RCN Membership Survey 2018

Dear Colleague,

Rural Community Network is currently reviewing our work to ensure that we continue to meet our members’ needs in the future. Part of this review will identifying the key aspects of our work that we should focus on over the next 3 years.

We would be very grateful if you could complete the following survey as it will help us to gather information on the support needs of the rural community & voluntary sector in NI, over the next 2-3 years.

The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.

We would advise you to complete this survey on your desktop/laptop/tablet as some of the questions will not be displayed correctly on a phone

All responses will be treated in a strictly confidential manner. All completed responses will go into a draw for the chance to win 1 of 2 Amazon Fire Tablets for your Group!

If you have any questions about this survey, you can contact Conor McGale (Membership & Training Officer) on 028 8676 6670 or email conor@ruralcommunitynetwork.org

Many thanks.

Conor

1. About You: Name of your Organisation/Group *This question is required.

2. The Council Area(s) where your group is based? (Max of 3 areas) *This question is required.

3. What are the main areas of work for your organisation? (Choose all that are appropriate)
*This question is required. Order the items from the following list. First select an item with the spacebar to show a menu of possible ranking positions. Next, click a ranking position to order it in the ranked list. Note the menu will display more ordering options as you add items to the ranked list.

Arts
Children (0-13)
Community Development
Community Transport
Disability
Education and Training
Environmental
Faith
Good Relations
Health and Well Being
Heritage
Housing
Men's Group
Older Person’s Group/Services
Social Enterprise
Sports
Youth Work (14-25)
Volunteering
Women's Group
Other

4. What is your organisation's average income level? (Please Tick 1)
*This question is required.

6. Does your Organisation/Group employ staff &/or volunteers (not Management Committee or Trustees) *This question is required.

7. If so how many

Space Cell	20 Hours or More	20 Hours or Less
Staff	Staff: 20 Hours or More	Staff: 20 Hours or Less
Volunteers	Volunteers: 20 Hours or More	Volunteers: 20 Hours or Less

7. Does your organisation/group own their premises? *This question is required.

8. Does your organisation have a Facebook Page? *This question is required.

9. Does your Organisation have a Twitter account? *This question is required.

10. Are you currently a member of Rural Community Network, a former/lapsed member or have never been a member?
*This question is required.

11. Can you give the reasons as to why you are no longer a member of RCN? (Tick all that apply) *This question is required.

Reduction of funding for the Organisation/Group
Lack of staff in our Organisation/Group
Our group no longer works in rural areas
RCN’s membership fee is too expensive
Our Organisation/Group is no longer active
Support to our organisation/group is now being provided by another Group
Other - Write In (Required) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection. * This question is required.

11. If you have never been a member of RCN, what are the key factors that would make your organisation become one? (Tick all that apply)
*This question is required.

Membership fee that’s affordable
Membership Services specific to rural groups/Issues
Access to funding Information & knowledge
Access to rural policy & decision makers
Training provided that is relevant & would assist our Group.
Access to rural peacebuilding/good relations best practice
Other - Write In (Required) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection. * This question is required.

12. Current Membership Services(a) We offer a range of services to our members that are outlined below. Can you indicate if you have accessed any of these services in the last 12 months? (Please provide a response to all options shown.)
*This question is required.

