Keynote Speech: Kate Braithwaite, the Charter for Rural Communities

Keynote Speech: Kate Braithwaite, Carnegie Trust

Dr Kate Braithwaite MBE, leader of the Carnegie Trust Rural Programme gave the keynote speech of the AGM. Dr Braithwaite outlined the results of the Carnegie’s Commission of Enquiry into the future for rural communities which identified great opportunities in the future.

The enquiry identified three things which will become fundamental for the community and voluntary sector: an increased emphasis on new skills such as online networking; enhancing community assets through building capital and increasing the scope and quality of community planning.

The enquiry criticises the current deficit model of funding where a community often has to denigrate itself in order to apply for grants and promotes a positive vision of the future for rural communities. It envisages a future where the local community becomes central to administration, governance and service provision, is provided with the finance to pay for it, and where volunteering and social action are encouraged and supported.