In much of the West the concerns of rural people are marginalised and
rural issues neglected. This stimulating book draws upon a rich variety
of material to show why rural social work is such a challenging field of
practice. It incorporates research from different disciplines and places
to provide an accessible and comprehensive introduction to rural
practice. The first part of the book focuses upon the experience of
rurality. The second part of the book turns to the development of rural
practice, reviewing different ways of working from casework through to
community development. This book is relevant to planners, managers and
practitioners not only in social work but also in other welfare services
such as health and youth work, who are likely to face similar
challenges.