Space Cell	Yes	Wasn't Aware Of This Service	No
Accessing up to 5 Hours of Free Support around Funding, Community Development, Good Relations, Strategic & Action Planning, Policy Work, Governance etc	Accessing up to 5 Hours of Free Support around Funding, Community Development, Good Relations, Strategic & Action Planning, Policy Work, Governance etc: Yes	Accessing up to 5 Hours of Free Support around Funding, Community Development, Good Relations, Strategic & Action Planning, Policy Work, Governance etc: Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Accessing up to 5 Hours of Free Support around Funding, Community Development, Good Relations, Strategic & Action Planning, Policy Work, Governance etc: No
Access to our Publications (Rural Brief, Network News & Policy Link )	Access to our Publications (Rural Brief, Network News & Policy Link ): Yes	Access to our Publications (Rural Brief, Network News & Policy Link ): Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Access to our Publications (Rural Brief, Network News & Policy Link ): No
Access to our Training Courses and Seminars	Access to our Training Courses and Seminars: Yes	Access to our Training Courses and Seminars: Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Access to our Training Courses and Seminars: No
Discounted Room Booking Rates	Discounted Room Booking Rates: Yes	Discounted Room Booking Rates: Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Discounted Room Booking Rates: No
Funding Information & Assistance with Grant Tracker Funding Package	Funding Information & Assistance with Grant Tracker Funding Package: Yes	Funding Information & Assistance with Grant Tracker Funding Package: Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Funding Information & Assistance with Grant Tracker Funding Package: No
Priority access to events, training and policy consultations	Priority access to events, training and policy consultations: Yes	Priority access to events, training and policy consultations: Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Priority access to events, training and policy consultations: No
Being part of RCN’s Consultation Responses to new Policy Initiatives	Being part of RCN’s Consultation Responses to new Policy Initiatives: Yes	Being part of RCN’s Consultation Responses to new Policy Initiatives: Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Being part of RCN’s Consultation Responses to new Policy Initiatives: No
Access to our Sample Policies and Procedures (e.g Sample Contracts of Employment, Sample Financial Procedures Manual etc)	Access to our Sample Policies and Procedures (e.g Sample Contracts of Employment, Sample Financial Procedures Manual etc): Yes	Access to our Sample Policies and Procedures (e.g Sample Contracts of Employment, Sample Financial Procedures Manual etc): Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Access to our Sample Policies and Procedures (e.g Sample Contracts of Employment, Sample Financial Procedures Manual etc): No
Enter another option	Other: Yes	Other: Wasn't Aware Of This Service	Other: No

12. If you haven’t accessed our Membership Services in the last year, can you outline the reason(s) why? (Tick all that apply)

Didn’t need assistance
Wasn’t aware the service was being offered
Got the assistance elsewhere
Difficulty accessing internet
Other - Write In (Required) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection. * This question is required.
Exclusive / None of the above

12. Future Membership Services: Which of the following future potential services could benefit your organisation/group over the next 2-3 years? (Please provide a response to all options shown)
*This question is required.

