Our Vision
“We believe that no-one should be unfairly disadvantaged because they live in a rural area.”
Despite its idyllic image, rural communities have pockets of isolation and deprivation, difficulties accessing services and a growing older population. Specialist services and the delivery of these services is being shaped around more populated, urban areas. Poor transport links reduce access to many of these vital services as well as to jobs and training.
Our Ambition
To address rural disadvantage so that rural communities are sustainable, vibrant and accessible to everyone regardless of age, background or income.
Our Mission
To improve the quality of life for Derbyshire residents, by empowering people in rural communities to take action to address disadvantage, become more sustainable and increase local control.
We make our beneficiaries’ lives better by:
- offering advice, support and training to individuals and communities,
- providing transport options to help people get to work, and
- running an oil buying scheme to help keep energy costs down for more isolated properties.
Our Strategic Aims
- To help remove barriers that prevent people from taking up opportunities, living well and participating in daily life.
- To enable communities to develop more control, protect and develop community assets and build resilience and community spirit.
- To address rural disadvantage particularly for vulnerable or low-income groups.
- To support rural economic development and sustainable rural communities.
- To grow and develop Rural Action Derbyshire to secure its future sustainability.
What we do
We have several key areas of activity:
- Community Oil Buying Scheme – helping ‘off-gas’ properties have access to affordable heating oil
- Village Halls Support – providing expert advice for the volunteers that run village halls and community buildings
- Rural Domestic Abuse Awareness – raising awareness around rural domestic abuse, including free training for people working or living in Derbyshire
- Food Poverty – working with groups around the county to address food poverty and support food banks.
- Digital Inclusion – helping to reduce the county’s digital divide
- Rural Housing – providing independent support and advice to help improve access to affordable housing
- Scams Awareness – working to increase awareness about scams, how to spot them, and where to report them to
Advocacy, Responsiveness, and Strategic Influence
In addition to delivering services, RAD plays a strategic role in shaping the future of rural support. We respond to emerging needs, influence policy, and ensure that rural voices are heard in decision-making. We regularly engage with local authorities, health services, and national networks to highlight the realities of rural disadvantage. Our CEO has spoken at national conferences, and our team contributes to consultations and working groups across sectors. We are agile and responsive—able to pivot quickly when new challenges arise. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we mobilised local networks to deliver food, support isolated residents, and provide digital access. More recently, we’ve responded to the cost-of-living crisis by expanding our food and fuel poverty work.
As well as our project work…
RAD is part of a number of partnerships and represents the Voluntary Sector on a number of networks to help promote the wonderful work of the sector throughout Derbyshire and to ensure the large rural parts of Derbyshire have a voice.
