Rural communities

Rural communities

About this theme

This theme covers topics relating to strengthening rural communities. Between 2019-2023 the Churchill Fellowship ran a designated programme of Fellowships on this theme in partnership with the Royal Countryside Fund. Fellows from across the years continue to explore this theme as part of their Fellowships. You can read more about them, their reports, and their latest activity below. Fellows’ stories

Blogs & conversations Bringing Rural Abuse into Focus: What survivors are telling us, and why we must listen

As part of my Fellowship, I travelled across rural regions in the USA, Canada, and Australia, connecting with experts and victim-survivors to explore how to improve safety and achieve equity. My learning and earlier conversations with Rhianon Bragg – a survivor whose story reveals deep cracks in our justice system – helped shape my focus post-Fellowship, laying the groundwork for a new social enterprise to raise the status of rural domestic abuse in public policy and support more coordinated, realistic responses.

By Judith Vickress, 2025

Fellows' updates November 2024 Fellows' update: James Allen

James Allen has made significant progress with his not-for-profit tannery project, which supports education about natural fibres and has already welcomed visits from three schools and colleges. He has secured over £250,000 in funding to build the tannery and classroom, and has been awarded a bursary to fund a three-year mentorship with the UK’s leading vegetable tanning expert.

By James Allen, 2024

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