Rural Futures: helping communities build skills, confidence and capacity to lead local change
The Rural Futures programme was a seven-year, £2 million investment funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by Severn Wye and the BRO Partnership. Working with 14 communities across rural Wales, the programme aimed to help local people identify and address challenges associated with rural poverty through community-led action.
What we did
Wavehill delivered an independent evaluation of the programme throughout its lifetime. Rather than assessing impacts only at the end, findings were fed back as the programme progressed, enabling learning to be incorporated into programme delivery and helping partners adapt their approach as circumstances changed.
The evaluation combined analysis of programme monitoring data with surveys, interviews and case study research involving community members, stakeholders, delivery staff and Place Coordinators. The final phase included 127 community survey responses, stakeholder interviews, and analysis of almost 2,000 recorded engagements with communities.
What we found
The evaluation found strong evidence that Rural Futures helped communities build skills, confidence and capacity to lead local change. Twelve of the fourteen participating communities subsequently secured funding for projects developed through the programme.
A key finding was the importance of skilled Place Coordinators in building trust, supporting collaboration and helping communities move from discussion to action. The evaluation also highlighted the importance of community ownership, flexibility in programme design and long-term investment in community development.
Why it matters
The findings demonstrate that community-led approaches can help rural communities strengthen local capacity, develop effective partnerships and become more resilient to future challenges. The evaluation also generated practical lessons for funders and policymakers about how place-based programmes can be designed and delivered more effectively.
You can find further information about the Rural Futures programme and a copy of the evaluation report here: Rural Futures – Severn Wye
For more information about this evaluation, contact Endaf Griffiths – endaf.griffiths@wavehill.com.
