EDEN Valley based Rural Women's Network is to host a National Rural Women's Conference, to be attended by the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt Hon Jenny Shipley.

The event, to be held at Carlisle Racecourse next spring, was the idea of the Cumbrian organisation which ahas recently moved into new premises in Penrith.

Entitled "Women's Contribution to the Future of Rural Regeneration" other speakers invited to the two-day event will include the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Cabinet Minister for Women. It is hoped the conference will be a springboard for the development of a National Rural Women's Network.

The conference comes just three years after the Rural Women's Network was set up, through Voluntary Action Cumbria, to provide support and advice services for rural women in Cumbria who are aspiring to develop their employment potential or develop their own businesses.

RWN Manager Gillian Murdock said: "It is amazing how quickly the network has developed. We currently have more than 2,500 members and, within three years, the staff has doubled in size. Today we have an 11-strong team working in our new offices at the Old Stables in Redhills.

"We have over achieved in everything we have set out to do, and are continually evaluating our performance. We do genuinely listen to what our members think about the Network and provide the services that meet their specific needs.

"We have recently redesigned our website and re-branded the network with a new strong purple logo. Our relocation to the main Voluntary Action Cumbria building has brought us closer to the other projects run by VAC, for example, Leader+ and Enterprising Communities."

Rural Women's Network Business Development Co-ordinator Joanne Elwen said: "Even before the foot-and-mouth outbreak, rural areas were suffering as a result of the decline of agriculture. Rural families are increasingly in need of other sources of income but there are limited job opportunities in rural areas. Women in rural areas often have many skills, which could be used to earn extra money. Lack of childcare and transport can make it difficult for many women to access training and support.

"Women often plan new enterprises while looking after small children. This means that they are unable to make use of traditional business support mechanisms that assume a full-time commitment. Home visits, evening classes and distance learning options are available that can lead to a business start-up grant."

The Rural Women's Network enables participants to gain confidence in their ability to create a business, learn new skills, work with like-minded women and improve their prospects of finding work.

With a website with on-line news and advice, a directory of members' expertise and information of planned events, network groups, mentoring and business advice, the Rural Women's Network has developed the service people want and need and it is available to all women in Cumbria.

For women starting and running their own businesses, women-only business network groups provide an opportunity for women to develop the skills and experience to participate more actively in wider, more mainstream networking groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce and Business Network International.

Networks provide a forum to meet other like-minded people who can offer priceless peer-to-peer mutual support, as well as establishing a network of contacts that may be useful in the running of a business or in finding employment.

Alison Marrs, Networking and Training Co-ordinator, and Sam Bramwell, Networking and Training Officer, facilitate and manage the Rural Women's Network groups and life skills courses. There are currently eight geographical network groups in Kendal, Cockermouth, Brampton, Penrith, Kirkby Stephen, Wigton, Egremont and Ulverston and four sector based grouPS Art, Equine, Complementary Therapies and Tea Trail.

The life skills courses are run throughout the county and help equip women with useful skills such as time management, greater confidence, assertiveness and Conflict handling expertise, all of which can help them in both their work and personal lives.

And, to celebrate women's success, the Rural Women's Network's annual business awards which recognise the achievements of rural women are presented at a special award ceremony in November. There will be five awards on offer: Best Rural Women's Enterprise, Best Start up Business, Most Innovative Idea, Best Existing Business and the RWN Training Award. If you are interested in applying for an award, entries are currently being taken. For more information and an entry form, please contact the Network on 01768-210997 or via e-mail at info@ruralwomen.org.uk. To find out more about the Rural Women's Network log onto www.ruralwomen.org.uk.