News

National charity, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has issued new information to help village halls make sense of the latest announcements about the lifting of national lockdown restrictions. Contrary to the government’s announcement on 22 February, village halls and community buildings will not be able to reopen after Easter, except for a small […]

Plans have reached the next stage in the process for Local Government Reorganisation.  In October, two proposals were submitted to the Secretary of State for the reorganisation of the local authority areas in preparation for devolution. You can read more detailed information on them and the perspectives of two different representatives in our past article. Proposals […]

Community First Yorkshire are looking to recruit an inspirational and dedicated Chief Executive to manage the organisation and enable it to fulfil its charitable objectives. The purpose of the role is to manage and build a high performing and motivated staff team, generate income, ensure project and service plans are successfully implemented, measure the impact […]

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has commissioned NatCen Social Research, an independent social research charity, to carry out an important piece of research on the key drivers in demand for support from volunteers. The study will explore how these drivers vary across the year and how COVID-19 has impacted those seasonal […]

In 2021 you’re busy caring about your own family, your colleagues and your supply chain. The best way to take care of them is to take care of you. Feel Real York is here to show you that it’s ok not to be superhuman and to talk honestly and openly about your mental health and […]

Demand for charities’ services has dramatically increased because of the economic and social impact of Covid-19. Food and other essentials, as well as support for people facing mental health issues, debt, and homelessness are all areas where need is increasing. As the economy continues to contract, unemployment rises and welfare support returns to pre-crisis levels, […]

Loneliness is something that all of us will experience at some level in our lives. For many, loneliness is a long-term condition which has implications for their health and wellbeing. Research conducted by the Red Cross as far back as 2016, showed that almost half of the population said that they felt lonely ‘sometimes’ or […]

If you live in the Harrogate district and are: An active community member Part of a community group supporting people during the pandemic Feel you/your group could continue or do more Wish to know who else /people/organisations can support you If so, then this is the course for you! Here is a free opportunity to […]

“If you sit twelve men in a circle and ask them to chat about their problems, the first six will disappear, the four after them will hide in the corners and the remaining two are just too slow to get to the corners!” jokes Allan Clarke from the Lion’s Den in Keighley “However, if you put a […]

Domestic abuse doesn’t stop just because there’s a pandemic. National charity IDAS are here to help and to enable other organisations to spot and support victims. The latest lockdown comes off the back of months of pro-longed adversity, with some people trapped with abusive partners or family members, in homes that do not feel safe. […]

We all have something to offer, we all have something to learn. Learning Together is a flexible programme of regional learning and development activities for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups and organisations supporting their communities’ needs through Covid-19. Join Learning Together to maximise and enhance the support you can offer your communities.   It […]

Village Halls Week 2021 will recognise the contribution England’s 10,000+ halls have made to rural communities since the 1920s. The national campaign week – now in its fourth year – is set to take place 25 to 29 January and will feature online events, videos, podcasts, and blogs showcasing the history of village halls and […]

Warm & Well North Yorkshire are here to help the 24,000 households living with fuel poverty in North Yorkshire, potentially resulting in savings of hundreds of pounds per year! This week (18 to 25 January) is Big Energy Savings Week, a national campaign to help people cut their energy bills and get the financial support […]

As part of a three month research project with York St John University, Social Vision are asking social enterprises in North Yorkshire if they’ve worked with a university before, how that experience was, and if you’d like to work with them in the future. Jo Gibson, from York St John explains: “As a Social Enterprise Gold […]

There have been reports of a new scam where a person receives a text saying they need to book a vaccination appointment, which takes them to a fake NHS form asking for their bank details to prove their identity. The NHS will never ask for peoples banking information and you do not need to pay […]

The impact of the pandemic continues to be felt by voluntary and community organisations as they express concerns about their future. A survey of voluntary and community organisations in North Yorkshire in October found that almost a quarter of respondents may not stay open beyond March 2021. Charities and voluntary groups across the county were […]

Over 24,000 households in North Yorkshire are living in fuel poverty. All kinds of people from all walks of life are living in a home they won’t be able to afford to heat adequately over the winter period. Switching to a new energy supplier is one of many ways they can turn this situation around. […]

The Big Issue have run an article on how to support your local community, and volunteer during the festive season. We’re delighted that our Volunteering in North Yorkshire (VINY) has been featured. Why not have a browse through the directory and see if there’s a volunteering opportunity that suits you? We’re encouraging people to #DonateLocal […]

As Christmas approaches and winter sets in, North Yorkshire County Council is putting in place additional resources to ensure that our most vulnerable residents in the county still have access to support with their everyday needs such as shopping and delivery of essential medicines. The Council’s Customer Services Centre will be open every day throughout […]

A new report has been unveiled which showcases the health and social care support that voluntary organisations and community groups have given during the pandemic. Produced by CoLibra, on behalf of Community First Yorkshire and West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health Partnership, the report ‘shines a light’ on the vital impact that organisations have had in […]

This winter and beyond, we are encouraging people to Donate Local, be it through money, time or skills, to support their local charities and community groups to keep going for the benefit of people who need them. The voluntary and community sector have fought through this year, delivering help and services and embodying the pulling […]

27 November marks Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, and with the financial challenges caused by Covid-19, this could be the most devastating winter yet for people struggling with their energy costs. As the chilly evenings draw in, or more people are having to stay at home during the day, people from all over the region start […]

Today we’ve launched Voices of North Yorkshire as part of The Loneliness Campaign North Yorkshire project. Voices of North Yorkshire is a collection of different experiences of loneliness from across the county, which we hope will encourage more honest conversations and dialogue around the realities of isolation and loneliness. Some of the stories focus on […]

What could a donation of £5, £10 or £25 do you for your charity or community group? What difference would it make to your work or someone’s life? This winter more people are considering donating to charity instead of giving presents or cards, and Community First Yorkshire will be championing the difference a donation, no […]

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Community First Yorkshire are working with the ACRE Network to promote good safeguarding practice to village and community halls throughout England. We want to make sure that the voluntary management committees that run halls and community buildings in Yorkshire have the knowledge and confidence to provide a safe environment for all. […]

On behalf of North Yorkshire County Council, Mustard& would like to speak to community members and volunteers from North Yorkshire to understand what culture means to your community. Does your village regularly host events or would you like to see more happening where you live? What is there for your community to get involved with […]

A further round of North Yorkshire County Council’s Food Banks and Community Food Projects Support Fund goes live today, 11 November. Funded by Defra’s Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies, one-off grants of up to £5,000 are available to voluntary and community sector food banks and other food supply schemes (for […]

Northern Powergrid (the electricity distribution company for the North East, Yorkshire & Humber and North Lincolnshire) has contacted their voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) infrastructure partners across their wider operating area to help them engage with organisations who work with ‘seldom heard’ people. Northern Powergrid are seeking organisations willing to take part in three […]

This week (2 – 6 November) is Trustees Week.  Trustees’ Week is an annual event to showcase the great work trustees do and to highlight opportunities for people from all walks of life to get involved and make a difference. Community First Yorkshire are joining with others to profile the role and value of trustees. We […]

From 5 November 2020, England will enter a new period of lockdown with additional restrictions on movement and activity. You can read the full government guidance here, updated on 3 November.   Community Buildings and Village Halls The proposed month-long lockdown from Thursday 5 November to Wednesday 2 December appears likely to require village and […]

Join the National Academy for Social Prescribing to launch their new Thriving Communities programme, which will celebrate and support the work of local voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise groups across the country who are supporting communities most impacted by Covid-19. The event, which will take place at 12 noon on 10 November 2020, will bring together […]

Remembrance Day celebrations may be very different this year, but Jenny Laycock has been speaking on BBC Radio York about we can mark the occasion.  150 Remembrance Day packs have been made up and are on their way to past members of the armed forces community in North Yorkshire. You can hear Jenny speaking to […]

With different areas of Yorkshire in different Covid-19 tier areas, residents, community groups, village halls and community buildings will need to to check with their local authority about how it affects them. To find out what level your area is in view here. The restrictions change depending on the level and you can find updated […]

Community First Yorkshire has been working in collaboration with the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), all of our region’s local authorities and partner organisations region wide to develop a plan to reshape the region’s economy in order to address the challenges and opportunities arising from the pandemic. Our shared vision is that […]

Three GP practices have utilised social prescribing during the coronavirus pandemic to offer over 60 patients aged between 23 and 104 essential wellbeing support as a direct result of Covid-19. Social prescribing offers the kind of help that doesn’t come in a tube or bottle. Instead, a social prescription offers support that will help people […]

The Charity Commission is warning trustees and donors to strengthen defences as it fears the pandemic has created environments that are enabling charity fraud. As we enter Charity Fraud Awareness Week (19 – 23 October 2020), charities have reported being victims of fraud or cybercrime 645 times since the start of the pandemic in March, […]

Village and community halls in England offer extensive economic and social benefits to rural communities, a report from ACRE has revealed. Just before lockdown, over 100 village halls in North, South and West Yorkshire joined a total of 2,109 halls who took part in the National Village Halls Survey 2020. The survey provides a detailed […]

On 9 October, Councils in North Yorkshire have been formally invited to submit their proposals for restructuring local authorities into single tier unitary authorities in preparation for devolution.  As explained in our recent blog, North Yorkshire County Council and the seven district and borough councils have put together two proposals for how the current two-tier […]

Interested in protecting the environment but unsure about how to go about it? Or are you thinking about taking local action within your own community but don’t know where to start? Ryedale Environment Group are hosting their first virtual environment week from 23 to 30 October. Take inspiration from community groups on local community action, […]

Over the last few months, district and borough council leaders have been working hard to develop the very best proposals for local government reorganisation in North Yorkshire. This is because the Government has indicated that we need to create new unitary authorities in order to unlock the benefits of devolution for our region. Under devolution, […]

Our preparations for developing a new model of local government for North Yorkshire continues at pace. As part of this, conversations are ongoing with partners and communities to help us get the model right and ensure that local communities are at the heart of local decision-making. Our proposal is for a single council for the […]

People living in North Yorkshire and York who are eligible for a free flu vaccination at their GP surgery are being asked to be patient if they haven’t yet got an appointment. NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Vale of York CCG say there is a high demand for the flu jab […]

Join Flora Craig, Head of Grants at Garfield Weston Foundation on 15 October (2-3pm) to find out more about applying for their grants. The Foundation supports a wide range of causes and charities particularly in the areas of the arts, community, education, environment, faith, museums and heritage, health and welfare. Find out more about their […]

The Lonely Not Alone Campaign starts today, 7 October. A national campaign, created by young people, to beat the stigma of youth loneliness started again this Wednesday. The Lonely Not Alone campaign encourages everyone, young and not so young, to wear yellow socks to show they care about youth loneliness and to stand in solidarity with […]

Up to £10,000 grants available for rural community projects from The Prince’s Countryside Fund The Thorold Arms, a PCF grant beneficiary, celebrate their opening Projects from across the UK which are working to create resilient rural communities are invited to apply for grant funding of up to £10,000 from The Prince’s Countryside Fund. Supported by […]

You are invited to West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership Climate Change Virtual Summit, which will take place over two days on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 October 2020 from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Over the two days we will host twelve workshops, each one will explore how as health and social care partners […]

While this Remembrance Day 2020 is likely to be very different to past years, we shouldn’t allow the pandemic to prevent us from recognising the achievements of our veterans. With the number of remembrance events being scaled back and because some older ex-service men and women may not wish to attend a ceremony in person, […]

Social prescribing is not new, for many years voluntary and community groups, and social enterprises (VCSEs), have been providing activities and services which improve people’s overall health and wellbeing and connect them to their local communities.  This work has been increasingly recognised, in particular during this period of changes to lives as a result of […]

North Yorkshire County Council’s Stronger Communities team have put together some information on the Government’s advice around QR codes linked to the Test and Trace app, launched today. We urge community groups and other partner organisations to display QR posters in spaces that are open to the public. Using a smartphone app (which can be […]

