Inequalities in service provision

1. Inequalities in service provision

2. Inequalities in service provision • Urban areas offer a range of different services, such as: • leisure centres and parks • museums, art galleries and theatres • hospitals and clinics • schools, colleges and universities • places of worship, e.g. churches, mosques, synagogues • public transport • Rural areas will only have a small range of important services. Click to continue

3. Access to services • Not everyone living in a city has equal access to services. • People living on the edge of the city might have to travel a long way to access services. • People who work might find it difficult to access services that are only open 9–5. • People on a low income might find it difficult to afford to access services like leisure centres and theatres. • Some buildings are not accessible to those with physical disabilities. • Task: Make a list of different services in your area and decide who might find it difficult to access these services. Click to continue

4. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and the Rural Shops Alliance (RSA) have joined forces to try to highlight the problem of closing rural services. In addition to shops and pubs, rural parts of the UK are also losing public transport, village schools and post offices. Access to services in rural areas Jeff Morgan 06/Alamy Click to continue

5. The population is getting older. Young people are having to move away because they can’t afford to live in rural areas any more. More people are buying second homes or holiday homes and are only in the rural area for weekends or holidays. Some people commute out of the rural area to work in urban areas and use the services there. Why are so many rural services closing? Click to continue

6. How will a decline in rural services affect quality of life? Answer the following questions: (1) How will the closure of shops and pubs affect other businesses and services in the village? (2) How will the closure of public transport affect the elderly? (3) How will the closure of village schools affect families? Click to continue

7. How will a decline in rural services affect quality of life? (1) How will the closure of shops and pubs affect other businesses and services in the village? They might close because fewer people are shopping in the village. They might gain more customers if shoppers have less choice. (2) How will the closure of public transport affect the elderly? They will find it difficult to access services outside of the area such as hospitals, so they might have to pay for taxis or even move out of the area. (3) How will the closure of village schools affect families? It will be stressful as there will be a longer journey to the nearest school. It will also be more expensive for petrol and difficult for families who don’t own a car. Click to continue

8. How can rural services be protected? • Village shops, pubs and garages are offered a 50% discount in rates if they can prove that they provide a community benefit. • Rural healthcare gets money for mobile units to get to people living in isolated areas. • Parish councils get money to set up car clubs, bus and taxi services. • Schools can provide breakfast clubs, after-school clubs and adult education classes. These are also open in school holidays to help parents at work. • Ask for volunteers to work in the local shop for an hour or two a week to keep the service open. Charities can help fund a manager for the shop. Click to continue

9. Exam practice 1Explain how rural services closing can affect the quality of life for different groups of people. 2 Complete the EBI column to show how the answer could be improved following the examiner comments. Click to continue

10. Exam practice continued Click to continue

11. Exam practice • Explain how rural communities could try to protect their services from closure and decline. • 2 Complete the EBI column to show how the answer could be improved following the examiner comments. Click to continue

12. Exam practice continued