Space Cell	Yes	No
Members only Facebook Groups e.g. Funding Updates, Upcoming Training Events, Rural Policy etc.	Members only Facebook Groups e.g. Funding Updates, Upcoming Training Events, Rural Policy etc.: Yes	Members only Facebook Groups e.g. Funding Updates, Upcoming Training Events, Rural Policy etc.: No
Fortnightly Members Only E-zine containing Funding, Networking, Training and Policy Opportunities.	Fortnightly Members Only E-zine containing Funding, Networking, Training and Policy Opportunities.: Yes	Fortnightly Members Only E-zine containing Funding, Networking, Training and Policy Opportunities.: No
Developing an evidence base on obvious gaps of rural research in Northern Ireland & work in partnership with RCN members to investigate these gaps further.	Developing an evidence base on obvious gaps of rural research in Northern Ireland & work in partnership with RCN members to investigate these gaps further.: Yes	Developing an evidence base on obvious gaps of rural research in Northern Ireland & work in partnership with RCN members to investigate these gaps further.: No
Members Only Networking Events focusing on particular themes (i.e. Funding, Governance & Committee Skills, Good Relations, Improving your Social Media, Policy, Rural Needs Act etc).	Members Only Networking Events focusing on particular themes (i.e. Funding, Governance & Committee Skills, Good Relations, Improving your Social Media, Policy, Rural Needs Act etc).: Yes	Members Only Networking Events focusing on particular themes (i.e. Funding, Governance & Committee Skills, Good Relations, Improving your Social Media, Policy, Rural Needs Act etc).: No
Facilitating Best Practice/Information Exchange Site Visits with other rural community organisations	Facilitating Best Practice/Information Exchange Site Visits with other rural community organisations: Yes	Facilitating Best Practice/Information Exchange Site Visits with other rural community organisations: No
Providing access to specialist peace building best practice events	Providing access to specialist peace building best practice events: Yes	Providing access to specialist peace building best practice events: No
Assisting your group respond to policy consultations	Assisting your group respond to policy consultations: Yes	Assisting your group respond to policy consultations: No
RCN providing a monitoring role on the Rural Needs Act to ensure consistent approach is employed by public bodies on all major policy decisions, and communicating these decisions to the membership & the wider public.	RCN providing a monitoring role on the Rural Needs Act to ensure consistent approach is employed by public bodies on all major policy decisions, and communicating these decisions to the membership & the wider public.: Yes	RCN providing a monitoring role on the Rural Needs Act to ensure consistent approach is employed by public bodies on all major policy decisions, and communicating these decisions to the membership & the wider public.: No
Develop training packages specifically tailored for rural communities to help them meet the needs of their communities i.e. Community Development Training Qualification, Succession Planning for Rural Groups, Rural Leadership Programme, Rural Needs Act Training etc.	Develop training packages specifically tailored for rural communities to help them meet the needs of their communities i.e. Community Development Training Qualification, Succession Planning for Rural Groups, Rural Leadership Programme, Rural Needs Act Training etc.: Yes	Develop training packages specifically tailored for rural communities to help them meet the needs of their communities i.e. Community Development Training Qualification, Succession Planning for Rural Groups, Rural Leadership Programme, Rural Needs Act Training etc.: No
Being supported by RCN to use the Social Value Engine online toolkit, that will enable community groups to illustrate to funders and key stakeholders the Impact and Social Value they provide to the local area.	Being supported by RCN to use the Social Value Engine online toolkit, that will enable community groups to illustrate to funders and key stakeholders the Impact and Social Value they provide to the local area.: Yes	Being supported by RCN to use the Social Value Engine online toolkit, that will enable community groups to illustrate to funders and key stakeholders the Impact and Social Value they provide to the local area.: No
Piloting Demonstration Projects throughout Rural Northern Ireland which assists local communities to deliver specific services in their local area	Piloting Demonstration Projects throughout Rural Northern Ireland which assists local communities to deliver specific services in their local area: Yes	Piloting Demonstration Projects throughout Rural Northern Ireland which assists local communities to deliver specific services in their local area: No
Enter another option	Other: Yes	Other: No

13. Information Flow: We mail out a hard copy of Rural Brief to our members on a monthly basis and from time-to-time we would email our membership with updates as well. We plan to continue mailing out Rural Brief and are considering introducing a new email newsletter for members.

Would this be a good idea *This question is required.

14. If Yes, how frequently would you like to receive information from us
*This question is required.

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

14. Previously we produced a quarterly online bulletin on rural policy matters called "Policy Link" which was emailed to members and covered issues such as Government Consultations and issues related to rural policy. Would you like to see this publication being re-introduced? *This question is required.

15. Previously we produced a twice yearly "Network News" publication which looked at rural issues in more depth and on a themed basis e.g. Community Safety, Rural Service Delivery, Peace Building in Rural Communities, Education, Transport etc. Would you like to see this publication re-introduced? *This question is required.

16. Did you attend any of our events in the last 18 months? *This question is required.

17. Events: Over the last 18 months, we have run a number of events and workshops in our premises. Did your organisation attend any of the following? (Please provide a response to all options shown)
*This question is required.