A coalition of thirteen leading rural organisations is today urging the Government to commit to more equitable funding in rural areas to support England’s economic recovery from COVID-19. The Rural Coalition has published Rebuilding Rural: Growing Back Better, setting out its priorities for a successful recovery by seizing the potential social and economic opportunities across […]

There is clear evidence that Covid-19 cases are on the rise nationally and in North Yorkshire and York, and health professionals are urging people to follow the correct route for testing if they have concerning symptoms. The NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and health and care partners would like to thank local […]

Mustard & CIC are gathering views to help shape a new cultural strategy for North Yorkshire. After initial consultations (see previous article), we’d like to speak to groups from the area who can help us understand how people in the county relate to culture – and how arts, heritage and creativity can make life better […]

Part of our work here at Community First Yorkshire is to inform you of new developments and opportunities in North Yorkshire for the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. One area we work in is enabling you to feed back your perspective on local planning and decision making groups to shape services affecting the […]

Join a community of leaders who are trying to adapt, innovate and do their best IVAR are running free 90 minute zoom sessions for up to 12 charity leaders at a time: ‘It’s good for mental wellbeing and to have the opportunity to talk and share with others in similar situations.’ You’ll hear how others […]

Do you help look after a village hall in Ryedale, Scarborough or Hambleton? Have you thought about the potential benefits of solar panels? Village halls tend to be large buildings which could accommodate roof mounted solar panels to generate renewable energy during the daytime. In the countryside, the majority are off gas and rely on either electric […]

Charities and voluntary groups are continuing to play a critical role in the Covid-19 pandemic response and gradual opening up of communities and the economy.  Organisations are working in different ways, more flexibly and, in many instances, under real financial pressure. Community First Yorkshire and partners across Yorkshire and Humberside issued a survey earlier in the […]

The NHS Confederation has published a report that highlights how working with the voluntary and community sector improves health and care systems. The NHS Confederation is a membership body for NHS leaders and speak on behalf of the whole health and care system. Working with the voluntary and community sector has been a fundamental outcome […]

[posted on behalf of the seven district and borough councils in North Yorkshire] Working together to get change right – district and borough council online consultation on local government reorganisation: Tuesday 8 September at 10am The leaders of the seven district and borough councils in North Yorkshire would like to invite members of the community and […]

Have you experienced loneliness either before or during Covid-19? Would you be willing to share your experience with others? We are looking for people of all ages who would be willing to share their stories of loneliness through interviews, vlogs, blogs or conversations. We want to encourage more honest conversations and dialogue around the realities […]

We’ve got an exciting role for someone to help support our larger projects.  We’re looking for an enthusiastic, proactive and organised individual who has project administration experience to help our team with a variety of projects such as Warm & Well in North Yorkshire and The Loneliness Campaign North Yorkshire. If you fit the bill, […]

[posted on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council] North Yorkshire County Council invites you to come and help shape their proposals for local Government reform and to learn more about how devolution could benefit your sector. Please join their free online seminar for voluntary and community organisations as well as social enterprises to let them […]

A proposed shake up to the planning system could be catastrophic for smaller villages where unattainable house prices could spell the end to local people staying in their local communities. Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), of which Community First Yorkshire is a member, is leading a coalition of organisations to challenge the Secretary […]

Not everyone is able to wear face coverings to protect against spreading Covid-19. People who can’t wear face masks due to a disability or health condition can download a free Public Health England toolkit of resources to help. The kit includes posters, imagery and animations for social media, badges and cards for mobile phone display […]

The North Yorkshire County Council Outbreak Management Advisory Board met on 18 August. The aim of the Board is to keep the public and businesses up-to-date with the county’s test, trace and contain plan for Covid-19. To make this easier, this week’s meeting was the first to be livestreamed and recorded. Watch the recording here. […]

Could you spare a few hours a week to help people in and around Catterick? The Bridge is one of 23 community organisations supporting people during Coronavirus. More than 1,500 volunteers like Yvonne Leathley have been helping thousands of people over the last few months. Now that some volunteers have returned to work, manager Jacqueline […]

Community led housing needs your help! To help strengthen the case to the Government for the Community Housing Fund to be renewed the National CLT Network has commissioned new research on the social and economic benefits of community led housing. The first part of the research is to collect information from community led housing projects […]

Funded by Defra’s Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies, one off grants of up to £10,000 are available to voluntary and community sector food banks and other food supply schemes (for example, community kitchens and fridges, or meals on wheels). The fund is to help people and families facing financial hardship […]

The Yorkshire Post has published an article on volunteering highlighted that volunteering groups are warning that Yorkshire could see a drop-off in local services unless more dedicated long-term volunteers are found, particularly those with specialist skills. They spoke to our resident expert on all things volunteering, our Volunteering Development Officer, Lizzie Clapham: Those charities who […]

You may have heard news of local lockdowns taking place across parts of Northern England as of the 31 July, predominantly around Manchester but with some areas of West Yorkshire affected. The government have released guidance to help navigate through this: Changes to the rules on gatherings in West Yorkshire Local restrictions: what you can […]

A new support and advice service has been launched to help people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate through grief and loss. The free service, commissioned by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP), will be delivered by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Independent Hospices Consortium, Bradford Bereavement Services Consortium and Leeds Mind, and […]

Are you involved in the arts, heritage or wider cultural scene? Join the North Yorkshire Culture Conversation Mustard& is a team of consultants developing a new Cultural Strategy for North Yorkshire. Supported by Arts Council England the strategy has been commissioned by North Yorkshire County Council in partnership with District Councils and members of the county’s cultural […]

West Yorkshire & Harrogate Healthcare Partnership (WY & HHP) wants to hear from partners who work with women aboutthe local maternity system (LMS). They want to hear your experiences and ideas before the partnership goes out and talks direct to women themselves. Please complete this 10 minute survey and spread the word to organisations and […]

Danny Kruger MP is working with Baroness Diana Barran MBE, the Lord’s Minister for DCMS and Civil Society, on proposals to sustain the amazing community response to Covid-19. Danny says ‘We have seen society in action in this crisis – how can we empower & strengthen communities for the long term?’. If you have evidence, […]

Back in June we launched a VCSE briefing paper to help show how we are linking the voluntary and community sector in with health and social care. You can read the original story here. Our second paper is out now covering the NHS Integrated Care System Leadership Training for the VCSE sector, which you can […]

  New dates for online peer support sessions with IVAR IVAR are running peer support sessions that create space for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) leaders to relieve some of the stress and uncertainty they are facing, through advice and reassurance from their peers.   Who is this for? Leaders of smaller VCSE organisations. […]

North Yorkshire residents can again pick up books by their favourite authors. Libraries across the county closed in March as the lockdown began to combat the spread of Covid-19. Following the relaxation of restrictions, libraries are reopening in stages, putting the safety of customers, staff and volunteers at the forefront all the way. The 11 […]

We’re celebrating Rural Housing Week with the announcement that the new North Yorkshire and East riding Community Led Housing Hub has now secured funded from Community Led Homes to provide help for groups and individuals wishing to help find a solution for more affordable, high quality housing for local people across our patch. We will […]

Through the Community Makes Us campaign, members of the Connection Coalition are celebrating the ways people have been coming together during Covid-19 crisis. So much of our lives have been off-limits and so many of us have experienced huge loss. During this time the small ways we have been able to connect with each other […]

41% of charities and voluntary groups report an uncertain future beyond October, yet community spirit still shines. These are just some of the findings from the results of the Voluntary & Community Sector Resilience survey. The results of the Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) Resilience Survey reveals that many charities and voluntary groups in North […]

Small Charity Week’s #AppreciationDay celebrates the contribution that small community groups have made to people’s lives during the coronavirus pandemic across the country. Here in North Yorkshire, Bedale’s response to the coronavirus crisis has been a story of enormous community spirit and teamwork. The Mutual Aid group was launched on 16 March, a week before […]

Certain charities with relatively high ongoing fixed property related costs, that are not eligible for the Small Business and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants, may be eligible for a grant from the discretionary grant scheme being administered by District Councils. Grants are typically between £1,000 and £10,000 with a maximum £25,000 being awarded in exceptional […]

The death of George Floyd in America may seem remote to some of us all the way over here in Yorkshire, but it has once again brought to the world’s attention the divisions and inequalities faced in society. We represent the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in North Yorkshire, and are the voice […]

Small Charity Week takes place each year to celebrate and raise awareness of the essential work of small charities and the contribution they make to the lives of millions of individuals, communities and causes across the UK and around the world. The power of small Small charities add huge value to our communities and that’s […]

A new guide – Guide to Rural Community Resilience – has been published today to help rural communities become more resilient in the face of emergencies. Communities Prepared (a Groundwork South programme) and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) have drawn on the experience of local rural charities and existing initiatives to develop the […]

VCSE Briefing on Health and Social Care Today we launch our first ‘VCSE Briefing Note on Health and Social Care’, which you can download here. The briefing explains the changing health and care environment within North Yorkshire. We hope the information will help voluntary groups and charities better understand the new health and care structures, […]

If you work in culture and heritage in North Yorkshire, Mustard CIC want to hear about how Covid-19 has had an impact on you or your organisation. Mustard CIC have been commissioned by North Yorkshire County Council to host a series of workshops to shape a cultural strategy for North Yorkshire. They want to hear from […]

The Big Lunch (6 – 7 June) is the UK’s thanksgiving weekend for neighbours and communities to get together and celebrate community connections. Now, while we might be physically distanced, we do not need to be socially distanced. This year the Eden Project are turning their annual event into a virtual one. During the coronavirus […]

Energy comparison website USwitch are now delivering their Community Events Outreach Programme online. As part of this they have created audio versions of their online guides relating to what mobile, broadband and energy suppliers are doing during the Covid-19 pandemic to support their vulnerable customers. You can download the guides here: Guide to energy suppliers […]

Did you know we run a DBS checking service for voluntary and community groups? Now is a time when many organisations are finding themselves with new volunteers to process, and our helpful team would like to reassure you that our service is open and running as usual, welcoming any applications for new or existing staff […]

North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) has issued a briefing to care providers detailing how it would like the Government funding for infection control measures to be dispersed. North Yorkshire has been allocated £8.4 million of government money to help with infection control measures and costs, 75% of which will be allocated to care homes and […]

There will be coronavirus mobile testing units in Scarborough, Shipley and Bridlington on 20 and 21 May for key workers and their children. Click here for locations, times, and eligibility criteria.

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week (18 to 24 May 2020) and the theme is kindness. The Mental Health Foundation is encouraging everyone to drive conversations on mental health and kindness to creating lasting change. Find out how you can get involved here.

NFU Mutual has launched a free health & safety telephone service and guidance to support farmers and their customers manage their risk during coronavirus. Find out more.

Do you have young people at home who would like to contribute to a national campaign? Do you know about the #LonelyNotAlone campaign? Part of the Let’s Talk Loneliness campaign and first launched in September 2019, the #LonelyNotAlone campaign aims to reduce stigma associated with loneliness in young people. It recognises that lots of young […]

During the coronavirus, Two Ridings Community Foundation has awarded a staggering 137 grants totalling £300,000 to local charities. 40% of these awards have gone to groups in North Yorkshire. Two Ridings Community Foundation (TRCF) distributes grants and other support to help improve lives and communities across North and East Yorkshire. The organisation is a hub […]

Rachael Maskell MP has announced she will be holding weekly surgeries for voluntary and community organisations. Responding to the many challenges facing the breadth of charities, voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises, Labour’s Shadow Minister will hold weekly surgeries with organisations in the sector. The surgeries are now open, to book an appointment please […]

North Yorkshire Connect Community Directory – please help us support residents during and beyond the Covid-19 outbreak North Yorkshire Connect Community Directory is an online resource for people of all ages, helping them to find out about local activities, services, advice and guidance that is relevant, reliable and accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days […]

West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (WY&H HCP) have recently announced their Health Inequalities Grant Fund 2020 to help reduce the gap in health equality across the area. Details of this opportunity can be downloaded here. £450,000 of funds has been made available to voluntary and community organisations across the Craven and Harrogate […]

Community First Yorkshire have been doing some research to try and understand which charities are eligible to receive the Small Business Grant Fund and which charities aren’t. The Charity Tax Group have published a useful article which helps to explain the current situation and the work they are doing to increase the number of charities […]

Allied Westminster have a survey about the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on you village hall or community building. They will be sharing the findings with DEFRA to help with national sustainability and financial resilience.

