The Rural Services Network (RSN) is excited to present the National Rural Conference 2024, set to take place from 16th to 19th September. This virtual event, accessible via Zoom, serves as the foremost gathering for senior officers, members, policymakers, and rural service professionals.

We are thrilled to announce the Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health (LIRCH) as one of our esteemed sponsors for this year's National Rural Conference. Alongside our other valued sponsors and supporters, LIRCH plays a crucial role in making this event possible.

The Lincoln Institute for Rural and Coastal Health, part of the University of Lincoln, conducts world-class interdisciplinary research to address the most challenging health issues faced by rural, coastal, and remote populations. Their mission is to 'shine a light' on the health inequities experienced by these communities and to find innovative solutions to these challenges.

LIRCH is home to world-leading researchers in rural health, specializing in areas such as oral health, cancer care, sexual health and disease, HIV epidemiology, testing and prevention, and mental health. By working closely with communities, LIRCH co-produces place-based evidence relating to health inequalities and access challenges faced by rural, remote, and coastal populations locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Institute has been awarded £10.9 million from Research England as part of their Expanding Excellence in England Programme. This funding enables the expansion of their research capacity and aims to secure LIRCH's future as a transdisciplinary research powerhouse specializing in rural and coastal health.

LIRCH's transformative work, supported by nearly £11 million in funding, focuses on tackling place-based health inequities. "Coastal and rural communities can be disproportionately impacted by economic problems, weather-related disasters, and climate change, in addition to longstanding health challenges and poorer access to services," says Professor Gussy. "Linking geospatial, environmental, and weather influences with traditional population health sciences will develop a more sophisticated understanding of the broader determinants of health and wellbeing."

For more detailed information LIRCH’s initiatives and how they are supporting rural and coastal health, read more HERE. 

Stay tuned for more updates from our other sponsors and supporters who are equally committed to the success and progress of our rural communities.

Join us in making a difference for rural communities!

The conference is free to attend for local authorities that are members of the Rural Services Network and members of the Rural Services Partnership. To verify your organisation’s membership or for any questions, contact [email protected]