The Loneliness Campaign North Yorkshire | Finding practical ways to challenge loneliness

Contact: 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.

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.

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.

Parent Carer Voice (formerly NYPACT)

Contact: info@parentcarervoiceuk.org | 01904 704177

Parent Carer Voice 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, Parent Carer Voice also influences the development of policies and services delivered by public bodies. Parents and carers are invited to become members. Parent Carer Voice is funded by North Yorkshire County Council and the Department for Education.

See presentations from the 2018 Parent Carer Voice Inclusion Conference: Let’s Communicate Together here.

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.

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.

Archive projects

Take a look at our archive projects which, while no longer running, give valuable information about how to work with communities and vulnerable groups. They include:

Ex-Forces Support North Yorkshire

Leeds Community Connect

Village Hall Research with Power to Change

Kirklees Men’s Sheds

Emergency Planning