Space Cell	Yes	No
AGM	AGM: Yes	AGM: No
Rural Needs Act	Rural Needs Act : Yes	Rural Needs Act : No
Beyond Belfast Rural Peace Practitioners meetings	Beyond Belfast Rural Peace Practitioners meetings: Yes	Beyond Belfast Rural Peace Practitioners meetings: No
Good Relations and Community Relations training	Good Relations and Community Relations training: Yes	Good Relations and Community Relations training: No
Fundraising training	Fundraising training: Yes	Fundraising training: No
Social Media training	Social Media training: Yes	Social Media training: No
Charity Commission Information workshops	Charity Commission Information workshops: Yes	Charity Commission Information workshops: No
Social Value Engine – training in Social Return on Investment (SROI)	Social Value Engine – training in Social Return on Investment (SROI): Yes	Social Value Engine – training in Social Return on Investment (SROI): No
GDPR workshops	GDPR workshops: Yes	GDPR workshops: No
Governance workshops	Governance workshops: Yes	Governance workshops: No
Rethinking Engagement Dialogue event	Rethinking Engagement Dialogue event: Yes	Rethinking Engagement Dialogue event: No
Enter another option	Other: Yes	Other: No

17. What are the main barriers for your organisation/group to access training or events that we run? (Tick all that apply) *This question is required.

Too far to travel
Timing of training (day or evening)
No/limited budget to access training
No/limited budget to cover travel costs to attend training
Lack of available staff/volunteers/trustees able to attend training
Lack of relevance of training being offered
Too busy to attend training events
Training already provided by other organisations
Other - Write In (Required) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection. * This question is required.

18. Which of the following topics is your organisation/group interested in receiving training on? (Please provide a response to all options shown)
*This question is required.

Space Cell	Very Interested	Don't Know	Not Interested
Getting to Know the Institutions (Peacebuilding training looking at GAA, churches, Orange Order)	Getting to Know the Institutions (Peacebuilding training looking at GAA, churches, Orange Order): Very Interested	Getting to Know the Institutions (Peacebuilding training looking at GAA, churches, Orange Order): Don't Know	Getting to Know the Institutions (Peacebuilding training looking at GAA, churches, Orange Order): Not Interested
Demonstrating Social Value/Impact (using the Social Value Engine)	Demonstrating Social Value/Impact (using the Social Value Engine): Very Interested	Demonstrating Social Value/Impact (using the Social Value Engine): Don't Know	Demonstrating Social Value/Impact (using the Social Value Engine): Not Interested
Fundraising skills	Fundraising skills: Very Interested	Fundraising skills: Don't Know	Fundraising skills: Not Interested
Good Relations	Good Relations: Very Interested	Good Relations: Don't Know	Good Relations: Not Interested
Governance/Committee training	Governance/Committee training: Very Interested	Governance/Committee training: Don't Know	Governance/Committee training: Not Interested
Community Leadership skills	Community Leadership skills: Very Interested	Community Leadership skills: Don't Know	Community Leadership skills: Not Interested
Lobbying and campaigning	Lobbying and campaigning: Very Interested	Lobbying and campaigning: Don't Know	Lobbying and campaigning: Not Interested
Using Social Media	Using Social Media: Very Interested	Using Social Media: Don't Know	Using Social Media: Not Interested
Rural Needs Act training	Rural Needs Act training: Very Interested	Rural Needs Act training: Don't Know	Rural Needs Act training: Not Interested
How to write a policy response on behalf of your group	How to write a policy response on behalf of your group: Very Interested	How to write a policy response on behalf of your group: Don't Know	How to write a policy response on behalf of your group: Not Interested
Developing an evidence base for your community	Developing an evidence base for your community: Very Interested	Developing an evidence base for your community: Don't Know	Developing an evidence base for your community: Not Interested
Succession Planning – planning for new committee members/trustees/leaders of the future	Succession Planning – planning for new committee members/trustees/leaders of the future: Very Interested	Succession Planning – planning for new committee members/trustees/leaders of the future: Don't Know	Succession Planning – planning for new committee members/trustees/leaders of the future: Not Interested
Enter another option	Other: Very Interested	Other: Don't Know	Other: Not Interested

19. Advocacy and Influencing Role: Over the last 12 months, RCN has been involved in a number of areas of work as part of our role "to provide an effective voice for rural communities"

Were you aware of the following work that was carried out? (Please provide a response to all options shown) *This question is required.

