Rural Community Network

🎉We are delighted to celebrate an award for our Policy & Research Manager, Samantha Gallagher!

Rural Community Network is delighted that Samantha has been named the winner of the Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Allyship Award at the Women in Bus and Coach Awards 2026.

The award recognises the impact Samantha has made and the support she has shown for women across the bus, coach and community transport industry. The judges were unanimous in recognising her commitment to allyship.

While Samantha’s role with RCN is focused on policy and research across a wide range of issues affecting rural communities, transport and connectivity are fundamental to rural life. Her work consistently brings the experiences of rural communities into policy conversations, including the particular challenges faced by women and those who rely on public and community transport to access work, education, services and social connections.

We are especially pleased that this recognition has come through the transport and community transport sector, where there is such an important shared commitment to ensuring that rural voices are heard.

A very special thank you to Frances Campbell and our colleagues at Community Transport Association NI for nominating Samantha. Frances is a rural powerhouse in her own right and a passionate advocate for rural communities and community transport, so it means a great deal to have her support and recognition.

And thank you to Melanie Clarke from CTA UK for collecting the award on Samantha’s behalf at the Women in Bus and Coach Summit. We are very grateful!

Congratulations Samantha – a wonderful recognition of the contribution you make to supporting women, championing rural communities and bringing people’s lived experience into the policy conversation.

Kate Clifford, Director of Rural Community Network, said:
"We are hugely proud of Samantha and delighted to see her receive this award. Those of us who work with her every day know the passion, she brings to everything she does with our rural communities.

Samantha is a strong voice for rural communities and a tireless champion for inclusion and equality. She is always willing to support others, open doors, make connections and ensure that people who are often overlooked have a seat at the table.

This recognition is richly deserved and reflects the respect she has earned across the transport and community sectors. Congratulations, Samantha, on this fantastic achievement."

https://womeninbusandcoach.org.uk/news/news/celebrating-our-winners-from-the-women-in-bus-and-coach-awards-2026/

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲.

Are you involved in peacebuilding and interested in reflecting on your practice, learning with others, and contributing to a resource for practitioners across Northern Ireland?
We’re inviting peacebuilding practitioners to take part in a new collaborative project to develop a Peacebuilding Practitioner’s Toolkit — a practical resource shaped by the experiences, knowledge and needs of those working in the field.

Through a series of fortnightly gatherings, participants will have the opportunity to:
• Explore trauma-informed approaches and peacebuilding theory
• Learn from established thinkers and practitioners, including Professor John Paul Lederach
• Share experiences, challenges and approaches from your own work
• Reflect together on what effective peacebuilding practice looks like in a Northern Irish context
• Contribute directly to a resource designed to support fellow practitioners

The sessions will take place every other Thursday, from 2pm–4.30pm, starting in November. Until Christmas, we’ll meet at Rural Community Network in Cookstown, with a combination of future venues and online sessions planned for the new year.

If you’d like to hear more about the project before deciding whether to take part, join our online information session on 22 October.
To reserve a place or ask any questions about the project, please contact [email protected]

The Integrated Education Fund and Rural Community Network are looking forward to our joint event during this year’s Good Relations Week.

Schools & Inclusion in Rural Communities: A Roundtable Discussion
Wednesday 14 October, 11am-12.30pm
Rural Community Network offices in

At the event, RCN and IEF will provide an overview of research and policy linked to the theme. A key aspect of the event will be to listen to your viewpoints and experiences, with plenty of opportunities for reflection and discussion.

To register for this free event, please visit: https://SchoolsandInclusion.eventbrite.co.uk

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact: [email protected] or [email protected]

Join Centre for Cross Border Cooperation at this week’s cross-border networking event!

Representatives from community and voluntary groups are meeting on Thursday 8 October from 11am - 1.30pm in Rural Community Network, Cookstown. Tea, coffee and scones provided.

The ‘Sustaining the New Common Charter’ project has been bringing together civic society groups from across the island of Ireland to explore shared challenges, identify common solutions and support their implementation on a cross‑border basis.

This informal event will give organisations from both sides of the border the chance to come together to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities they are experiencing. There will be examples from organisations that have successfully secured funding for cross-border projects and how they have navigated some of the practical challenges faced.

The ‘Sustaining the New Common Charter’ project has been funded by the Shared Island Civic Society Fund and we are grateful for the support.

You can register here 👇
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSflXoG_V0dLnMDy9hfUWnGH7LpASXJbhNYDy-ftqRGie0Sm5g/viewform

And you can read more here 👇
https://crossborder.ie/what-we-do/projects/new-common-charter/

Cross-Border Networking Event Thank you for your interest in attending our upcoming event. Date: Thursday 8 October, 11am-1.30pm Venue: Rural Community Network, Cookstown Please add your details below. We will be in touch with further information soon.

📣𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲!

We have a survey that requires 1000 responses before 9th October 2026.

You do not need any experience in emergency preparedness to complete this survey.

Whether you have experienced a flood, storm, power cut, severe weather or another disruption — or you live in a rural community — your views matter.

🏆 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘'𝗦 𝗔 £𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗭𝗘!

Complete the survey and you can enter a draw to win a £100 All For One Gift Card.

Scan the QR code or click the link • Complete the survey • Have your say

https://ow.ly/nbun50ZTP0a

🚨How ready is your community in an Emergency? Join us tonight!

Rural Community Network, with the help of County Down Rural Community Network, is bringing people together to explore how rural communities prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

You do NOT need to be a member of a community group, have any experience of emergency planning or know anything about civil contingencies or community preparedness

In fact, if you DON'T know what would happen in an emergency – we really want to hear from you.

We want to understand what people in rural communities know, don't know, worry about and would need if something happened in their area – whether that's flooding, severe weather, power cuts or another emergency.

