New EU funding rules provide opportunities for convalescence

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th May 2003

West Midlands Euro-MP and Rapporteur for the European Year of People with Disabilities Liz Lynne will be discussing how a proposed change in rural development funding rules could provide new opportunities for farms looking to diversify into providing accommodation specialising in respite care and disabled people at the Convalescent and Recuperative Environment (CaRE) Conference at the Harper Adams University on 29 May 2003.

Next week (Tuesday) the European Parliament will be debating proposed changes to the EU Common Agricultural Policy, which would give greater support to farm diversification and projects for developing the rural economy. Liz is calling for some of this support to go towards developing specialised accommodation for disabled people and people recovering from illness or surgery.

CaRE has been established by the university to provide support for a network of providers of healthcare-supported accommodation. The initiative is being launched at the conference, and aims to bring together public-private partnerships, rural regeneration and improvements to healthcare services.

Liz Lynne said:

"Farm diversification is an opportunity, not just for farmers themselves, but to provide a range of services that have previously not been associated with rural development. Given my special interest in provision for disabled people, I am delighted to come and endorse a scheme that will offer disabled people the opportunity for wider choice in terms of recreation, respite and rehabilitation."

"We need to change the way we support our farms, so that we move away from merely financing food production and concentrate more on the wider rural economy. This important reform to the Common Agricultural Policy will open up a wide range of opportunities for British farmers and be of benefit to the wider public."