The Loneliness Campaign North Yorkshire | Finding practical ways to challenge loneliness
Contact: Bev Frain | tlc@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 01904 704177
People, of all ages and from all walks of life in North Yorkshire experience loneliness. The project aims to ‘connect’ people to the many activities provided by voluntary and community organisations and help people make new friends. The Loneliness Campaign North Yorkshire is funded by 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. Find out more information here.
Aged Veterans Funding – Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire | For past members of the armed forces over 65
Contact: Heather McCrorie | exforces@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 01904 704177
Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire raises awareness of the specific issues older veterans face and ensure customised and appropriate help is on hand, with the ultimate goal of improving lives. This service is funded by the Aged Veterans Fund at the Ministry of Defence, by the Chancellor using LIBOR funds. It was launched in June 2017 across North Yorkshire and York enabling former members of the armed forces to access a range of practical support and take part in new activities. Click here to find out more and how to make a referral.
Asset Based Community Development – Rothwell
Contact: Miranda Foster | miranda.foster@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 07394 566463
Building communities – it starts with a tiny connection. A conversation, an idea, a talent, a skill – small sparks lead to big ideas. We all need relationships with the people around us, a shared vision for our place and space, a strong sense of community and the chance to spend time together doing things we care about.
Leeds City Council are funding a Community Builder to work in Rothwell. Miranda Foster will work alongside individuals and groups to showcase the best of Rothwell and encourage more people to get involved in developing new activities, relationships, events and ideas. By using local talents and resources we can celebrate the individuality of Rothwell and increase a sense of community for all.
Keep up to date with this project on the Rothwell Community Builder blog.
Community Led Housing | Exploring new solutions to rural housing needs
Contact: Leah Swain | leah.swain@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 01904 704177
We are working with the North and East Yorkshire Rural Housing Enabler Network to help five communities explore new ways that communities can address local needs for affordable rural housing. Community led housing can take many forms, including Community Land Trusts, locally-owned co-operatives and encouraging self-build. The project aims to develop ideas and resources that can then be used by rural communities across England. This project is supported by the Nationwide Foundation and co-funded by the UK Cohousing Network, the RHE Network and North Star Housing Group.
See activities and resources here.
Warm & Well in North Yorkshire
Contact: Laura Thomas | laura.thomas@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 01904 704177
Warm & Well in North Yorkshire raises awareness of the impact of cold homes on our health and wellbeing, offers practical solutions to reduce fuel poverty, and supports people and communities to stay warm and well in winter. We were awarded £300,000 of British Gas Energy Trust funding in November 2018 to help people living in cold homes over the next three years. Find out more information and make a referral here.
Hands Up for Trustees matching service
Contact: Lizzie Clapham | volunteersupport@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 01904 704177
The Hands Up for Trustees campaign, coordinated by Community First Yorkshire in partnership with Reach Volunteering, aims to build, develop and sustain charities and not-for-profits across North Yorkshire by matching volunteers looking for trustee positions with organisations looking for skilled and experienced trustees. Find out more information here.
Emergency Planning | Helping rural communities plan for the worst
Contact: Mark Hopkins | communitysupport@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 01904 704177
We have been working with North Yorkshire County Council to help rural communities plan for extreme weather events and other emergencies. During 2017-18 we ran a number of information events at which representatives of rural communities could find out more about why they should have an emergency plan in place and what an emergency plan looks like. Communities that decide to go forward with developing a plan received in-depth support to involve local people in putting a plan in place. We also offered support to individual households in at-risk areas to put their own emergency plans together.
Howardian Hills AONB | Supporting rural communities in the Howardian Hills
Contact: Maggie Farey | maggie.farey@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 07825 380051
We work in partnership with the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to deliver focused support to rural communities in this wonderful part of the world. We help local people put together Community-Led Plans to help them influence what happens in their local area, and put on special events and projects to keep communities informed about sources of support and funding, and to help get local people more engaged in community life. Take a look at the project blog to see what we’ve been up to.
Village Hall research project | Understanding the future potential of village halls and other community buildings as community businesses
Contact: Kathryn Chapman| communitysupport@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 01904 704177
Community First Yorkshire was one of only three organisations nationally to be awarded a grant from the Power to Change Research Institute to support community buildings as businesses.
The grant was used to better understand the size, scale, scope, potential growth and future pipeline of Village Halls/Rural community buildings as Community Businesses. Find out more about the project here.
Find out more about our community buildings support service and join a network event for community buildings’ organisers here.
Kirklees Men’s Sheds | Helping older men stay socially active
Contact: Andy Ryland | communitysupport@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 07771 797073
Men’s Sheds are spaces for groups of men to come together and share tools and resources to work on projects together in a friendly and inclusive environment. The Men’s Shed movement started in Australia and has spread across the world, giving older men, often at risk of social isolation, the chance to gain new skills and new friends. Our project worked with community groups across Kirklees to support the development of new Men’s Sheds in the district. You can see the latest developments at the project blog.
We recently ran a Men’s Sheds’ Open Day in Harrogate. See examples of Men’s Sheds in Yorkshire here.
Leeds Community Connect | Developing services for older people in rural Leeds
Contact: Sharon Middling | sharon.middling@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 07568 129511
Leeds Community Connect is providing in-depth support and small grants to three communities in rural north-east Leeds to put in place new projects led by local volunteers to address issues around social isolation among older and vulnerable residents, using village halls as hubs for new services and activities. This project is funded by Leeds Older People’s Forum as part of their Time to Shine programme, with support from the Big Lottery Fund. You can see what’s been going on recently by reading the project blog.
Community Hubs are being set up in Kippax, Rothwell and Micklefield. Contact Sharon if you would like to get involved.
NYPACT | North Yorkshire Parent Carer Forum
Contact: Pauline Wardman | nypact@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk | 01904 704177
NYPACT is the forum for parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in North Yorkshire. As well as engaging parents and helping them support each other through a range of workshops, forums and conferences, NYPACT also influences the development of policies and services delivered by public bodies. Parents and carers are invited to become members and benefits also include discounts at venues and attractions through the free MAX card scheme. NYPACT is funded by North Yorkshire County Council and the Department for Education.
See presentations from the 2018 NYPACT Inclusion Conference: Let’s Communicate Together here.