Traditionally small towns have been at the heart of rural life in England, acting as focal points for commercial, social and recreational activity, places in which to find work, to buy or sell goods, or to find valued specialist services. However over the past 50 years or so, rural towns and villages have seen a decline in fortunes as a result of various economic and social changes.

Action for Market Towns is a membership organisation and national charity dedicated to promoting the vitality and viability of small towns. As a division of Action for Market Towns, amt-i has a strong heritage of helping community partnerships in small towns and their rural hinterland find access to quality information and advice, opportunities to share solutions and build awareness of best practice from around the country.