About Us

The Commission was established in April 2005 and became an independent body on 1 October 2006, following the enactment of the NERC Act

Our role is to provide well-informed, independent advice to government and ensure that policies reflect the real needs of people living and working in rural England, with a particular focus on tackling disadvantage.

We have three key functions:

Rural advocate:
the voice for rural people, businesses and communities

Expert adviser:
giving evidence-based, objective advice to government and others

Independent watchdog:
monitoring and reporting on the delivery of policies nationally, regionally and locally

Our Purpose

Our Work

Our Commissioners

A message of support from Tony Blair