Developing the social economy as a provider of health and care services in remote and rural areas: an investigation of barriers and promoters in remote and rural areas

The UK is experiencing a shift in policy concerning design, organisation and delivery of many "public" services. Changes have primarily come about through realisation that the welfare state in its ideal form is unrealistic and unsustainable. An outcome of changes initiated has been to look to non-state actors to deliver social welfare provision. As a result organisations associated with what has been termed ‘the social economy' have become important players and contributors to public policy and are increasingly looked on to provide a proportion of social services. Consequently, the government seeks to promote and sustain social economy, in particular social enterprise activity at local, regional and national levels and growth in the sector can be anticipated. Areas such as primary healthcare, social services, education and utilities have already been identified as potential fields for growth of social enterprise provision; particularly health and social care as demographic trends indicate a need for unprecedented levels of services for an ageing population. These challenges apply especially to rural locations which in one way seem to present a suitable nurturing ground for organisations associated with social economy, however, the very nature of rurality might also raise concerns. Therefore it is important to consider promoters and barriers to growth of social enterprise for rural service provision.