Whether you represent a charity, a community building or want to feedback as an individual the impact that Covid-19 is having on you, there are several surveys and consultations currently ongoing: Resilience of the voluntary and community sector Community First Yorkshire are working in partnership with other infrastructure support organisations to capture the pressures on […]

Voluntary groups and charity organisations are playing a critical role in the Covid-19 pandemic response. The sector is having to work in different ways, more flexibly and, in many instances, under real financial pressure. Community First Yorkshire is seeking to find out how the sector is adapting and the challenges organisations across the county are […]

Learn new skills during lockdown and become a Community Energy Ambassador Yorkshire residents are being invited to take part in an online course to learn about how to save energy and help others to reduce their energy bills. The Yorkshire Energy Doctor is running the 3-part digital training course which will help you learn about: […]

A message from NCVO. We’ve been asked our opinion on the Emergency Volunteering Leave scheme by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Below is an overview of the scheme. If you have any comments, please could you send these over by 4pm today to volunteering@ncvo.org.uk In particular, please could you send your thoughts […]

Week commencing Tuesday, 14 April 2020 we will be reviewing and refreshing the directory entries to ensure they are most helpful to organisations looking to recruit volunteers and for volunteers seeking new opportunities during the current Covid 19 episode. During the review we will be ensuring that all North Yorkshire “Community Support Organisations” within districts […]

Do you want to save money on your household energy bills? Ryedale District Council are working with iChoosr to combine the buying power of thousands of households. Energy companies compete for your custom and there is no obligation to switch suppliers. Together you form a large group and iChoosr holds an auction with the energy […]

Against the backdrop of the already existing needs and challenges of the people and places in our region, funders that have been supporting charities and communities across Yorkshire and Humber are elevating their response to the significantly greater call on all of them because of Covid-19. All six Community Foundations in Yorkshire and Humber are […]

North Yorkshire is beginning the huge logistical challenge of co-ordinating the county’s community response to help those isolated by the coronavirus pandemic. In a coordinated joint effort with district councils, North Yorkshire County Council is working with 23 community organisations the length and breadth of the county who will work with the voluntary sector in […]

Since April 2017 Community First Yorkshire, together with its partner organisations, has supported over a 1000 past members of the armed forces and many more family members, friends and carers through the Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire project. However, the three-year funding programme through the Aged Veterans Fund at the Armed Forces Covenant Fund has come […]

On Saturday 7 March, Laura Thomas, Project Co-ordinator at Warm & Well in North Yorkshire attended the Ripon Sights and Sounds event. It was a town wide open day with lots of music and activities spread between the museums, market square and cathedral. Laura was in the Cathedral promoting Warm & Well in North Yorkshire […]

Hawes last bank in town has closed, a similar story to many rural locations, however a Newcastle Building Society branch has just opened. It does not have it’s own building. It shares a space in the community office with the library and post office. A great way to provide vital services in a rural location, where many […]

Are you interested in volunteering? This week is Student Volunteering Week, why not read our latest blog on why Ellie Clapham volunteers and what she gains, as well as gives, from the experience?

Following on from a highly successful Village Halls’ Week that involved over 700 village halls, actively engaged 18 MPs and attracted coverage from Countryfile, national Newspapers and resulted in #villagehallsweek trending on Twitter, ACRE has launched a national survey. ACRE has carried out this comprehensive Survey every 10 years and, in 2020, is pleased to […]

· What makes a good voluntary sector leader? · How do you sell in your vision to volunteers, staff and stakeholders? · What should be in your leadership toolkit? Community First Yorkshire and the Open University are offering you the chance to find out – by linking up with VCS peers across North Yorkshire to […]

North Yorkshire’s Rural Commission will sit in February to hear from individuals and organisations on the challenges and opportunities surrounding housing in the county following January’s evidence-gathering session on jobs and the economy. Chair of the Rural Commission, The Very Rev John Dobson DL, Dean of Ripon, said: “At our last session, we heard a […]

Our website is now three years old and we would like to know what you think of it. Your views will help us refresh and update it so please take a few moments to fill in our survey and give us your thoughts. It’s also important to tell us if you haven’t visited it before […]

Want to have your say and help influence decisions made by North Yorkshire County Council? The local authority wants to understand residents priorities and is looking for people to join North Yorkshire Views, an online engagement community where you are invited to take part in at least four surveys a year. Sign up to North […]

Three ‘Minding your own Business’ workshops are being held this month for members of family farming businesses who do their own office administration. Find out how to recognise and use farm data to improve farm efficiency and measure performance. Learn to prepare and produce cashflow and budget reports. To book your place please email kated@yas.co.uk […]

NCVO has published The Road Ahead 2020, a report on the forces and trends that will affect charities this year. The report is split into four sections covering politics, the economy, social and technological change. It identifies the trends shaping the sector that are likely to have an impact on organisations in the future. If […]

This article originally published by Zurich Municipal for Village Halls Week    Failure to adapt to climate change is the number one risk of the decade according to the 2020 Global Risks Report by WEF. As of October 2019, 65% (265 out of 408) of district, county, unitary and metropolitan councils have declared a climate emergency. Thousands […]

What’s it really like to live in a cold home and how can people get the help they need to stay warm and healthy this winter? Laura Thomas from Warm & Well in North Yorkshire explores how big the problem of fuel poverty is in rural areas of North Yorkshire and explains what help is […]

The Garfield Weston Foundation and Pilotlight have released their third annual Small Charity Leaders Insight report. Findings include more than one in three (37%) respondents describing ‘restructuring of organisation’ as a challenge during the year, beaten only by the 52% who cite ‘ensuring we comply with new legislation and best practice’ under challenges faced by their charity – this answer topped […]

Managing your business performance The ‘Minding Your Own Business’ workshop (run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society) is designed to support members of farming families who wish to examine costs more closely and identify ways of making efficiencies to boost profit. Course aims Attendees will explore how to recognise and use farm data to produce farm […]

Develop your leadership potential with free courses from the Open University, come to our open event to find out more. The Open University has a free online course Introducing Leadership in Voluntary Organisations for anyone interested in leadership, be it in a paid or unpaid capacity. Collaborative Leadership is a longer follow up course. In addition to […]

Community First Yorkshire is pleased to be hosting the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Programme Lead – Third Sector: Harnessing the Power of Communities post (£45K – £60K) to support the work of the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership. We are looking for a highly motivated individual with credibility in both the health […]

There are many ways to share your kindness this #GivingTuesday, from giving us a donation to signing up as a volunteer. Here are just a few ideas to give you inspiration: Give your time by volunteering – find opportunities in North Yorkshire at volunteeringinnorthyorkshire.org.uk Donate to a local charity Sign a petition for a cause […]

Fuel poverty affects over 24,000 homes across North Yorkshire, but there is help available for families to save money and look after themselves this winter. Excess winter deaths increased between 2017 and 2018[1], a third of which were caused by respiratory conditions worsened by cold weather. As well as being a threat to life, being […]

by Richard Quallington, Executive Director We believe the 2019 UK General Election comes at a turning point for the future of rural communities in the UK. We ask all candidates to commit themselves to helping the next Government develop policies towards rural people and rural communities that are both positive and forward looking. ACRE is […]

by Paul Dixon, Rural Evidence Manager A coalition of thirteen leading rural organisations is calling on Prospective Parliamentary Candidates and their political parties to commit to delivering fairer funding for rural areas following the election on 12 December. As figures across the political spectrum take to the airwaves to announce spending commitments on a range […]

Please help North Yorkshire to be well- represented in the Third Sector Trends in the North of England (2019). The Third Sector Trends Study 2019 is a long-term study in the North of England on the ‘third sector’ which started in 2010 and runs right across the North of England. The project has been supported […]

Strengthening Relationships, Building Communities Join us on Saturday 16 November 2019 at Manor School, Millfield Lane, Nether Poppleton, York, YO26 6PA to hear how to recognise and build on the strengths within your community. Hear from inspirational community action project, network with other community organisations, get one to one advice for your project idea, and […]

Community First Yorkshire is working with a range of national partners to provide access to cutting-edge leadership development opportunities for leaders in North Yorkshire. Are you leading a not-for-profit VCS organisation working around health and care? The Kings Fund is opening a new cohort of Cascading Leadership, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, starting […]

Would you like to help people in need during the coldest months? Two Ridings Community Foundation recently launched its annual Surviving Winter Fund. The fund was established so that Yorkshire people could donate their winter fuel payments to vulnerable people in need of extra support during the winter months. Working closely with partner organisations, funds […]

The three clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) – NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG, NHS Harrogate and Rural District CCG and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG – will become the North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group on April 1 2020, following a decision made by NHS England. The merger will benefit the people of North Yorkshire as […]

In our fast-moving and challenging world, we can all benefit from adopting a leadership approach. Community First Yorkshire is creating a leadership hub providing development opportunities right here in North Yorkshire to help us to communicate and work more effectively together for the communities we support. If you lead a voluntary or community-focused organisation, a […]

Rural voices need to be heard in discussions on the National Data Strategy Humber and Wolds Rural Action (HWRA), Community First Yorkshire and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) have been working with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports to bring their interactive workshop which will engage local people in the National […]

It’s Trustees Week (4 – 8 November 2019)! Trustees play a vital role in our communities, volunteering their time and working together to support and guide organisations and charities across North Yorkshire. This annual event celebrates and showcases the great work trustees do and highlights opportunities for people from all walks of life to get […]

While slavery is supposed to have stopped nearly 200 years ago, tens of thousands of people are in modern slavery in the UK today. Friday 18th October marks Anti-Slavery Day across the UK and the York and North Yorkshire Modern Day Slavery Partnership have launched new resources to raise awareness of modern day slavery and […]

Warm & Well in North Yorkshire wants to make sure that people have winter wrapped up. There are a few simple steps to take to make sure your winter-ready and now’s the time to plan ahead. None of us want to pay more for our energy than we have to. But saving money doesn’t mean […]

We are keen to hear about anything you are uncertain about and challenges you are facing currently or planning for post Brexit delivery of your services. The Community Support and Volunteering service can help with all aspects of your preparations and depending on feedback we can look to have special briefings and workshop sessions. In […]

The Government has issued information to help organisations and individuals prepare for the UK leaving the European Union on 31 October 2019. Organisations are encouraged to use this Checker to find out what you or your business need to do to get ready for Brexit. The Checker will help you think through the possible risks […]

“This is part of Exelby’s renaissance from being a village left with no services to one with a vibrant hub offering a go-to community pub, restaurant and now a shop and café together with the village’s first affordable housing!” Exelby is a village of just 80 households, 12 miles north of Ripon in North Yorkshire. It […]

The Prince’s Countryside Fund – a charity founded by HRH The Prince of Wales to help the British countryside to flourish – has launched their Village Survival Guide, a vibrant manual filled with tips and advice on how to build a strong community. This colourful guide is an entertaining collection of case histories, checklists and […]

It’s World Breastfeeding Awareness Week next week (1-7 Aug). The campaign stresses the importance of skin-to-skin contact and supporting mothers wishing to breastfeed. If you want to get behind World Breastfeeding Awareness Week on social media please download a resources kit produced by North Yorkshire County Council and NHS partners here.

