West of England Rural Network

WERN exists to facilitate sustainable, resilient and inclusive rural communities where everyone can thrive across the West of England region.

We do this by encouraging and supporting locally-led initiatives, as well as drawing on this experience to make sure rural community needs are understood and acted upon by policy makers and service providers.

Our work

Our charitable work benefits both individuals and groups across Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

We are best known for our long-standing village agents service, village halls advice and oil buying scheme but we also support a range of other initiatives such as enabling affordable housing, community transport and digital inclusion.

Village halls advice

Village agents

Community oil buying

WERN is a member of the ACRE Network, England’s largest rural grouping of community support charities. Our membership allows us to exchange knowledge and best practice with 37 similar organisations across the country, as well as having a voice nationally through Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE).