Home > About us > Welcome

Welcome

RCCE (Rural Community Council of Essex) is an independent charity helping people and communities throughout rural Essex build a sustainable future.

As one of England's 38 county Rural Community Councils, we are a member of ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) and Rural Action East network of RCCs serving the East of England.

RCCE is an influential voice for rural communities at local, regional and national level. We are an active partner in the new County Strategic Partnership and in a wide-range of multi-agency partnerships such as the Essex Rural Partnership and Essex, Southend and Thurrock Infrastructure Consortum (ESTIC) - geared to making new, large-scale funding opportunities accessible to rural communities. We also participate in a number of local strategic partnerships established at district level.

RCCE plays a prominent part in shaping the Essex Rural Strategy, and with our partners in Rural Action East we enjoy a strong working relationship with East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Who we are

RCCE (Rural Community Council of Essex) is an independent charity, working with local community groups, Parish Councils, Village Halls and Community Buildings across Essex since its been formed in 1929.

 

We are one of 38 RCCs across England and are members of ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England). Together we aim to meet the needs of 11,000 rural communities nationwide.

 

What we do

RCCE's mission is:

to provide local communities with the skills, resources and expertise necessary to achieve a thriving and sustainable future.

 

This means helping communities come together to identify their own needs and priorities, and provide them with advice and support in developing practical solutions.

 

We strive to provide a voice for rural communities, representing their interests to government at local, regional and national level.

 

Who we help

RCCE specialises in working with local community groups in villages and market towns across Essex. In many of our rural communities provision of local services is declining, affordable housing is almost impossible to obtain, and community-based activities are totally reliant on volunteers.