Sixteen staff from Community First Yorkshire went along to volunteer alongside others from Autism Plus, guided by horticulturist extraordinaire Oliver. On the day staff worked across a number of sites in the horticulture field; picking strawberries, weeding, sowing seeds and digging out new vegetable beds. They were also offered the chance to taste some of […]

Seventeen past members of the armed forces from Scarborough and Pickering, together with some family members and carers, joined the Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire (EFSNY) team for a journey to remember. The afternoon started with a warm welcome from the EFSNY team at Pickering railway station, where guests for the day explored the 1930s’ style […]

By Felicity Humphrey, Action with Communities in Rural England. Affordable, regular transport and a Sainsbury’s or Tesco’s on every corner. When you live in London or Edinburgh you won’t find yourself traveling miles just to see your GP. You also don’t have the agony of not being able to make or receive a phone call. […]

Community First Yorkshire launches unique loneliness risk test in North Yorkshire Loneliness affects many thousands of people in all our different communities across North Yorkshire. Addressing loneliness is never easy and there’s no one solution, but Community First Yorkshire is working on ways to tackle the issue countywide. ‘Staying Social, Staying Well’ is a fun, […]

A planner’s guide to help local authorities support more community led housing development has been launched. The guide has been written in partnership with the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and has also been endorsed by the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), National Community Land Trust Network (NCLTN) and Action with Communities in Rural […]

“Smile awhile and while you smile – another smiles, and soon there are miles and miles of smiles and life’s worthwhile because you smile.” Kathleen J. Edgar • How often do you feel that you lack companionship? • How often do you feel left out? • How often do you feel isolated from others? • How […]

Hear from a North Yorkshire resident who has his dream home in the heart of his community, thanks to community led housing. Affordable Housing is crucial to enabling young people to stay in rural villages – read David Harper’s story. David Harper was born in Newcastle, but moved to Hudswell, a small village 3 miles […]

1. Say THANK YOU, but make it personal, don’t email; send a hand written letter/note/card, meet them in person or take time out for a phone call for no other reason than to say thank you. 2. Award your volunteer’s certificates of recognition, present them at a ceremony or at a team meeting. Invite all […]

A fond farewell and a warm welcome After ten years as our Community Buildings Advisor, Kathryn Chapman has retired. We will miss her warmth and  dedication to building up our amazing Community Buildings Network. The baton has now passed to two new Development Officers and we thought it would be a good time to introduce […]

Our photography event is open to anyone volunteering in North Yorkshire The theme is: We love Volunteering in North Yorkshire! Volunteers Week 2019 is 1-7 June. We are inviting you to start snapping away and send us an image that shows volunteering in your organisation. We know North Yorkshire offers a huge and diverse range […]

      Leeds Mind is the city’s leading mental health charity with a turnover of approximately £3m each year. This is an exciting new role which will be pivotal in supporting the Senior Leadership Team, the Board and the Operations Managers to ensure a consistent and collaborative administration function across Leeds Mind. Essential Skills […]

Many young people in villages throughout the region find themselves in a difficult situation when they are ready to move out of Mum and Dad’s house: they want to stay in their local village, but they can’t afford to buy their first home there. Some older residents find their homes are too large after the […]

Are you a community group (or a parish council) with an idea to start a community led housing project? If so, Homes England need to know! Homes England, the public body behind helping people in England access better homes in the right places, are currently calling out for information on any community led housing projects; […]

Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource is proud to be celebrating our 1st Year of delivery on the Home from Hospital Service…… As a many of us know, returning home after a spell in hospital can be a daunting prospect for many people. Over the course of the last year, Scarborough & Ryedale Carers Resource have […]

Robert Jenrick MP and Lord Gardiner of Kimble launch a new £3m grant for village halls. On Friday 5 April Nottinghamshire MP Robert Jenrick and Defra Minister for Rural Affairs Lord Gardiner launched a £3m grant for the improvement of village halls. There are 10,000 Village Halls in England and many are key for rural […]

“Climate change is the biggest threat we’re facing and we all need to take action. We’re delighted that Holme Valley Parish Council has declared a Climate Emergency, and that they’ve agreed to establish a working group to create an Action Plan for reducing our carbon emissions” said HoTT. By declaring a Climate Emergency, Holme Valley […]

Vnetwork for VIOs in Selby, North Yorkshire. Next meeting: Tuesday 2 April  10am – 12 noon Venue: Selby Community Hall, Scott Road, Selby,YO8 4BL. Following on from the introductory meetings of the past year, we would like to invite all Selby volunteer involving organisations to our VNetwork (VNet). For continuity we have arranged for your meetings to […]

Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire (EFSNY) in partnership with Harrogate based charity Claro Enterprises, have been busy over the last few months setting up a men’s woodworking Shed. The Shed hasdeveloped following a successful woodworking taster day, led by Veteran’s Woodcraft, earlier last year. The aim of the Starbeck based Shed is to provide a place […]

Community First Yorkshire has secured £99,555 from the National Lottery Community Fund’s Building Connections Fund, which it will use to help support and inspire more local action to ‘turbo-charge’ the county’s response to tackling loneliness. People, of all ages and from all walks of life in North Yorkshire experience loneliness. The project aims to ‘connect’ […]

Please note: This survey has now closed, the results will be available shortly. Community First Yorkshire customers are invited to take part in our 2019 Survey. This gives you the opportunity to tell us what you think about our services and to help us consider how we can continue to improve the way we support […]

Community First Yorkshire has secured £99,555 from the National Lottery Community Fund’s Building Connections Fund, which it will use to help support and inspire more local action to ‘turbo-charge’ the county’s response to tackling loneliness. People, of all ages and from all walks of life in North Yorkshire experience loneliness. The project aims to ‘connect’ […]

Imagine in your local village the young people who go away to university being able to come back and afford to buy a home. Wouldn’t it be great if older residents, who find their family homes are now too large, were able to downsize to affordable bungalows and still live in the village they have […]

A FREE event to mark Village Halls Week will be held on Saturday 26 January at Danby Wiske Village Hall. Village Halls Week, which kicks off on Tuesday 22 January, was created last year by national charity Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and their 38 member organisations. The purpose of the week is […]

Community First Yorkshire is at the early thinking and concept development stage of creating a new hub that will support existing and emerging VCS leaders to enhance their skills and develop new ways of working. The aim is to create a culture of generous leadership and provide new, local opportunities for chief executives and others […]

A new guide on ‘How to Make Your Home More Environmentally Friendly’ is now available for home owners. Produced by Stanmore Contractors, a leading service provider in the UK construction industry, the guide offers lots of helpful information such as: How humans are impacting climate change and how increasing populations, strained natural resources, carbon emissions, and […]

Christmas is coming and we have had enquiries from individuals seeking Christmas volunteering opportunities in the Skipton, Richmond, Selby, Bedale and Northallerton areas. Would your voluntary or community organisation benefit from extra help over the festive period? Get in touch and we will share the details. Email us at volunteersupport@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk

This fund has been set up to develop and document models of good practice in supporting older people’s voluntary and community activity. Up to 5 grants of £40,000 – £60,000 will be awarded to voluntary or community organisations or social enterprises. Deadline for applications: 10 December. Find out more.

Local Charities Day will take place on 14 December. Get involved by adding your charity to the Local Charities Day map, nominating a Local Charities Champion or encouraging people to pledge their time to support the work that you do. Find out more here.

Could your voluntary organisation, community group or project benefit from support from local businesses and professional volunteers? Have you received private sector and employee volunteering support in the past? Share your experiences and tell us how the private sector could help you by completing our survey.

The Craven Community Champion Awards have now been taking place for seven years. They celebrate the achievements of outstanding local people and honour the District’s unsung heroes who go that extra mile to help others, and could not take place without the generous support of our award sponsors. In order to make the Awards a […]

Residents in the Sleights area are coming together to champion their community at the Celebrating Sleights Volunteering Fair on 24 November. The event is organised by the Sleights Steering group, supported by Community First Yorkshire and Stronger Communities North Yorkshire County Council. It is open to all and promises to be a celebration of local […]

Community First Yorkshire will shortly be recruiting some additional posts to take forward new work – this is exciting news but presents a challenge for us as our offices near York are already full and we do not have a single spare desk. We are also finding we need a dedicated meeting room to handle […]

Sunday marks Remembrance Day 2018 and Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire invite you to remember and honour not only those who lost their lives, but also our past members of the Armed Forces who are alive and well today.  Remembrance Sunday will be particularly significant this year, marking the 100th anniversary of WW1, so join Ex-Forces […]

Could your voluntary organisation or community group benefit from support from local businesses and professional volunteers in North Yorkshire? Complete our Business support survey to tell us how the private sector could help you.

[Wednesday 26 September] Today, to mark National Fitness Day, a new movement – Active Together – has been launched to support people who live, work and play in North Yorkshire to become more active and find the fun in fitness. The project aims to help communities create ways to bring people together to be active. […]

NHS England will be awarding grants of up to £2,500 to projects run by voluntary, community and social enterprise groups that showcase good practice around patient and citizen involvement in healthcare. Deadline: 20 September. More here.

The LGA is warning that whilst councils are playing a leading role in boosting local tourism, current and future shortages in skilled staff pose a threat to the industry. It highlights that, as the sector’s workforce is highly reliant upon EU nationals, limits on EU migration after Brexit may exacerbate this issue. More here.

North Yorkshire County Council’s Health and Adult Services seek the views of private, voluntary and community sector organisations who provide dementia support services or would like to in the future, as part of a review of the Dementia Support Service. The briefing document details the proposals for future support and explains how to give feedback, […]

These workshops will help charity trustees and Chief Executives to understand the responsibilities of trustees and the demarcation of roles between them and the Chief Executive. Practical tips will be given to help improve your governance. A maximum of 2 trustees per charity may attend. The workshops will take place in Harrogate, Manchester and Newcastle […]

The government’s Civil Society Strategy has been published following extensive consultation in the spring. Community First Yorkshire was one of a small number of sector organisations to join with local authorities from across the north, for a facilitated meeting with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Detailed views shared at the meeting contributed […]

Are you a past member of the Armed Forces or did you complete National Service? Are you over 65 and living in North Yorkshire? Would like to get involved in our Men’s Shed?  The Sawdust Lads meet at Claro Enterprises in Starbeck, Harrogate every second Wednesday 2 – 4.30pm.  Come and join us for chat, laughter […]

Date: Tuesday 16 October 2018 Time: 10am – 3pm Location: York Priory Street Centre What is community led housing? What are the practicalities of helping communities build genuinely affordable homes? Interest in community led housing is growing in North Yorkshire. The government’s Community Housing Fund and other resources are now available to help increase the […]

The Great Yorkshire Showground will host The National Apprenticeship Show this September, with over 60 employers and providers showcasing their opportunities. Exhibitors include: the Army, Arriva Rail North, Dovecote Park, Greene King, HM Revenue & Customs, JN Bentley, Morrisons and Yorkshire Water. Entry is free. Click here to find out more and to register your […]

The NHS across North Yorkshire and York seeks feedback on the current adult autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) assessment and diagnostic service, as well as ideas on what a new service could look like. Patients and carers are invited to a North Yorkshire-wide open event in Harrogate on 21 August. If you are […]

Register with North Yorkshire Community Messaging to receive the latest crime notifications and community news in your neighbourhood. You can register multiple addresses e.g. home location and work place. Click here to find out more and to register for alerts.

The Rural Community Ownership Awards, which celebrate rural community businesses that tackle rural issues across the UK, are now open for applications. The categories are no longer regional but thematic: ‘Community Story of the Year’, ‘Investing in Local People’, the Horace Plunkett ‘Better Business’ Award, ‘The Little Things’, ‘Diversifying to make a difference’ and People’s Choice. […]

Share your views on and experience of housing issues in rural England and help the Rural Services Network and Rural England to inform politicians and policies as the UK prepares to leave the EU. Deadline: 3 September.

The House of Lords Select Committee on the Rural Economy seeks the views of as many individuals and organisations as possible with interest and expertise in the rural economy. The issues the inquiry will be focusing on include: how the government is performing on the rural economy, improving and maintaining provision for essential services, helping […]

The Community First Yorkshire team would like to volunteer together on a Tuesday in the near future. If you have a one-off project or event that 18 people with varied skills and experience can get involved with then please email us.

