The ACRE Network

National coverage, local reach

The ACRE Network is made up of the 38 rural community councils (RCCs) across England who help communities to help themselves.

RCCs (RAD was formerly Derbyshire Rural Community Council) are charitable local development agencies, generally based at county level, who have a strong history of leading, supporting and enabling community initiatives. From running community transport schemes and oil-buying clubs, to assessing housing needs and supporting older people to stay in their homes, the ACRE Network makes a real difference to rural communities.

The ACRE Network collectively:
  • employs approximately 900 staff with a variety of specialist skills
  • engages with 6,900 different partners
  • has over 12,000 fee-paying members
  • reaches 52,000 grassroots contacts and organisations in the 11,000 rural communities across England

Members of the ACRE Network have a strong ethos of working with each other to provide comprehensive links across geographical areas and between grassroots activity and national advocacy.

The aims of the ACRE Network are to:
  • Support community-led action and strong local governance
  • Increase the long-term sustainability of local community life
  • Influence policies and services, particularly to achieve equity for rural communities