What is the Yorkshire and The Humber Rural Affairs Forum?

Please refer to the Y&H Framework to see the RAF reorganisation going on at the moment.   This section wil be updated as soon as these plans are complete.

Web-page also available as a leaflet. Y&H RAF leaflet

The Yorkshire and The Humber Rural Affairs Forum is a partnership made-up of organisations, groups and individuals involved in the development and well-being of the Region’s rural areas. Its membership is wide - covering economic, social and environmental aspects and representing the public, private and voluntary and community sectors.

Its aim is to represent the views and concerns of people living and working in the countryside. Set-up by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in 2002, the RAF works to advise on, and influence, the delivery of plans, policies and programmes in Yorkshire and The Humber - so that rural areas are not forgotten and the needs of rural communities are met.

Why were Rural Affairs Forums set up?

In his Rural Delivery Review report (2003), Lord Haskins recommended to Defra that the Rural Affairs Forums, which Defra had introduced in 2000, should become the means by which national and regional delivery of rural policies should be reviewed and reported. Defra’s Rural Strategy 2004 endorsed this recommendation and asked each region to prepare a Rural Delivery Framework that would identify priorities and agreed actions and structures for tackling these priorities with available resources. Partners and stakeholders in Yorkshire and the The Humber worked together to develop and agree the Yorkshire and The Humber Rural Framework which was published in 2006. This Framework identified 10 rural priorities for the region and identified how these priorities could be most effectively delivered and benefit local communities. 

The Rural Framework was reviewed in 2009 to reflect the changes which have occurred over recent years; Maximising the Rural Potential in Yorkshire & The Humber focuses on the contributions which rural areas can make to the vitality of the Region and how the assets can be safeguarded and enhanced.  This important document is revisited regularly to ensure that it fully reflects the needs and opportunities of rural communities and the countryside.

What is ‘rural’?

This map shows the three main categories of rural and urban areas in the region using the  government’s rural/urban definition (2006). Parts of North Yorkshire were identified as having some of the most sparsely populated areas in the country.

What are the working arrangements for the Rural Affairs Forum?

How does the Y&H RAF operate?

The RAF provides evidence on rural issues. It promotes effective joint working, facilitates the generation and exchange of new ideas and encourages the dissemination of innovative projects and initiatives. Communication is at the heart of the RAF’s activities; it produces a regular newsletter - Rural Matters - which is circulated widely and has an independent Web-Site. Members contribute to both of these and they provide opportunities for feedback and discussion. The Forum meets four times a year to consider a range of issues and holds occasional seminars and events to look in detail at specific topics. The Chairman of the RAF has regular meetings with Defra’s Rural Minister - ensuring that the voice of rural communities in the Region is heard at the highest levels.

How many members are there?
Currently there are around 70 organisations representing economic, environmental and social aspects.

What if I want to become a member?
Please contact the Secretariat (see contact details), you will then be sent a membership form to complete and this will be considered in the context of current membership and networks they represent.

Who acts as Secretariat?
The Secretariat, which provides the administrative and technical support for the Chair and the Forum, is provided by East Riding of Yorkshire Council and is co-ordinated there by Helen Wright, Executive Manager. Helen Wright is the main contact and can be contacted by email yhrafhelenwright@eastriding.gov.uk or tel; 01482-391690. Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber are still our main contact with Government and have contacts in their Rural Affairs Team if needed.

RAF Finances and Accounting
Funding for the Rural Affairs Forum is provided by Defra via the Government Office for Yorkshire and The Humber and Yorkshire Forward via the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA).

What is the format for meetings?
Full Forum meetings are currently held four times a year at various venues and consist of presentations and discussion sessions. Sub-group and task and finish groups are held to address specific topics and consultations as required.

Is there any communication between meetings?
Yes, ‘Rural Matters’ is the RAF’s newsletter circulated bi-monthly to a much wider audience. It reports both specific Y&H RAF activity and matters of wider rural interest, to which members are asked to contribute. This website will also provide regular updates from the Chair and opportunities for feedback and discussion from members.

How does the Y&H RAF have influence?
As well as quarterly meetings between RAF chairs and the Minister, the Y&H RAF communicates the views and concerns of the rural ‘customer’ to other key players in rural policy making and delivery in the region, including:

YHRAF Management Board:

What does it do?
Provides high-level strategic direction to the development and Implementation of rural policy in the region.

Who Attends?
12-15 members, chaired by Government Office. Attended by senior representatives from key organisations including Local Authorities.

How often are meetings held?
Four times a year.

Links with the Y&H RAF
RAF Chair is a member and feeds in the Forum’s views.

YHRAF Discussion Forums

What does it do?
The Forum meets four times a year to consider a range of issues and holds occasional seminars and events to look in detail at specific topics. The Chairman of the RAF has regular meetings with Defra’s Rural Minister - ensuring that the voice of rural communities in the Region is heard at the highest levels.

Who Attends?
Around 30 officers from a range of organisations.

How often are meetings held?
Quarterly.

Links with the Y&H RAF:
Coordination of secretariats in order to agree agendas and issues to be addressed.

See RAF Terms of Reference