An expanding waistline – are we piling on the pounds in rural areas?
Since the pandemic began, clinical studies have reported that many of the sickest COVID-19 patients have been people with obesity. Large population studies are being published in academic journals cementing this association. An analysis of 75 studies (some 399,000 patients) published in Obesity Reviews, for example, found people with obesity who contracted COVID-19 were 113% […]
What are the implications of COVID-19 and Brexit for the post-millennial generation?
New research published by The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) reveals how young people are pessimistic about future opportunities to live and work in rural areas and believe the pandemic will continue to affect their prospects in the long-term. What needs to be done to support young people, now and in the years […]
Where does rural fit in the Government’s brand-new Freeport policy?
The Government wants to level up the UK by ensuring that towns, cities and regions across the country can benefit from global trade, inward investment and employment opportunities. In drawing on evidence from across the world, the Government is intending to create freeports across the UK. What does the UK freeports model look like and […]
If we want to be powered by place, what can geospatial data tell us about rural areas?
Location shapes the way we live, work and socialise. Geospatial data, also known as location-based data, is commonly seen as a foundation upon which a wide range of services can be developed and delivered. Geospatial data has been used to respond to COVID-19, from modelling the transmission of the virus, through to predicting populations more […]
What’s the real cost of borrowing on credit in rural areas?
From buying a home, to replacing an appliance, or meeting an unexpected emergency, many households rely on some form of credit. But over the past four decades the UK has seen a rapid increase in consumer debt. This is now coupled with the impact of COVID-19 – with some people losing their job and others […]





