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BRAF’s objectives

BRAF provides a single co-ordinated voice for rural Bedfordshire.  It will represent the views of its member organisations at local, regional, national and European level.  In particular, it will:

  • Lobby on behalf on Bedfordshire’s rural areas at local, regional and national level.

  • Develop an Agenda for Action for Rural Bedfordshire.

  • Take county views to the Regional Rural Affairs Forum.

  • Exchange information, skills and inform and be informed by existing rural forums and non-member organisations.

  • Network with other County Rural Affairs Forums.

  • Respond to consultation documents relevant to rural Bedfordshire.

  • Explore partnership potential between members on rural issues and projects.

  • Promote rural proofing within key relevant organisations within the County and influence those organisations.

  • Commission relevant rural research.

  • Commission pilot projects as a result of identified needs.

  • Provide a basis for bidding for funding available to the rural sector.

  • Administer EEDA Rural Renaissance funding, and secure sources of match funding to support projects that will help deliver regeneration and renaissance of the rural economy.

BRAF’s strategic priorities for 2004-2006 

Access
To maintain and where possible improve access to:

  • jobs
  • services
  • training
  • information
  • healthy and affordable food
  • recreation
  • mainstream funding

Farming, land management and the food economy
To support diversification, rural entrepreneurship and new economies, in particular where related to the farming, land management and food economies.

Capacity Building
To improve the abilities of communities and their supporting organisations to identify needs, to develop projects to address them, and to identify and access funding to implement projects.  BRAF will promote outreach and inter-agency working to support this.

Disadvantage
BRAF will pay particular attention to social exclusion issues and reducing inequalities.

Obtaining Funding
To obtain increased funding for rural Bedfordshire.

Key cross-cutting principles

  • Working in partnership with each other, with communities and with people.

  • The economic, social and environmental sustainability of policies and projects for rural areas.

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