OCSI work used to direct resources to rural Norfolk

An OCSI project commissioned by the Norfolk County Strategic Partnership has led to resources being directed to priority issues across rural Norfolk. The “Rural deprivation in Norfolk” project successfully developed a model to measure and highlight deprivation in rural areas across the County, particularly picking out the ‘rural share’ of deprivation, and identifying rural ‘pockets’ of deprivation in rural areas.

Key findings were presented by OCSI Director Tom Smith at a dissemination event attended by 150 stakeholders from across the county, with the research also picked up by local newspapers and radio. Subsequently, Norfolk became the first county across the region to receive dedicated rural funding under the East of England Development Agency ‘Investing in Communities’ programme.