Monmouthshire and Newport’s Rural Development Plan team are looking for ways by which their 2014-2020 programme can help valued non-statutory services to overcome the risks of public expenditure cuts.  New partnerships and business models may help.  A community toolkit is also being developed with guidelines to enable local activists to create ideas for exploration and testing – the programme will only work if the initiatives and ideas come from the ruralcommunities themselves.  Further information and contacts at www.valeofusk.org.