Space Cell	Aware	Somewhat Aware	Not Aware/Would Like to Know More
Brexit & its impact on Rural Development	Brexit & its impact on Rural Development: Aware	Brexit & its impact on Rural Development: Somewhat Aware	Brexit & its impact on Rural Development: Not Aware/Would Like to Know More
Monitoring & implementation of the Rural Needs Act	Monitoring & implementation of the Rural Needs Act: Aware	Monitoring & implementation of the Rural Needs Act: Somewhat Aware	Monitoring & implementation of the Rural Needs Act: Not Aware/Would Like to Know More
Faith Based groups working in Social Justice	Faith Based groups working in Social Justice: Aware	Faith Based groups working in Social Justice: Somewhat Aware	Faith Based groups working in Social Justice: Not Aware/Would Like to Know More
Good Relations and improving community relations in rural areas	Good Relations and improving community relations in rural areas: Aware	Good Relations and improving community relations in rural areas: Somewhat Aware	Good Relations and improving community relations in rural areas: Not Aware/Would Like to Know More
Review of the Multiple Deprivation Measures and implications for rural areas	Review of the Multiple Deprivation Measures and implications for rural areas: Aware	Review of the Multiple Deprivation Measures and implications for rural areas: Somewhat Aware	Review of the Multiple Deprivation Measures and implications for rural areas: Not Aware/Would Like to Know More
Monitoring of the Rural Development Programme	Monitoring of the Rural Development Programme: Aware	Monitoring of the Rural Development Programme: Somewhat Aware	Monitoring of the Rural Development Programme: Not Aware/Would Like to Know More
Lobbying to keep the Rural Affairs budget when the budget cuts were proposed	Lobbying to keep the Rural Affairs budget when the budget cuts were proposed: Aware	Lobbying to keep the Rural Affairs budget when the budget cuts were proposed: Somewhat Aware	Lobbying to keep the Rural Affairs budget when the budget cuts were proposed: Not Aware/Would Like to Know More
Social Housing in Rural Areas	Social Housing in Rural Areas: Aware	Social Housing in Rural Areas: Somewhat Aware	Social Housing in Rural Areas: Not Aware/Would Like to Know More

20. Do you value the advocacy & influencing role that RCN carries out?

Recent examples of work that we have carried out include the attendance at the Northern Ireland Monitoring Committee of the Rural Development Programme & a Round of meetings that we held with Political Parties Housing Spokespeople about the missing of the target of New Build Housing in Rural Areas.

Please answer honestly. All responses will be treated in confidence with no group being attributed to any comments made.
*This question is required.

21. Are there other policy issues that you feel RCN should be doing more work on or increasing awareness about? Please explain

Please answer honestly. All responses will be treated in confidence with no group being attributed to any comments made. *This question is required.

22. Consultation Responses: Over the last 12 months RCN has also submitted a number of consultation responses to Government Departments on changes to Policy or Service Delivery that would affect rural communities.

Due to the absence of a functioning Assembly, these consultations have been fewer than in previous years.

Were you aware of the following consultations and our responses to them? (Please provide a response to all options shown)
*This question is required.

