£7m investment in rural community green spaces

, ,
A new fund of up to £7 million has been announced by the government to boost access to nature and support rural communities across England wanting to become more green-fingered.

The new Community Green Spaces Fund will provide funding to help communities create, restore and enhance their green spaces.

Grants of up to £75,000 will be provided to help communities plant fruits, vegetables and trees, creating orchards and kitchen gardens for all to access and enjoy. Landscaping projects could also create raised beds and improve areas to plant different flowers around village hall facilities and other community green spaces, making space for pollinators and nature to thrive.

Expansion of natural play facilities

Funding will also be awarded to support the expansion of natural play facilities that encourage children to spend more time outdoors, in addition to projects that focus on improving access to green spaces such as new paths and seating. To make the spaces more accessible to disabled people, funding will also be available for the creation of disabled parking spaces.

Further support for village halls

An additional £5 million of funding for village halls has also been announced to support capital improvement projects, such as building extensions and the installation of wi-fi. This follows the £3 million of funding made available to mark Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

Potential to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents

Richard Quallington, Executive Director at ACRE said:
“We welcome the government’s commitment to supporting rural communities so they can make the most of green spaces. The fund has the potential to support a wide range of initiatives that contribute to Net Zero and biodiversity net gain, as well as improving the health and wellbeing of local residents.

“We know from our experience of administering recent grants to village halls that the availability of capital funding can catalyse new projects, many of which have had an environmental focus. We stand ready to support this new scheme.”

The Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) is working with Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) to scope the Community Green Spaces Fund with applications expected to open in early summer.

Bespoke training: Esk Moors Caring trustee training support

With a training session tailored to their needs, we helped Esk Moors Caring trustees gain confidence

Trustees have more confidence in their role and understand their responsibilities through niche in-person training.
What was the challenge?

Esk Moors Caring needed help in understanding the roles and responsibilities of trustees to enable the charity to become more sustainable and help the board feel more confident.

How did Community First Yorkshire help?

One of our development officers designed and delivered a series of bespoke training sessions by consulting closely with the group about their needs and priorities. The sessions were tailored to those identified needs and we travelled to Esk Moors Caring to deliver the training in person.

The training helped the organisation to gain clarity on many issues and roles and helped them to identify areas that needed improvement.

What does the future look like?

As a result of the training, trustees and staff feel better informed overall and have more understanding of policies and trustees’ responsibilities. The trustees and staff recognised the benefit of this knowledge and of keeping it up to date and relevant by committing to rolling reviews.

The training has helped Esk Moors Caring to be in a stronger position to deliver its charitable aims – of enabling people to live safely and confidently in their own homes for as long as possible in a very rural community in the North Yorkshire Moors. They will continue to grow and develop as they provide practical and personal support. The organisation feels more confident about delivering its social activity programme of leisure activities, fitness classes and craft workshops for all ages and abilities.

[single_story_pull_quote]

About the organisation

Esk Moors Caring is a charitable organisation that was set up by people living in the Upper Esk Valley in the North Yorks Moors with the aim of enabling people to live safely and confidently in their own homes for as long as possible.

How we can help you

As a registered charity, we understand your needs. Our local advisers work across North Yorkshire and will come to you to ensure you get access to the best quality advice and guidance including funding advice, helping you set up as a community organisation, governance and trustees, finance support, marketing advice, and exploring ways to further develop your organisation.

If you know a community group, charity or social enterprise that needs some support to be even more successful, contact one of our friendly advisors on 01904 704177 or info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

We arefunded by North Yorkshire Council and NHS North Yorkshire.

Do you need help with:
  • securing income for your organisation or project?
  • turning your ideas of becoming a new community organisation into a reality?
  • benefiting from greater security as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)?
  • thinking about reviewing your organisation and planning ahead?
  • understanding trustee’s legal roles and responsibilities?
  • benefitting from a financial health check?

Our advisers can help. Call us today 01904 704177 or email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk

 

 

“[It was] very useful to have someone from outside the organisation to present a professional, critical view of [us], enabling us to identify areas of concern and to plan to remedy shortfalls.”

Trustee, Esk Moors Caring

Governance: help with defining charitable structure

With our help, Whitby and Esk Valley Active Travel were set up as a registered charity in just 3 months.

Deciding on the right charitable structure has allowed Whitby and Esk Valley Active Travel to start their journey to improve a local cinder path for public access.
What was the challenge?