If you know an outstanding person aged under 35 who was born, lives or works in Yorkshire then the organisers of the Yorkshire Young Achievers Awards would love to hear from you. Categories include Young Personality of the Year and Achievement in Management and Enterprise, in addition to Youngster of the Year, which recognises the […]

The NFU and Crimestoppers have launched the Rural Crime Reporting Line. Call 0800 783 0137 or fill in an online form to anonymously give information on large-scale, industrial fly-tipping, hare coursing, livestock theft and machinery theft. Find out more here.

The Charity Commission is introducing a tailored annual return later this summer, based on consulation with the charity sector last year. New questions will be asked about salaries and benefits in charities, overseas expenditure and income from outside the UK. Find out more here.

The Charity Commission has published an independent study that reveals the factors the public associate with trustworthy charities. Qualities identified as being key drivers of trust include: transparency about where money goes, being true to values and being able to demonstrate making a positive difference. The research, carried out by Populus, also found that the public now […]

The final report of the Empowered Communities in the 2020s research project examines how communities can feel and be more powerful in the future. The research team from the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) hosted conversations with more than 800 people from across the nations and regions of the UK, gaining a snapshot of the […]

Find out more about the support services available to you at this Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust event in Northallerton Town Hall on 1 August, 10:00am – 1:00pm. Members of the Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire team will be in attendance and happy to provide information on the support they provide to older veterans, for […]

A Charity Futures report explores the challenges associated with core costs, in particular the tendency of funders to prefer to pay project costs despite the importance of proper infrastructure to organisational effectiveness. Click here to read the report.

From 1 August 2018 there will be more restrictions on who can run a charity. The two key changes to the automatic disqualification rules will be: an increase in the number of legal reasons that disqualify someone from acting as a trustee. The new reasons include being on the sex offenders register, and certain unspent […]

The Park Protector Award recognises the most innovative and impactful projects in England and Wales’ National Parks that enhance or protect these important sites, whether by improving biodiversity, restoring built or natural heritage, protecting or campaigning against a threat, involvement in rural skills, volunteering or youth engagement. The first prize is a £2,000 grant towards the project, with a […]

Energy Envoys is a volunteering opportunity provided by the National Energy Foundation for young people to help those in their local area to use energy more wisely and save money and the planet. The National Energy Foundation is a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Approved Activity Provider, and volunteering as an Energy Envoy can count towards the Bronze, Silver […]

A new Home Insulation & Energy Efficiency guide discusses the importance of energy efficiency at home, how to ensure your house is well-insulated to save on utility costs, and how being energy efficient lessens our impact on the environment. It also offers practical tips and advice about home insulation, ways to save money via smart […]

The Groundwork Community Awards honours the small groups making a big difference to the quality of life in their local area.  Groundwork is celebrating and rewarding groups who often get little recognition and support. The Awards aim to spotlight the power of doing good together so that we can inspire others to organise and get […]

Rural Housing week (2-6 July) kickstarts with fantastic news about the Community Housing Fund. The future of the multi-million-pound Community Housing Fund has been secured, with revenue funding to help community groups deliver affordable housing for themselves. Secretary of State, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, has today (2 July) confirmed that the Fund – the […]

Community First Yorkshire is recruiting a number of roles to take forward our projects, networks and services providing practical support to voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises across North, South and West Yorkshire. Head of Projects Project Manager Development Officers All positions will be based in our well-equipped offices just outside York. We offer […]

It’s been an eventful fortnight for our Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire project team as  they’ve been busy with a day trip to the Leeds Royal Armouries with Gurkha beneficiaries, attended an RAF 100 event at Elvington and launched a Men’s Shed in Harrogate. Thirty Gurkhas, including wives and supporters, joined project staff and a volunteer at […]

Craven District Council is one of two rural councils to team up with two national park authorities in a bid to persuade youngsters to continue living in the countryside. More.

Charities and community groups will get £20 million of funding to help isolated people and those suffering from loneliness. More here.

Rural Services Network (RSN) host their annual Rural Conference on 4 & 5 Sept: Delivering services differently in rural areas.  This is England’s only National Rural Conference supporting rural service delivery, which aims to help both public, private and third sector organisations to work together innovatively to deliver rural services. Early Bird bookings here.

Members of the public across Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby areas are invited to join a local GP-led workshop which looks at ways to help patients, their family members and friends, plan for the future. At the same event, a special cake will be cut in celebration of the 70th birthday of the NHS. NHS Hambleton, […]

REACH Community Led Housing Hub are holding a free presentation and discussion on 16 July, 5-7pm in Harrogate on how community led housing can meet the needs of those who live and work in Harrogate district. Community First Yorkshire’s Chief Executive, Leah Swain, will be sharing good practice from other projects. Download more information Book here

This Rural Housing Week (2-6 July) the community housing needs of Hambleton are being addressed at a free workshop. Community First Yorkshire, a charity that supports rural communities in North, South and West Yorkshire, is working with Hambleton District Council to tackle the problems of providing local housing for local people at an affordable price. […]

The quarterly Rural Economic Bulletin is now available. It’s a ‘dashboard’ of indicators designed to provide evidence on the rural economy. Statistics cover: House prices Economic activity Jobseekers allowance claimants Redundancies Insolvencies

The Foundation funds work that addresses divisions in society, with a special focus on grassroots and youth-oriented projects. Contact the Foundation ahead of potentially submitting an initial project outline by 6 July.

Up to £50,000 is available for projects to revive important heritage assets (such as piers, lighthouses, parks) that have not yet reached their full economic potential or are facing neglect. Find out more here. Deadline: 5 July.

NYSCB’s popular Developments in Safeguarding Manager’s Masterclass provides managers with up-to-date information on the Dark Web, fabricated Illness, sexual health and more. Various dates across North Yorkshire.

WY&H HCP are keen to know what youth forums/groups for young people already exist across West Yorkshire and Harrogate so they can help young people to engage with the work of the Partnership and to have their say. Help to map.

Places are available for voluntary sector representatives on North Yorkshire’s Safeguarding Children Board and on its Learning and Improvement Subgroup. Submit a nomination form by 20 June.

NYCC seeks views on its strategic education plan to create a more inclusive culture and more local provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. More here.

This Carers Week June 11-17, NYCC is encouraging communities to recognise the local support that can help carers maintain good mental and physical health. Find out more. For ideas on how to raise awareness of caring and celebrate carers and to add your activity to the Carers Week map, visit the Carers Week website

The Skills Network is offering charity employees and volunteers the chance to study for a fully-funded course in Mental Health Awareness. Find out more here or email Sophie Spencer.

A new workshop run by the Association of Chairs on 16 July in Leeds will cover leadership skills and knowledge and explore the role of Chair in practice from chairing board meetings to working with your CEO. Find out more and book

A new webinar series is available for social enterprises, charities and community groups on 13 June at 2:00pm. Hosted by the School for Social Entrepreneurs and Good Finance, the first webinar is on diversifying income streams in order to become more sustainable. Learn more about this free event.

A reminder that there’s still time for voluntary and community groups to sign up for a launch event of THE LOCAL LOTTO for the Harrogate District, which offers a free fundraising opportunity.

Fourteen categories recognise organisations’ business excellence and contribution to society, as well as the achievements of people working in the sector. Find out more and apply

Harrogate Inclusion Conference – Let’s Communicate Together 2018 This FREE event on 22 June, 9.30am-3.30pm at The Pavilions in Harrogate celebrates the joint working practice of North Yorkshire Parent and Carer Forum and the Inclusion Service to support children and young people with SEND, their families, and schools or settings. Keynote presentations from Jean Gross […]

Free workshops giving you the opportunity to find out more about building affordable homes to buy or rent that are owned by the community, for the community. Hambleton (Easingworld) Galtres Centre, 4 July, 6.30-8.30pm Ryedale (Middleton) Middleton and Aislaby Village Hall, 11 July, 6.30pm-8.30pm

The Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust have put together a very useful toolkit on community led housing. A comprehensive online resource with over 200 pages, it is aimed at local authorities and housing professionals and provides a wealth of technical and non-technical information on a broad range of issues relevant to community led housing schemes. Take a […]

In an environment of uncertainty with scarce resources, merger can offer smaller voluntary or community organisations a strategy to survive, thrive and meet users’ needs more effectively. But there are risks and challenges to consider before taking this step. Our free merger workshop is designed to help you decide whether merger is right for you. Organised by Community First […]

Volunteering takes many forms. It can offer a great opportunity to turn you hand to something new. This Volunteers Week (1-7 June), why not learn how to be a riverfly monitor? The North York Moors National Park, working with the Revitalise Landscape Partnership, is holding a free Riverfly monitoring workshop for volunteers on 12 June at the national park’s […]

The North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children’s Board (NYSCB) has places still available on it’s popular NYSCB ‘Developments in Safeguarding Manager’s Masterclass’.  The next masterclasses will provide managers with up to date information including: The Dark Web School Safeguarding Audit Learning from recent multi-agency audits undertaken by the NYSCB Fabricated Illness Sexual Health Social Emotional Mental Health Working […]

Voluntary sector representatives play a key role in ensuring that the views of voluntary organisations and the people they work with and for, are heard. Voluntary sector organisations have one place on North Yorkshire’s Safeguarding Children Board and on the Board’s Learning and Improvement Subgroup.  These places are currently vacant and the Board has asked […]

Craven residents are being encouraged to get behind National Volunteers Week (1-7 June) by volunteering in their community. Community First Yorkshire is hosting a free Volunteering Fair on Monday 4 June in Settle to showcase the range of volunteering opportunities on offer across Craven. From helping out in a community café, befriending the elderly to […]

With three weeks to go until the third annual Community Business Weekend (#CBwkd18) on 4 – 7 May, organisers Power to Change are calling for community businesses across Yorkshire & the Humber to get involved. In Yorkshire & the Humber there are community businesses ranging from community-owned pubs, post-offices, farms and shops to community-run transport, […]

  Role: Buddy Network Volunteer Organisation: North Yorkshire Youth Hours: Flexible ( predominantly early evenings ) Role Description:  The Buddy Network is a befriending project for young people across North Yorkshire. The aim of the project is to support 14-19 yr olds by helping them to gain confidence, meet their goals and reach independence. Referrals taken from […]

Role: Volunteer Youth Worker Organisation: North Yorkshire Youth Hours: 7.00-9.00pm Wednesday evenings Role Description:  • To provide support to young people who choose to attend the youth project. • To develop relationships with young people based on professional boundaries. • Help maintain a clean and safe environment for activities to take place. • To encourage participation in activities […]

Scarborough’s new Men’s Shed is holding its first meeting for anyone who might be interested in finding out more and they are looking for a larger venue. Watch a video here. The Men’s Shed aims to relieve social isolation and give primarily men companionship and activities to share. Since January six Grumpy old men have […]

Free workshop led by the Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR) offering lessons for CEOs and trustees of voluntary organisations thinking about merging or going through the process. Leah Swain of Community First Yorkshire and Ben Cairns of IVAR share their experiences. Thurs 24 May, 10-12.30, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Kings Cross London N1 To reserve […]

Community First Yorkshire’s one-day conference on Thursday 17 May 2018 at the Priory Street Centre in York will bring the voluntary and community sector together across Yorkshire to hear from experts, share insights and new thinking, and help to develop action planning to take charge of change. Against a backdrop of growing demand and reducing […]

The latest issue of our Rural News is now available with the latest updates on issues that affect rural communities. To sign up to receive your copy direct to your inbox please email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

The March issue of our Funding Bulletin is now available. New this issue General Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Co-operative Bank Customer Donation Fund The Coastal Communities Fund (CCF) Round 5   Children and Young People Wallace & Gromit Children’s Charity   Health and Social Welfare The Margaret Dobson Further Education Trust Your Consortium Innovation Fund […]

