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Introduction

Bedfordshire Rural Affairs Forum (BRAF) is an informal and independent organisation.  It was established in 2002 by Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity to provide a coordinated voice for rural Bedfordshire and to champion rural interests in the county.   BRAF not only provides a platform for stakeholders in the county to feed views to those responsible locally for policy and services in Bedfordshire, but also to Government via the East of England Rural Forum.  It can also act as a focus for attracting funding into the county.

With over 30 organisations and businesses in its membership, the forum is a focus for a wide range of experience and knowledge which equips it well for lobbying for rural Bedfordshire at county, regional and national level.  As it represents a wide range of groups, BRAF has a unique strategic influencing role.  It works to make sure that the rural angle is taken into account and that the communities, economy and environment of rural Bedfordshire do not lose out. 

The Government published its Rural Strategy in July 2004.  The Government’s agenda for rural delivery involves devolving decisions and funding relating to rural areas.  In this context, The Strategy includes a strengthening of the role of Regional Rural Affairs Forums in testing and challenging rural policy and delivery.  In future, we can look forward to much greater cohesion between the regional and county level.  County forums like BRAF are recognised as having a key part to play in conveying information from regional level and feeding local views and priorities upwards.  It also can act as a focus for attracting funding into the county.

BRAF is supported by the BRAF coordinator, who is employed and managed by Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity to undertake the day-to-day running of BRAF and to represent BRAF in strategic arenas.  The wider management of BRAF’s activities, including its funding activities, is carried out by the BRAF Steering Group, ultimately accountable to the wider BRAF membership.  Wider community input is obtained through consultation and through the BRAF conference (130 participants at the 2004 conference).

BRAF is currently funded by Defra through its Rural Social and Communities Programme.

Overview of activities

A flavour of what we have been doing. 

Funding

  • Facilitating development of a £3-4m bid for the Greensand Ridge for EU funding under the Rural Development Programme for England;
  • BRAF distributed the East of England Development Agency’s Rural Renaissance funding between 2003 and 2006. The funding supported:
    • research into Bedfordshire’s rural economy, use of redundant farm buildings, biomass power, conservation and economic development of ancient woodlands;
    • a number of projects to support skills development and help people into employment;
    • a local skills directory;
    • setting up Tastes of Bedfordshire and the new Bedfordshire Food Mark. Also community food projects;
    • business support – setting up Bedfordshire Rural Business Support.
    • development of the business plan and marketing strategy for the enterprise centre at Shuttleworth College.
  • BRAF secured funding from Defra’s Rural Social and Communities Programme (RSCP) until March 2008 to support:
    • the development of Parish Action Plans and enhancing the environmental aspects;
    • promotion of Quality Parish Council status, increased participation of young people in Youth Parish Councils and encouraging more local people to stand for parish elections;
    • Rural housing enabler;
    • Volunteering in rural areas
    • Improving access (through improving transport or other means e.g. community shops, IT bus) 
    • development of BRAF.
  • BRAF administers Defra grant-funding for the development of Parish Action Plans in Bedfordshire.

Rural voice

  • BRAF was commissioned to provide “rural-proofing” recommendations on the Local Area Agreement and the Investing in Communities Plan for Bedfordshire and Luton.
  • BRAF involvement in the refresh of the Local Area Agreement led to inclusion of parish plans in the draft refresh of the LAA.
  • BRAF is represented on the East of England Rural Forum, the Countywide Assembly, Mid Beds Local Strategic Partnership, Beds & Luton Economic Development Partnership and the Investing in Communities Partnership.
  • Organisation of a formal visit to Bedfordshire by the Government’s Rural Advocate and Chair of the Commission for Rural Communities.
  • Providing consultation responses. Examples include:
    • The new Bedfordshire Sustainable Communities Strategy
    • Regional Implementation Plan for the Rural Development Programme for England
    • Local Strategic Partnerships– shaping their future.
    • Bedford Borough Council Core Strategy & Rural issues Plan
    • Milton Keynes & South Midlands Sub-regional Strategy
    • East of England Development Agency Corporate Plan
    • Beds & Luton Joint Economic Development Strategy
    • Regional Economic Strategy
  • Participation in the Examination in Public for the East of England Plan.
  • BRAF has been pressing for the needs of rural areas to be taken on board in the Investing in Communities programme for Bedfordshire and Luton.
  • Quarterly meetings of the forum.

Information

  • BRAF Website to bring together rural resources.
  • Distribution of a news e-mail with updates on rural issues.
  • 2 major conferences to collect the views of rural stakeholders.

 

 

 

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