Whitby and Esk Valley Active Travel are a group of local people keen to see the local cinder path used as a walking and cycling route for local children and families. They decided to set up as a charity and the Woodsmith Foundation referred them to Community First Yorkshire for support.

How did Community First Yorkshire help?

Working with on of our development officers helped the group to get on track. The development officer was knowledgeable and supportive which helped the group feel as though they could make progress, which they did. Within less than three months of contacting Community First Yorkshire, and with the development officer’s expert support, they are now established as a registered charity.

Going through the process of becoming a CIO was challenging and the development officer helped the group to clarify what they wanted to achieve.

What does the future look like?

The difference for the group in being a recognised body means that they now feel they are being listened to, invited to the table for discussions and able to access start-up funds, as well as promoting what they do.

The group now has the confidence to talk to similar organisations across the country, sharing experiences and resources. In the long term they hope to shape the future of the cinder track alongside North Yorkshire Council. They want to raise funds themselves but also work in partnership with others, and they know that they can come back to Community First Yorkshire for help with this.

The group are visiting schools to raise awareness with the aim of facilitating children and young people to use the track to get to school. Ultimately, they would like to see the cinder path connect all the villages along the Esk Valley and to complete the National Cycle Route 1 between Whitby and Staithes.

[single_story_pull_quote]

About the organisation

Whitby and Esk Valley Active Travel promotes and facilitates the update of active travel in the Whitby area.

How we can help you

As a registered charity, we understand your needs. Our local advisers work across North Yorkshire and will come to you to ensure you get access to the best quality advice and guidance including funding advice, helping you set up as a community organisation, governance and trustees, finance support, marketing advice, and exploring ways to further develop your organisation.

If you know a community group, charity or social enterprise that needs some support to be even more successful, contact one of our friendly advisors on 01904 704177 or info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

We are funded by North Yorkshire Council and NHS North Yorkshire.

Do you need help with:
  • securing income for your organisation or project?
  • turning your ideas of becoming a new community organisation into a reality?
  • benefiting from greater security as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)?
  • thinking about reviewing your organisation and planning ahead?
  • understanding trustee’s legal roles and responsibilities?
  • benefitting from a financial health check?

Our advisers can help. Call us today 01904 704177 or email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

“Having someone to talk to about this was a game changer. We would have been nowhere without you – we had no idea. The support has been excellent, and we are very grateful. We would definitely recommend to others.”

Trustee, Whitby and Esk Valley Active Travel

Governance: policy checks helped with charity compliance

A review of their policies helped Access the Dales to identify their priorities and provide greater support to a wider range of people with disabilities

Access the Dales needed some support to refresh their policies and procedures, and to boost their volunteer recruitment.
What was the challenge?

Access the Dales contacted us as they needed help to make the charity compliant and follow all the correct procedures. The charity had grown very quickly, and they unsure of which direction to take and what to prioritise. They also wanted to grow the charity further by involving and recruiting more trustees and volunteers.

How did Community First Yorkshire help?

One of our development officers worked with the charity to motivate and uplift the group by helping them to work through a range of key policies. After a full diagnostic an action plan was drawn up and key areas prioritised. Much of this was ensuring correct policies were in place to support safe activities and legal compliance in governance.

The group firmly believe they would still be floundering without our help.

What does the future look like?

In the long term, the support provided will help the charity to diversify their offer and broaden the types of disability rather than limit support to wheelchair users. Their aim is that any activity happening in the Yorkshire Dales should have disability at its heart, providing training and education and bringing more people to the countryside. By assisting people who wouldn’t otherwise know how to do it, Access the Dales plants the seed of what is possible.

Inspired by the support they have received, Access the Dales are now looking at developing roles and responsibilities across the organisation.

[single_story_pull_quote]

About the organisation

Access the Dales is a non-profit organisation that provides free access to the outdoors for everyone. Their mission is to reduce the barriers for people to access the outdoors and be more active. They want to make sure that no-one is left behind, or excluded. They do this by providing all-terrain wheelchairs in different locations in the Yorkshire Dales and in the Forest of Bowland.

How we can help you

As a registered charity, we understand your needs. Our local advisers work across North Yorkshire and will come to you to ensure you get access to the best quality advice and guidance including funding advice, helping you set up as a community organisation, governance and trustees, finance support, marketing advice, and exploring ways to further develop your organisation.

If you know a community group, charity or social enterprise that needs some support to be even more successful, contact one of our friendly advisors on 01904 704177 or info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

We are funded by North Yorkshire Council and NHS North Yorkshire.