The contribution of the voluntary sector to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare of children and young people is vital. Both the North Yorkshire (NYSCB) and City of York (CYSCB) Safeguarding Children Boards are offering your organisation the opportunity to do a self-check on your safeguarding children policies and procedures. This will be useful as many […]

The FSI’s annual week celebrating the work of small charities and the work they do will run from 19-23 June 2018 launching with Small Charity Day on 18 June. Download a press pack and a social media pack to raise your profile. Use the campaign logo and banner in your publicity. Submit a guest blog for the website. Free Regional Big Advice […]

A new hub to help communities develop affordable homes across North Yorkshire and East Riding has been launched. The REACH Community Led Housing Hub will help communities develop and manage projects. Communities often struggle to find housing for local people for reasons such as second home ownership, lower incomes and high house prices which can […]

The Department of Health & Social Care voluntary sector update for February is now available. Highlights in this month’s edition include: Health charge for temporary migrants will increase to £400 per year Government appoints new VCSE Crown representative Funding boost for new mums’ mental health To subscribe to receive the newsletter please email HWAlliance@dh.gsi.gov.uk

This year’s Calor Rural Community Fund opens on 20 March with £50,000 and 21 individual prize pots of £1,000 to £5,000 for projects improving local life and demonstrating impact and reach, sustainability and originality. Last year’s winning projects included a swing for a community park, a new piano for a community choir, books for a rural […]

The Heritage Lottery Fund are offering small grants of £3,000 to £10,000 to groups across Yorkshire and the Humber developing heritage projects that explore, share, and celebrate the stories and history that have shaped our communities. From recording local memories, cultural tradition, and conserving wildlife, to exploring and commemorating the First World War, these small […]

Yorkshire Agricultural Society are teaming up with the NFU, Barclays and RABI to highlight farmer health and wellbeing at a FREE half -day event at The Pavilions in Harrogate on Thursday 22 March from 10am to 1pm. Farming’s hidden struggle The stress, anxiety and worry experienced by many farmers is causing increasing concern, especially when it […]

We are a Warm & Safe at Home (WASH) Award Winner: Community First Yorkshire’s work to tackle fuel poverty in North Yorkshire has been recognised. Warm & Well in North Yorkshire was one of 15 national projects to receive the accolade of ‘Warm and Safe at Home award winner’. National Energy Action (NEA) set up the […]

Support for much-needed new community housing for Ryedale residents has received a vital boost. Community First Yorkshire, a charity that supports rural communities in North, South and West Yorkshire, will work with Ryedale District Council to tackle the problems of providing local housing for local people at an affordable price. Community led housing can help […]

Hotshots Disability Swimming – Harrogate a competitive swim group for ages 10-20 with a disability We build fitness, self-esteem and a sense of achievement if you can swim 25m+ then get in touch to arrange a trial For further information contact the Hydro swimming pool reception on 01423 556 767 or email richard.heselton@harrogate.gov.uk  Please download […]

Free Employment Support for adults aged 25 and over in South Yorkshire, or 18+ and over in North Yorkshire and East Riding  Thanks to funding from the European Social Fund and Big Lottery Fund, Autism Plus in partnership with South Yorkshire Housing Association and with Your Consortium is helping more people into employment across South […]

If you’re a childcare provider, you will need to adapt to the changes to 30 hours of  free childcare. Community First Yorkshire, Pre-School Learning Alliance and Redkite Innovations are holding free training to help organisations develop the skills necessary to adapt to this significant business change. Training session will be held throughout February and March in […]

Do you currently use local adult mental health services, or have experience of using them? Are you a family member or carer of someone with mental health issues, or do you work for organisations that deliver mental health services? North Yorkshire County Council’s Health and Adult Services is developing proposals for how third sector organisations […]

The new Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Support Service, funded by Ryedale District Council was launched at the Ryedale Village Hall Network meeting on 25 January 2018. The new service enhances the support available to voluntary groups and communities across the District. This will include activities to support funding and inspire and promote volunteering. Whether […]

1.   Is merger the right ‘survival strategy’ for your organisation? 2.  How do you decide what to prioritise when everything is important? 3.   What works  for setting up cross-sector working? 4.   What is core  funding, and  how  do you know if you are  ready  to apply for it? These questions  are all  explored in a […]

West Yorkshire and Harrogate are one of six regions working with NHS England to develop an approach to better support the estimated 260,000 unpaid carers in the area. If you are an organisation who works to support unpaid carers, please complete this quick survey.

FORMER MEMBERS of the armed forces are being supported to learn about doorstep scams and online fraud in a free course taking place in Richmondshire. The course, which is for veterans or ex-National Servicemen aged 65 and over, is aimed at those who may not use computers on a regular basis or may have become […]

Rural residents are being urged to respond to a Department for Transport consultation on community railways. A community rail line is a railway supported by a local partnership giving local people a say in the development and promotion of routes, services and stations. The community rail concept initially developed from grassroots organisations, before being adopted […]

Action Towards Inclusion (ATI) are running local linking events across North Yorkshire in January and February 2018 as part of the national Building Better Opportunities (BBO) programme. The aim is to tackle poverty and social exclusion by helping people to overcome barriers and move closer towards education, training, job-search and employment. The events will link […]

A free Ryedale Community Buildings Network event will celebrate the first ever Village Halls Week in North Yorkshire on Thursday 25 January at Middleton and Aislaby Village Hall. Open to all community run venues, this is a great opportunity for those involved in running rural community buildings and village halls to get together, share their […]

Public buildings like village halls can apply for grants of up to £4,000 as part of a programme to support communities near wind, hydro or solar sites in which Thrive Renewables is invested. Application form and case studies available here. Deadline: 30 March

West Yorkshire and Harrogate is one of six regions working with NHS England to develop better support unpaid carers across the area. There are an estimated 260,000 unpaid carers living in West Yorkshire and Harrogate, including children and young people caring for parents with long-term health conditions. Many carers are ‘hidden’ and provide the majority […]

Julia Mulligan, Police & Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, is asking residents to take part in a survey asking how much they want to pay for policing in their council tax. Deadline: 28 Jan

I am writing to update you following last week’s agreement at the European Council for negotiations between the UK and the EU to move to a discussion about our future relationship. This is good news for the EU citizens living in your local area and for people who rely on the services and support they […]

Community First Yorkshire is supporting Village Halls Week 22-25 January run by the ACRE Network to celebrate the huge contribution that village halls and the volunteers running them make to rural communities throughout England. Share your stories Find out more about promoting your village hall or community building during Village Halls Week  on ACRE’s website. Please use the […]

If you’re a childcare provider, you will need to adapt to the changes to 30 hours of free childcare. Community First Yorkshire, Pre-School Learning Alliance and Redkite Innovations are holding free training to help organisations develop the leadership, financial, marketing and management skills necessary to adapt to this change. Training session will be held throughout […]

Support for much-needed new community housing for Hambleton residents has received a vital boost. Community First Yorkshire, a charity that supports rural communities in North, South and West Yorkshire, will work with Hambleton District Council to tackle the problems of providing local housing for local people at an affordable price. Community led housing can help […]

Three new homes for ‘local’ people have been officially opened – adding to the portfolio of a village housing charity. They bring to six the number of properties owned by the Hudswell Community Charity in an innovative scheme that sees them rented out to people from Hudswell and neighbouring Downholme. Local MP, Rishi Sunak, opened […]

North Yorkshire County Council has launched a consultation to review the financial assistance it gives to people receiving housing support. The survey is open until Friday 2 Feb and you can have your say here. Should any organisation wish to have their views represented by Community First Yorkshire, please send your comments to Caroline O‘Neill, […]

The Plunkett Foundation is running a campaign to highlight was that rural communities can help people overcome loneliness and isolation. If your community has clubs, services or activities that bring people together and experience of how groups make individuals feel welcome and included, please get in touch with the Plunkett Foundation on social media #thelittlethings

The £20m Community Branch Fund for Post Offices with no other suitable retailer within half a mile is now open for applications. The Community Branch Fund offers investment for sub-postmasters to support the growth of their Post Office business and help to underpin long term viability, supporting services that play a particularly vital role in […]

Statistical Digest of Rural England  The latest ‘Statistical Digest of Rural England’ has been published by Defra containing a wide range of useful statistics relating to rural population and migration, rural economy and rural living. The latest digest compiled by Defra shows that 34% of people in work in rural areas are home workers compared […]

Community First Yorkshire applauds the National Park’s decision to increase council tax for second homes by up to five times. The rise would help attract and retain families living and working in the area.  More here.

The Post Office network is to get £370m in new funding, the government has announced. About £160m of the money will be used to protect village community branches. The three-year funding deal, running from next April, comes as the Post Office announced it had moved into profit for the first time in 16 years. More […]

Homes and businesses will have the right to demand higher broadband speeds by 2020 – but who is going to foot the bill? The Government has promised that the whole of the UK will have access to speeds of at least 10 Mbps by 2020. BT, which is responsible for the infrastructure, had previously offered […]

Free health checks for farmers will take place in January and February in Harrogate, Doncaster and York coordinated by the Yorkshire Rural Support Network. The network organises nurses to carry out free health checks  for any farmers with health concerns at Auction Marts, the Great Yorkshire Show and various events throughout the county. Funded by […]

North Yorkshire Connect is a new free resource launched in November 2017 replacing the North Yorkshire County Council community directory. The online resource aims to build self-reliance in communities and support customers to access community and voluntary services and information 24/7 online. Searchable either by area, group type or activity category, the directory helps signpost people […]

Minister for Children and Families Robert Goodwill has announced funding to support Parent Carer Forums for the next two years. The £4.6 million has been confirmed for 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 and will be used to bring parents together with local decision makers, help to provide them with a voice and put families at the heart […]

With the festive period approaching, families across Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby are being urged to look out for the elderly and plan ahead for Christmas and the New Year in order to stay well. Many winter illnesses eventually clear up on their own, so there is not always a need to see a GP for […]

We celebrated Local Charities Day on 15 December with a success story for Mr Simmonds. Support from Community First Yorkshire’s Ex-Forces project has enabled Mr Simmonds, through our home wellbeing checks, to replace his oven at home so that he can cook warm and healthy meals this winter. Through the check he was also identified […]

After a concerted effort over the last couple of sessions, members of the Denby Dale Men’s Shed, part of the Kirklees Men in Sheds project supported by Community First Yorkshire, now have a space which looks more like a place of recreation. The craft room, based at Nortonthorpe Mills, can now be kept warm and […]

Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire is seeking organisations to submit bids for the evaluation of its work. The Tender Specification and Brief can be found here which has all of the relevant information and details. The evaluation will be a joint venture between Community First Yorkshire and sister organisation Cornwall RCC to dually-evaluate two projects funded by the […]

Community-led housing supporters have been told by the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Alok Sharma MP, that the Community Housing Fund, amounting to a further £240million, will be relaunched in January 2018 following its first successful year. In his speech at the first-ever National Community-Led Housing Conference, hosted by the National Community Land […]

The North Yorkshire and the City of York Safeguarding Children Boards have published a new Fabricated and Induced Illness Practice guide. The document aims to help practitioners identify where a parent is fabricating or inducing an illness in a child. Find out more here.