Space Cell	Was Aware	Was Not Aware	Used them as part of our own Group's response to the Consultation	Not Useful
Proposed cuts to DAERA's Rural Affairs Budget which would have affected rural community groups	Proposed cuts to DAERA's Rural Affairs Budget which would have affected rural community groups: Was Aware	Proposed cuts to DAERA's Rural Affairs Budget which would have affected rural community groups: Was Not Aware	Proposed cuts to DAERA's Rural Affairs Budget which would have affected rural community groups: Used them as part of our own Group's response to the Consultation	Proposed cuts to DAERA's Rural Affairs Budget which would have affected rural community groups: Not Useful
Proposed cuts to the Department of Infrastructure budget which would have affected rural bus routes & transport links.	Proposed cuts to the Department of Infrastructure budget which would have affected rural bus routes & transport links.: Was Aware	Proposed cuts to the Department of Infrastructure budget which would have affected rural bus routes & transport links.: Was Not Aware	Proposed cuts to the Department of Infrastructure budget which would have affected rural bus routes & transport links.: Used them as part of our own Group's response to the Consultation	Proposed cuts to the Department of Infrastructure budget which would have affected rural bus routes & transport links.: Not Useful
DFC consultation on proposals for the Private Rented Sector	DFC consultation on proposals for the Private Rented Sector: Was Aware	DFC consultation on proposals for the Private Rented Sector: Was Not Aware	DFC consultation on proposals for the Private Rented Sector: Used them as part of our own Group's response to the Consultation	DFC consultation on proposals for the Private Rented Sector: Not Useful
Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations	Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations: Was Aware	Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations: Was Not Aware	Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations: Used them as part of our own Group's response to the Consultation	Fundamental Review of Social Housing Allocations: Not Useful

23. Web & Social Media: Over the last 12 months, RCN has enhanced its Facebook page and now has a Twitter account

In the last 12 months have you accessed any of the following
*This question is required.

Space Cell	Yes	No
RCN’s Facebook Page	RCN’s Facebook Page: Yes	RCN’s Facebook Page: No
RCN’s Twitter Account	RCN’s Twitter Account: Yes	RCN’s Twitter Account: No
RCN's Members Only Fundraising Facebook Group	RCN's Members Only Fundraising Facebook Group: Yes	RCN's Members Only Fundraising Facebook Group: No
RCN’s Blog Posts	RCN’s Blog Posts: Yes	RCN’s Blog Posts: No

24. What would you like to see more of on RCN’s Social Media Profiles? (Tick all that apply) *This question is required.

Space Cell	Yes	Don't Know	No
Funding News	Funding News: Yes	Funding News: Don't Know	Funding News: No
Focus on RCN member groups	Focus on RCN member groups: Yes	Focus on RCN member groups: Don't Know	Focus on RCN member groups: No
Training opportunities	Training opportunities: Yes	Training opportunities: Don't Know	Training opportunities: No
Rural policy work	Rural policy work: Yes	Rural policy work: Don't Know	Rural policy work: No
Articles on issues affecting rural communities	Articles on issues affecting rural communities: Yes	Articles on issues affecting rural communities: Don't Know	Articles on issues affecting rural communities: No
Local events	Local events: Yes	Local events: Don't Know	Local events: No
Enter another option	Other: Yes	Other: Don't Know	Other: No

25. More about You: We are interested to find out about the challenges and issues that your local rural area faces.

Rank a minimum of 5 main issues that are affecting your local area, community and stakeholders
*This question is required. Order the items from the following list. First select an item with the spacebar to show a menu of possible ranking positions. Next, click a ranking position to order it in the ranked list. Note the menu will display more ordering options as you add items to the ranked list.

Lack of Affordable housing
Withdrawal of bus services
Access to banking facilities
Closing of rural schools
Securing funding for community activities
Volunteer/Staff/Trustee burn out
Young people leaving the area
Ageing population
Job opportunities
Sectarian tensions
No shared space
Lack of community meeting space/facilities in local area
Play space for children and young people
No political representation
Broadband speed
Mobile signal
Limited childcare options
Road infrastructure
Other

26. How can RCN continue to help your organisation/group's work over the next 12-24 months? (Please State)
*This question is required.

27. What is the one service or assistance that RCN could offer to your organisation/group that would greatly assist in your work?
*This question is required.

28. And finally....what is the best thing about living in a rural community? *This question is required.