"Under the Stones"

In 1999, when the NFRP began, the common perception of the British general public was that poverty, deprivation and social exclusion were an urban phenomenon. It is true that, in general, rural dwellers are healthier than their urban counterparts. They report less illness and live longer. There are, however, important problems in interpreting the statistics, which can be deceptive. Rural societies are diverse, with both a greater proportion of people in higher socio-economic groups and a greater incidence of low pay than amongst urban populations . . .