The Banking Standards Board (BSB) has published a consultation on ‘What do good banking outcomes look like to consumers?’  The purpose of this document is to consult on what the outcomes of good banking cultures look like to consumers. This will provide a framework that will then help BSB identify good practice to the benefit […]

Do you need help with any of the following? Setting up your online Universal Credit account. Signing up for online job searches. Submitting online job applications, uploading your CV and cover letters. Registering online as self-employed with HMRC. Budgeting online for your business including outgoings, expenses and income. Internet banking including setting up, downloading apps […]

Local community groups are encouraged to apply to the next round of Ryedale District Council’s Community Grant fund, with a closing date of 5 January 2018. The Community Grant is open to any Ryedale community based organisation or group, for projects that make a positive impact on the community owned or managed facilities and activities […]

Harrogate Borough Council is moving to the new Civic Centre in December.  There are still a number of furniture items and office consumables available. The items available free to voluntary organisations are things such as general office tables, office chairs, filing cabinets and general office equipment. Unfortunately computers, lap tops and electrical equipment are not […]

Craven District Council’s Ward Member Grants scheme is open to local community groups to apply for funds. The scheme allows community groups to apply to their local councillors for cash to provide community run events, services and facilities. Each ward councillor has a maximum of £1,000 to give out to local organisations. To find out […]

Following engagement with stakeholders NYCC Health and Adult Services has further developed proposals for how it can make best use of investment in wellbeing and prevention support, to help adults in North Yorkshire stay well and independent in their local communities. The consultation is open until 15 January 2018. NYCC is particularly interested in hearing […]

The Weston Charity Awards are now open with a deadline for applications of Friday 12 January, 2018. The Awards celebrate and support ambitious charities working in the fields of Youth, Welfare and Community. The judges are looking for charities who would like mentoring and coaching support to get their organisation to the next stage in […]

Join York-based charity funding and research specialists, Beware of the Bull, at their brand new evaluation training course for funded projects. The workshop covers everything you need to know to make your evaluation process simple, painless, and complete. Find out what you need from evaluating your project, both for your funders and for your own […]

The Sustainability Fund is for local organisations that are at risk due to a gap between income and expenditure.    It is intended to provide short term support to allow you to find new sources of income or reduce your costs. Maximum grant: £2500. Closing date is December 19, 2017 Groups can apply if they: Are […]

New free advice clinics have recently been launched at Dyneley House Surgery in Skipton. Carers can book onto a Carers’ Clinic for a free health check on alternate Thursdays followed by a review from Carers’ Resource Support Worker, Helen King. Dementia advice clinics are available on alternate Tuesdays, 10am-1pm to people living with dementia, carers, […]

Scarborough-based carers are invited to a series of free 2-hour ‘Caring with Confidence’ courses on Wednesday mornings to recognise their skills, experience and knowledge and have fun with other carers. Carers can attend just one or all of the  sessions but do need to book. Sessions include mindfulness and relaxation, benefits advice, self-care, communication skills, […]

NCVO’s Trustee Conference in November included a session on data protection and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), aimed at providing trustees with an overview of the key changes and challenges ahead and equipping them with advice on how to ensure their charities are compliant. Delegates wanted to hear directly from the Information Commissioner’s Office […]

The Department for Education is inviting views on changes to the statutory guidance ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’, new ‘child death review’ guidance, and new regulations. This includes replacement of Local Safeguarding Boards with Local Safeguarding Partners; the establishment of a new national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel and the transfer of responsibility for child […]

North Yorkshire County Coucil are investing more than £12m in the next phase of Superfast North Yorkshire, supported by a further £7.3m from the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and £1m in European funding. Council Leader Carl Les said the local authority was “well placed” to achieve its target coverage of between 95-96%, helping rural communities […]

Following engagement with stakeholders, North Yorkshire County Council Health and Adult Services has further developed proposals for how it can make best use of investment in wellbeing and prevention support to help adults in North Yorkshire stay well and independent in their local communities. The consultation is open from 28 November 2017 to 15 January […]

Local community groups are encouraged to apply to the next round of Ryedale District Council’s Community Grant fund, with a closing date of 5 January 2018. The Community Grant is open to any Ryedale community based organisation or group, for projects that make a positive impact on the community owned or managed facilities and activities […]

Nominations are open for Hambleton Community Awards. Friends, family and work colleagues are being asked to put forward ‘community champions’ who they think deserve recognition for making a difference. The district council led awards recognise projects or activities by individuals, groups or organisations that took place or completed in 2017 and which have had a […]

The Ryedale Village Hall Network meeting will kick off our programme of Rural Community Building Network events next year on 25 January at Middleton & Aislaby Village Hall. The event is open to all village hall and community building committee members in the district and beyond, including York, to meet up and share experiences and […]

Feedback is starting to come in from our #handsupfortrustees survey for charities, voluntary organisations and community groups in North Yorkshire who involve trustees. Initial findings indicate a need for our support and training programme with 90% of responders finding it difficult to recruit trustees. The most common recruitment tools are word of mouth, networks and social […]

Following on from the successful day trip to Newby Hall earlier in the autumn, another day trip tackling  loneliness and isolation for Veterans has recently taken place, this time to Catterick Garrison and The Light Dragoons based at Gaza Barracks. Veterans were invited from across the Richmondshire, Hambleton and Harrogate areas and transport was again […]

Are you aware of any isolated or vulnerable people who may find it difficult to access Christmas dinner or meals during the festive period in North, South or West Yorkshire? Get in touch with Community First Yorkshire and we can direct isolated or vulnerable people to Christmas Day events or volunteers who can help. e: […]

NCVO has published essential new guidance about volunteers from overseas. The guidelines clarify who from overseas can and cannot volunteer and what additional restrictions are in place. Find out more here.

The charity Chess in Schools & Communities (CSC) is looking to hear from community groups and libraries in Yorkshire who are interested in setting up chess clubs. Chess is an excellent way to break down social barriers and bring communities together. A new Chess in the Community club will be starting in Silseden Library in […]

Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has a useful Transport Toolkit which help you improve your local travel options and the streets where you live Its packed with information and ideas for town and parish councils, urban neighbourhoods, local community groups and you as an individual. Whether you want to tackle speeding through your area, […]

Children England has submitted its proposal for a Children Act Funding Formula to the Chancellor and sector support for the proposal continues to grow. Children England welcomes new signatories to the proposal as they continue to engage decision makers and work towards making the proposal a reality before local authorities lose the last of their […]

Two Ridings Community Foundation has launched its Vital Signs report for the Harrogate District. Vital Signs aims to find out the detailed (and sometimes hidden) charitable needs of local communities and their population, to enable grant-makers to better target the organisations who can make the most impact. The Vital Signs report will drive the key […]

In partnership with North Yorkshire Community Safety Partnership, North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Board are holding a number of 1 hour briefings aimed at professionals working with Children and Young People within North Yorkshire. Download the flyer here. The topic of these briefings are ‘Radicalisation’ and the briefings will cover: Local context to Radicalisation Available Training […]

For the third year Craven District Council are working in partnership with Age UK North Craven and Craven Home Improvement Agency to deliver help and support to residents of Craven aged 65 and over. Running from November to April, the Winter Plus scheme brings partners together to provide advice, befriending and practical support including grants […]

This FREE course will provide an informal, relaxed, fun Art class, where you can meet new people, develop your creative skills, and try out new techniques and materials. Every Wednesday 12.30 to 2.30 pm Rainbow Centre, Scarborough For people who have no or little previous experience. No prior skills or qualifications are needed Through tutor […]

Harrogate Adult Learning and Skills Service are running a free workshop for beginners or those with limited knowledge of Microsoft Excel on Wed 17 January, 6-9pm at Masham Town Hall. The courses are ideal if you are running a business, including new start-ups and farm management. Learn how to create files to assess and manage […]

Grants and interest free loans are available to households in the Harrogate area for home energy improvements to give you a warmer home and lower bills. To be eligible your home must be suitable for insulation or need a new boiler and your total household income must be less than £35,000. Find out if you […]

    Are you a not-for-profit group helping people in the Barnsley area? Are you looking for guidance on funding opportunities? Would you like someone to comment on your draft applications or answer simple questions about where to start? The South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau are offering free funding support. Contact Karen Walker at SYFAB, […]

Bring people together through activities that help connect your community and celebrate UK native wild flowers, plants or fungi by applying for a Grow Wild community project grant. Grow Wild is awarding funding of £2,000 or £4,000 to groups and projects that are creative and stand out from the crowd, focus on the importance of […]

The Alzheimer’s Society of Hambleton and Richmondshire are offering taster days at their Dementia day support services in Richmond and Northallerton, open Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm. The service offers a range of personalised experiences for people affected by dementia, including activities, relaxation, entertainment and socialisation, as well as a valuable respite opportunity for […]

Hambleton Community Action is undertaking research to encourage more young people to get involved with volunteering in North Yorkshire. Voluntary organisations are being asked to share why they currently do and don’t involve young people in volunteering by completing a short survey. The survey takes less than 5 minutes and is available here Young people […]

        The Plunkett Foundation are holding a national sharing event for community groups, parish councils and voluntary organisations who are exploring ideas or in the early days of setting up a community co-operative. Rural life in the UK isn’t always easy, with the decline of vital services, the limited availability of jobs, […]

Come to an ‘open house’ event at the Royal Pump Room Museum in Harrogate on Thursday 30 November. Local people are invited to add their stories to the Harrogate Story Map and give their feed back on the first drafts of plans for the museum redevelopment. The Museum is working with Finola Fitzpatrick of the […]

The North Yorkshire Mental Capacity Act Forum (MCA), which is a subgroup of the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board, is undertaking engagement work next year around the Mental Capacity Act. The Forum wants to talk to as many people as possible to find out where improvements can be made and what support and guidance they, […]

Are you worried that local residents can’t afford to live in your area? Do you lack smaller homes for young people or long-term residents to downsize to? Are you looking to deliver new housing for your community? Community led housing can offer a solution. It is all about meeting the housing needs of your community by […]

Hudswell Community Charity took away the award for Social Investment at this year’s Social Enterprise Yorkshire and the Humber (SEYH) Awards on 7 November in Sheffield, for their innovative community led housing project. Their work has helped to provide affordable housing for local people in their village bordering the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Community First […]

York: Administrative Support Assistant – Community First Yorkshire Part-time – 14 hours per week (initially a 6 month contract, starting 9 January 2018) We are looking for someone who is self-sufficient and happy to work behind the scenes ensuring the rest of the staff have everything they need to shine. You will obviously need excellent […]

Winter is coming and with it more risk of flooding and extreme weather. Rural communities and remote communities are particularly at risk, but planning ahead can potentially save lives and reduce the impact of disasters. Has your community suffered from flooding, extreme weather, fire or any kind of emergency?  Do you have a plan for […]

November is the time of remembrance. When rural communities get together on the village green or playing field for bonfires and fireworks. A time of year when villages and communities remember those who paid the ultimate price in conflict and war. On Remembrance Sunday across North Yorkshire, in parish churches and in breezy churchyards, communities […]

See the latest issue of the Wilberfore Trust’s Newsletter here with all their latest developments, fundraising events and news.

Following the conclusion of the engagement period as part of the NYCC adult social care mental health review, the County Council are now in the process of collating and analysing all of the feedback  received. Thank you to everyone who has shared their views with NYCC either by attending one of the engagement events and/or […]

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is running a series of engagement events to help gather information on how the trust can deliver safe and sustainable services in Friargate. Members of the public and professionals are invited to two engagement events in December in Masham and Northallerton. Find out more about the engagement events here.

North Yorkshire Connect is a resource for people of all ages and the professionals working with them, helping to build self-reliance in communities and supporting customers to access services and information for community and voluntary organisations online. Listings on North Yorkshire Connect are generally non-profit community groups, clubs or organisations although it will also include […]

Entries are now open to the Charity Governance Awards 2018 and Reach Volunteering are delighted to be partners again. The awards recognise and reward charities achieving great governance. They shine a spotlight on the trustees, staff and volunteers who make change possible day after day by showcasing the stories that demonstrate how effective governance can […]

Community First Yorkshire is celebrating Trustees’ Week by launching a Hands Up for Trustees campaign. The campaign, co-ordinated by Community First Yorkshire, aims to match volunteers in North Yorkshire looking for trustee positions with charities and not-for-profits looking for skilled and experienced trustees. Working in partnership with Reach Volunteering, the campaign will register volunteers and […]

North York Moors National Park has published the new Local Plan, for a second round of consultation – Current Thinking. The plan outlines current thoughts on three key areas of new planning policy: settlement hierarchy, housing strategy and important undeveloped and community spaces. The National Park is asking for your views. Consultation closes at 5pm […]

Healthwatch North Yorkshire are conducting research around safeguarding in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council Safeguarding Adults Board. Healthwatch North Yorkshire has produced three safeguarding awareness surveys – one for the general public, one for carers and another for managers. The aim is to gather feedback from the public to better understand the level of understanding […]

The Community Business Bright Ideas Fund has opened for applications – grants of up to £15,000 and 12 days of business development support are available to community businesses in England that have not been constituted for more than 5 years. Application deadline: 1 December. More info here.

