allocate its budget of £12,500.

17 projects had been submitted, one withdrew before the event, so 16 projects turned up to put forward their case on an exciting and tense occasion.

Several project proposers changed their original proposals as the event unfolded, in the light of comments and suggestions that emerged.

Participants ranked all 16 projects, with the top 9 going through for the final vote, which determined which projects were recommended to receive funding. More »

"Could you make space for a child?"

According to the Fostering Network a child comes into care every 22 minutes across the UK.

Children need foster carers following a family crisis, if their parents become ill or if their family home is unsafe. This could involving caring for them for anything from a few days right though to the rest of their childhood.

Fostering a child is one of the most challenging but also rewarding things you can do and anyone can make a success of fostering. It doesn't matter whether you are married, cohabiting, single, gay or straight and we are looking for foster carers from all racial, religious and cultural backgrounds. More »