Every response helps us build a clearer picture of what rural communities need and where support could be improved.

🗺️Area: County Down
Date: 1st of October
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Scout Hall Downpatrick, 48 Thomas Russell Park Downpatrick BT306NH
*** Note: Attendees should enter VIA the leisure centre car park and drive down to the end of the car park which will take you into the Scout Hall car park ***
📞Contact: [email protected]

Can't attend in person? Fill out our survey here and be in with a chance to win a £100 One4all gift card 👇
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/RCNCivilContingencies/

🚨How ready is your community in an Emergency? Join us tonight!

Rural Community Network, with the help of Fermanagh Rural Community Network, is bringing people together to explore how rural communities prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.

You do NOT need to be a member of a community group, have any experience of emergency planning or know anything about civil contingencies or community preparedness

In fact, if you DON'T know what would happen in an emergency – we really want to hear from you.

We want to understand what people in rural communities know, don't know, worry about and would need if something happened in their area – whether that's flooding, severe weather, power cuts or another emergency.

Every response helps us build a clearer picture of what rural communities need and where support could be improved.

🗺️Area: County Fermanagh
Date: 30th September
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Boho Community Hall
📞Contact: 028 6632 7006 / [email protected]

Can't attend in person? Fill out our survey here and be in with a chance to win a £100 One4all gift card 👇
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/t/RCNCivilContingencies/

President Catherine Connolly Hears Rural Voices and Celebrates Cross-Border Partnership at RCN

Rural voices and the power of community took centre stage when Rural Community Network welcomed President of Ireland Catherine Connolly and her husband, Brian McEnery, on Saturday, 26 September, as part of their visit to County Tyrone. The visit was a special opportunity to showcase the energy, diversity and far-reaching impact of rural community activity across Northern Ireland.

The President met representatives from 24 rural community organisations from across Northern Ireland and the border regions. Together, they reflected the remarkable breadth of rural life: activists and campaigners, peacebuilders, race-relations organisations, older people’s groups, heritage organisations, social farms, women’s groups, volunteer-led organisations, youth representatives, community transport providers, community development practitioners and groups representing minority communities.

At the heart of the visit was a lively and thoughtful exchange. President Connolly took time to speak with people individually, listen to their experiences and hear first-hand how local leadership and volunteer action are responding to the challenges facing rural communities. Participants shared not only the pressures affecting rural areas, but also the creativity, resilience and determination driving practical solutions.

A strong theme throughout the conversation was the value of looking beyond immediate borders to learn, connect and collaborate. Participants spoke about links with heritage groups in the south of Ireland and growing connections between community energy groups, alongside relationships with organisations in England, Scotland and Wales. These networks allow rural communities to exchange ideas, strengthen local action and develop shared responses to common challenges.

President Connolly showed particular interest in RCN’s peace and reconciliation work. The Department of Foreign Affairs has resourced this work in the past, recognising RCN as an important partner in building relationships and supporting peace and reconciliation across communities. RCN also highlighted its partnerships with the University of Galway and the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation, strengthening cooperation across these islands; North–South and East–West relations.

Members of the President’s Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs delegation also met directly with participating groups, hearing about their work and the opportunities for deeper cooperation in peacebuilding, heritage, community energy and rural development. The discussions underlined the importance of creating practical connections between people and organisations working on shared challenges.

“We were honoured to welcome President Connolly to Rural Community Network. Her genuine interest in our communities, our reconciliation work and the partnerships we are building was deeply appreciated. This visit shone a light on the extraordinary people whose ideas, commitment and courage are shaping a stronger future for rural communities.” — Kate Clifford, CEO, Rural Community Network.
RCN Chair John Waddell and Vice-Chair Noelle Hall represented the Board, joining staff from across the organisation to highlight the vital role of rural communities, volunteers and community organisations in strengthening local places, supporting inclusion and improving quality of life.

The visit was an inspiring recognition of what rural communities achieve every day—and of what becomes possible when local experience is connected across borders. RCN was proud to bring these voices together and to share a story of resilience, reconciliation and partnership that continues to shape rural life across Northern Ireland and beyond.

What does a flourishing rural community look like – and how do we measure it?

Our Policy and Research Manager, Samantha Gallagher, recently attended the Rural Futures Network, where the discussion focused on what it means for rural communities to flourish and how we can measure that in a meaningful way.

Samantha brought the voice and experiences of our Rural Community Network members into the conversation, drawing on everything you have shared with us over the past year through our programmes, our delivery of the Community Development degree with the University of Galway, and our research and policy work.

Some key reflections from the discussion:

🌱 Flourishing means more than economic growth. It is about the lived experience of people in rural communities and whether they have the opportunities, resources and support to thrive.

🌱 Every community is different. Rural places have their own strengths, challenges and aspirations. Understanding these differences is essential to shaping approaches that work locally.

🌱Community voices matter. The people who live and work in rural communities have valuable knowledge about what is working, what is missing and what needs to change.

🌱Place-based approaches are important. Strong communities need local development, meaningful connections and the services and infrastructure that enable people to live well in rural areas.

🌱How we measure flourishing matters. We need to look beyond traditional measures and consider the social, community and lived-experience dimensions of rural life.

A huge thank you to all our members for sharing your experiences, ideas and insights with us. Your voices help shape the research, policy and practice that support rural communities.

We were delighted to attend the launch of the Research Priorities for the Centre for Cross Border Cooperation on Wednesday at Stormont.

Through our five recent research projects, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with communities across the border, listening to local experiences, priorities and perspectives.

It was fantastic to see the strong links between the work we’ve been doing with border communities and the Centre’s research priorities. We look forward to continuing to contribute to this important work and supporting research that reflects the voices and experiences of rural and border communities.

A great day of connection, collaboration and looking ahead.