Ryedale District Council has three new grant schemes to support communities to achieve sustainable growth and to identify solutions and improvements to meet local needs. The three areas where applications for grants are now being accepted are: Community Grants Public Open Space and Recreation Flood Grants Find out more here.

Latest information in the October Department of health update for the voluntary sector includes: Update from the Department of Health NHS England Update Public Health England News Health and Wellbeing Alliance News and Events Download your copy here.

Craven STAY (Supported Tenancies at Yorkshire) provides housing-related support for people aged 18+ in the Craven District who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Horton Housing delivers the service as part of a contract given by North Yorkshire County Council, to deliver homeless prevention and housing-related support. The service provides practical support to prevent […]

Thursday 16 November 5-7pm Sheffield Futures, Star House, 43 Division Street, Sheffield, S1 4GE Register via eventbrite here Everyone’s talking about Brexit – but how can we actually ENGAGE people in the discussion? You are invited to a design workshop to discuss and design new, creative ways to get younger people involved in the Brexit […]

North Yorkshire County Council has launched the North Yorkshire Smokefree Places Fund to help realise the ambition of a smokefree generation of children by 2025. Smokefree places can reduce cigarette litter, set positive role models for children and help to normalise a smokefree lifestyle. The funding is perfect if your village hall has any outdoor […]

The Peoples Health Trust Active Communities Fund has recently re-launched funding for groups based in York and North Yorkshire. Applications for funding are invited from groups based in the most deprived neighbourhoods for projects which are aimed at bringing people together for a social purpose. Grants are available of between £5000 and £50,000 for projects […]

Application deadline: 28/11/2017 17:00:00 Place Based Social Action (PBSA) is a joint £4.5m programme between the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Big Lottery Fund (the Fund) using National Lottery funding. PBSA aims to create positive change by enabling people, communities, local non-statutory organisations and the statutory sector to work collaboratively to […]

Community-led housing is on the rise and is gaining momentum. More and more people are taking the housing situation into their own hands and building the homes their communities need. Following the Government’s commitment to invest £300m into community-led housing and wider interest from funders, lenders and councils alike, the sector is now set to […]

From April 2018, childcare voucher schemes will be closing to new applicants. Employees who have already signed up to a company’s scheme will be eligible to keep receiving vouchers, but they will not be able to re-join the programme if they leave and will not be able to join their new employer’s scheme if they […]

From drivers to librarian, fundraisers to shop assistants – the volunteering opportunities listed on our website offer something for everyone. Find out how you could be helping charities and local communities across North Yorkshire with the volunteering roles listed here.

This report, released by the Children’s Commissioner, examines the wellbeing of vulnerable groups of children in England and their relationship with mental health services. Qualitative research explores the limited awareness of mental health issues in young people, focusing on their perception of mental health. Read the report now.

A new plan published by the Local Government Association (LGA) calls for sustainable funding and devolved powers for local authorities to ensure that all children and young people can have the bright future they deserve. The paper sets out seven clear priorities for coordinated action across the public, community and voluntary sectors, which the LGA believes […]

Need fresh ideas for running your Village Hall? Our Community Buildings Networks can help. This Autumn’s schedule of meetings across North Yorkshire will bring together those involved in running rural community buildings. Share experiences and problems, hear about new resources and policy development, and explore topics of interest in more detail together. You don’t need […]

Has your community suffered from flooding, extreme weather, fire or any kind of emergency? Are you worried about how your community might cope if it did? Come along to Community First Yorkshire’s Emergency Planning Information Event Why do you need an emergency plan? Emergency Plans can cover anything from designating a community building as a […]

Community First Yorkshire Training Get Your Grant!  How to make a good funding application. In this workshop we will focus mainly on local small grant funders and how we make a clear and compelling case for their money. Cost: £24 22 November Roles and Responsibilities of Trustees. This workshop will help charity trustees, and also […]

Following the success of last year’s event, Craven District Council will once again be organising the Craven Community Champion Awards for 2017. Coniston Hotel has again kindly agreed to provide the venue for the awards ceremony which is taking place on Thursday, 11 January 2018. These awards are an excellent opportunity to celebrate some of […]

Heating Oil Trade Association Launch Cold Weather Priority Initiative To Tackle Winter Deaths With more than one million rural homes in the UK using oil for their heating, heating oil trade association, The Federation of Petroleum Suppliers (FPS) is this winter launching the Cold Weather Priority (CWP) and vulnerable persons protocol for the off-grid sector […]

Past members of the armed forces in North Yorkshire were united at a special visit to Newby Hall, as part of a new service to raise awareness and support for older veterans. The veterans were treated to lunch and a guided tour of Newby Hall, with transport to and from the venue being provided. The […]

The latest edition of Community First Yorkshire News is now available with the latest voluntary sector news, jobs, voluntary opportunities and events. Subscribe to receive your free email copy by emailing info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

North Yorkshire County Council’s Adult Learning & Skills service has a timetable of free training workshops for the voluntary sector between now and Christmas. Training includes: Customer service Effective team working Working in retail Personal boundaries and confidentiality Effective communication and handling difficult situations Window dressing Transferable skills and competencies Food Safety Level 2 Awareness […]

Our latest update is available here. Highlights include: Our Community Building Network meetings this Autumn Volunteering opportunities across Yorkshire Volunteering consultation Job opportunities #villagehallsweek … and much more. To receive your copy direct to your inbox, please email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.  

Grants of up to £1500 are available to help community groups in and around the Yorkshire Dales to develop new and existing initiatives that benefit local people. Local charity Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) will distribute funds through the Roger Stott Community Grant programme to support small voluntary organisations and community groups with an annual […]

The September issue of our Funding Bulletin is now available. New this issue: General                                                                                               Comic Relief Core Strength Fund Comic Relief – Try for Change Fund Changemaker – Santander North York Moors, Coast and Hills LEADER Programme Tarn Moor Estate – Skipton The Aviva Community Fund Comic Relief and England Rugby Try for Change Grants […]

Sport England are investing funds to support inactive people in lower socio-economic groups Tackling inactivity is a big challenge in England – that’s why it’s at the heart of Sport England’s strategy Towards an Active Nation. The second phase of our tackling inactivity funding will invest £3 million to support inactive people from lower socio-economic […]

Voluntary and community organisations in the Craven district are invited to apply for grant funding from the Tarn Moor Estate for capital programmes that will benefit people living in Skipton. Further information is available on the Tarn Moor Estate website.

The After Alice Project has launched its online resource of over 10,000 photos covering more than 100 Yorkshire towns, villages and cities.  The community archive contains new images that are only shot on old fashioned film. You can contribute by sending in your own images, adding names and local knowledge to images and helping to […]

This week’s edition of Community First Yorkshire News is now available here. Find out the latest voluntary and community sector news, jobs, training and events in one easy email. To subscribe to receive your copy email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk

Have your say on Adult Social Care Mental Health Services in North Yorkshire North Yorkshire County Council Health & Adult Services is exploring what an adult social care mental health offer should look like for North Yorkshire. Briefings are available for the Adult Social Care Mental Health Services Review for stakeholders and people using services. Stakeholder […]

North Yorkshire County Council is looking for voluntary and community representatives to help shape the strategic future of the sector in North Yorkshire. Find out more and make your nominations here before 31 August.

Yorkshire and the Humber is a big region with a big heart, says a new research report on the charitable sector. Funded by Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the survey of over 1,000 charities shows that there are 341,700 people who regularly volunteer in Yorkshire – giving over 24m hours of work each year. If paid average […]

Public consultation notice: “Working Better Together: Options to improve collaboration between Fire and Police services in North Yorkshire” Legislation recently passed by Parliament includes a new duty for emergency services to collaborate, and a specific opportunity for Police and Crime Commissioners to apply to the Secretary of State to allow them to take on responsibility […]

Public Health England have recently published health statistics for the Craven District which may prove useful for those planning services or looking for funding. Download the report here.

Residents of the Broughton Road area of Skipton are invited to enjoy different fun activities as part of a day to seek their views on the future direction of the Centre. Since the 1970’s Broughton Road community centre has been quietly serving the needs of the local community providing a venue for parties and different […]

Horton Housing Association has a new Monthly Drop-In, as part of it’s Craven STAY; Homelessness Prevention Support Service, at Glusburn Children’s Centre, Colne Road, Glusburn.  Find out more here.

York will be one of twelve local authority areas to take part in the Care Quality Commission’s local system reviews, looking primarily at how people move between health and social care services. The review will look at areas such as delayed transfers of care, with a particular focus on people over 65 years old. The […]

While the majority of services are safe and of a high quality and many are improving, too many people across England are living in care homes and receiving care and support in their own homes that is not good enough, says the Care Quality Commission. Findings in a national CQC report highlight the good and […]

Are you a business owner with premises in Keighley? Now is the right time for your business to pick up the pace as Superfast fibre broadband is available in more parts of the city centre. With several cabinets now live across East, West and Central Keighley thanks to the Superfast West Yorkshire and York broadband […]

The latest edition of our Funding Bulletin is now available with updates on grants, awards and funding opportunities. New this issue: General Sirius Minerals’ Community Fund Children and Young People Youth Social Action Fund Buttle UK Health and Wellbeing Rosa’s Woman to Woman Fund Smart Energy GB in Communities Fund LIBOR Fund Rights, Equality and Citizenship […]

Community First Yorkshire is conducting a piece of research for the Power to Change Research Institute to better understand the size, scale, scope, potential growth and future pipeline of Community Businesses from amongst rural community buildings, village halls and community hubs across North Yorkshire. Your answers are valuable to us and will inform our work […]

Voluntary sector organisations in North Yorkshire have two places on each of the two North Yorkshire County Council Overview and Scrutiny Committees – Young People Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Care and Independence Overview & Scrutiny Committee. The voluntary sector representatives have a key role in ensuring that the views of voluntary organisations and the […]

A recent project has successfully raised awareness of and enthusiasm for Community Led Housing across rural North and East Yorkshire. Where there had previously been no developments of this type, the work engaged with a large number of communities and stakeholders to help them understand the opportunities and led to the identification of twelve pilot […]

A NEW SERVICE for past members of the armed forces over 65 is set to launch this weekend. Saturday marks Armed Forces Day across the UK and the new service, known as Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire, will be present at the York and Scarborough celebrations. The aims of the new service are to raise awareness […]

The M&S Community Energy Fund is back. Big, bold and brilliant – and ready to deliver £300,000 to community projects across the UK in £12,000 chunks to switch on bright ideas for renewable energy initiatives. This year will see a public vote, crowdfunding and judges prizes for the winners. Could it be for your idea? […]

The Sirius Minerals Foundation is launching its first grant programme after receiving its first £2 million of funding from Sirius Minerals Plc. The Foundation, which is an independent charity, was set up as a community fund to spend a share of revenues from Sirius Minerals’ Woodsmith Mine near Whitby. The first funding of £2 million […]

NORTH YORKSHIRE is set to receive £1 million in funding for older veterans over the age of 65. The funding is by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds and has been awarded to a portfolio of organisations led by Community First Yorkshire (formerly Rural Action Yorkshire). It is part of the Aged Veterans Fund operating across […]

£1.4 MILLION GRANT SPELLS NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR NORTH YORKSHIRE VOLUNTARY SECTOR North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) and the County’s Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) have awarded a £1.4 million** grant to two established local charities to deliver support and development work to the county’s voluntary sector. The successful funding application was jointly submitted by North Yorkshire […]