Cumbria Rural Forum
The function of Cumbria Rural Forum is to enable effective advocacy within the county and between the county and the region. The operation of the Forum is facilitated by a Business Group. The Business Group is a standing Committee of Voluntary Action Cumbria (VAC) and as such is appointed by and reports to VAC. Both the Forum and Business Group are serviced by VAC.
The Forum enables effective advocacy in a number of ways, by:
1. Discussing and exploring issues of importance to rural communities and acting as a crucible to crystallise the Cumbrian rural view(s)
2. Preparing papers summarising the crucible discussions, for dissemination to policy and strategy makers
3. Enabling participants in the Forum debates to take coherent arguments away and use them to advocate for rural Cumbria
4. Using its access to the North West Rural Affairs Forum and other bodies to advocate on behalf of rural Cumbria.
5. Legitimising through, wider debate, VAC's advocacy role in the county, region and nationally.
The Forum is independent in thought and view, with the expressions of its debates belong to those who participate in them.
The Forum does not have membership, but operates as a virtual network through use of VAC's mailing and email lists. Participation is open to all organisations with an interest in rural sustainability and sustainable inclusive rural communities
Forum Meetings will be open to all interested parties and will be informed by inputs from the Business Group and others including the county rural Neighbourhood Forums and web/email based discussions.
The Business Group will maintain an Issues list that reflects the concerns of the forum. The list will be updated and amended as the Forum's debates evolve.
After each Forum meeting a rural briefing is produced, this can be found on VAC's website; the link is in the notice board above.
To join the mailing list please contact Ruth Evans at Voluntary Action Cumbria to be added to the distribution list contact below: