Rural Poverty Today: Experiences of Social Exclusion in Rural Britain

New book from Mark Shucksmith, Jayne Glass, Polly Chapman and Jane Atterton to be published by Policy Press on 22 February 2023

Poverty is perceived as an urban problem, yet many in rural Britain also experience hardship. This new book (published 22^nd February by Policy Press) explores how and why people in rural areas experience and negotiate poverty and social exclusion. It examines the role of societal processes, individual circumstances, sources of support (markets; state; voluntary organisations; family and friends) and the role of place, drawing on 3 case study areas in Scotland and England.

It concludes that the UK’s welfare system is poorly adapted to rural areas, with the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit and cutbacks exacerbating pressures. Voluntary organisations increasingly fill gaps in support left by the state. Invaluable to those working in policy and practice, the book recommends a combination of person-based and place-based approaches to tackle rural poverty.

 

“A significant and urgently needed study. The authors do a brilliant job of getting under the skin of the rural idyll and revealing the extent of rural poverty in Britain today.” Sarah Neal, University of Sheffield

“This important book makes visible the diversity, experience and widespread scale of rural poverty in the UK. All those responsible for the design and practice of welfare support systems should read this book and feel ashamed. A must-read for all those committed to redesigning fairer and kinder ways of providing welfare support.” Patsy Healey, Newcastle University

“An essential and timely primer on the dynamics and experiences of rural poverty. Through a prism of financial hardship, this richly evidenced book explores poverty in place, with important insights for policy and practice.”  Michael Woods, Aberystwyth University

Pre-order here