Cumbria is one of the most rural parts in England: our rural communities are also amongst those most affected by economic problems. We recognise that if many extreme communities are to be sustainable we require a greater understanding of the challenges of delivering services in these areas. We aim to address these challenges by: listening, working together and learning from practice.
| Listening | Working Together | Learning from Practice |
| We work with rural communities through local committees, neighbourhood forums and parish councils to understand better how to foster sustainable communities. | We responded to rural concerns by developing local initiatives, often in partnership with new local delivery bodies supporting local communities and businesses. | We are building on the success of rural proofing, developing a strong rural evidence base to better understand the value of 'proofing' and local delivery projects. |