£500,000 available to tackle rural stress in England

Defra's fifth Rural Stress Action Plan is providing £500,000 over three years to voluntary and community sector organisations that are providing support to people in rural areas who suffer from stress.

Jim Knight, Minister for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity,

said:

"Defra recognises that voluntary and community organisations are providing invaluable services to many people in rural areas, especially supporting them in times of need. This is a useful fund which supports work to help people in a real and practical way."

Expressions of interest are invited from relevant bodies for work within rural England. Proposals may start from November 2005 onwards and run up to no later than March 2008.

The fund is being co-ordinated jointly by Defra and the Rural Stress Information Network (RSIN) on behalf of the Rural Stress Action Plan

(RSAP) Working Group.