Do you need help with:
  • securing income for your organisation or project?
  • turning your ideas of becoming a new community organisation into a reality?
  • benefiting from greater security as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)?
  • thinking about reviewing your organisation and planning ahead?
  • understanding trustee’s legal roles and responsibilities?
  • benefitting from a financial health check?

Our advisers can help. Call us today 01904 704177 or email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

“Lizzie was just amazing. An absolute oracle who went above and beyond. She brought light, was methodical and made things so much easier.”

Trustee, Access the Dales

Governance: policy health check to ensure a sustainable future

Having a policy review helped Malton Free Fridge celebrate their achievements

Malton Free Fridge had been nominated for the Kings Award for Voluntary Service and wanted to ensure that their policies and procedures were up to date. They turned to Community First Yorkshire for support.
What was the challenge?

As part of their nomination, Malton Free Fridge felt that a outside view was needed on their policies to make sure that they were up to date.

How did Community First Yorkshire help?

One of our development officer’s helped the organisation to review and update their policies. It was a good exercise for the organisation to put all their policies into writing. The development officer helped the group to see the benefit and sense of having everything in place. The process also helped the organisation celebrate the value of all that they had achieved and how they work.

Initially the three local Free Fridges in Malton worked together, and the development officer provided support for all three. After this, each Free Fridge was able to select what they needed as an individual organisation. The project also looked at DBS checks as part of our support.

The project is now secure in the policies that underpin their work. As a result, they are confident in the support that they are offering to the community. This underpins the sustainability of the project, and they can continue to divert waste food from landfill. The community continues to benefit from access to free food in a prolonged cost-of-living crisis. It strengthens volunteer opportunities and provides a warm and safe place, helping with both wellbeing and connections.

What does the future look like?

Because the organisation has a full suite of up to date policies and procedures, they feel confident in applying for any more suitable funding in the future. They know that they can come back to us for further support if they need it.

[single_story_pull_quote]

About the organisation

Malton Free Fridge is a waste food project and has already prevented over 100 tons of food from going to landfill. Anyone can access this service and, in addition to food, they provide chatty tables with free tea and coffee. The project helps people to connect and build friendships and with support from Wesley Chapel they have become a recognised warm space and information hub.

How we can help you

As a registered charity, we understand your needs. Our local advisers work across North Yorkshire and will come to you to ensure you get access to the best quality advice and guidance including funding advice, helping you set up as a community organisation, governance and trustees, finance support, marketing advice, and exploring ways to further develop your organisation.

If you know a community group, charity or social enterprise that needs some support to be even more successful, contact one of our friendly advisors on 01904 704177 or info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

We are funded by North Yorkshire Council and NHS North Yorkshire.

Do you need help with:
  • securing income for your organisation or project?
  • turning your ideas of becoming a new community organisation into a reality?
  • benefiting from greater security as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)?
  • thinking about reviewing your organisation and planning ahead?
  • understanding trustee’s legal roles and responsibilities?
  • benefitting from a financial health check?

Our advisers can help. Call us today 01904 704177 or email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

 

“We had a visit this week from the Kings Award panel. It was very good to feel confident in all our policies. So, a huge thank you for all your time, trouble and patience. It’s furnished my thinking, helped with succession and actually, though against the grain for me, there have been good benefits.”

Trustee, Malton Free Fridge

Funding support: Kilburn Institute transformed with £174K funding

,

A makeover for their premises means that the Kilburn Institute is no longer at risk of closure

The village institute was in serious need of refurbishment with a risk of closure if funding and support could not be found.
What was the challenge?

The premises were very rundown, not accessible to people with a disability and in dire need of a makeover. Things were at a point where the trustees weren’t sure whether the hall could remain open or not – which would have been a tremendous loss to the local community.

How did Community First Yorkshire help?

The trustees of Kilburn Institute contacted us and one of our Development Officers got in touch with the group. They pointed the group in the right direction for funding, in particular with their knowledge of which funds were most likely to be successful and which to avoid. They helped with wording and content to ensure more socially focused applications and supported throughout.

With our help the Institute raised £174,000 of funding and put together a project management team. As a result, the building has undergone a major transformation programme including an extension, new electrics, a new kitchen, insulation, heating and furniture. Accessibility has been improved with wheelchair access and an accessible toilet. With the local pub closing the Institute also has a licenced bar for events.

What does the future look like?

The Restoration Project means the hall has a sustainable future for the community it serves. Regular community events are held, such as a quiz and Christmas parties, and local businesses are renting the space for health and wellbeing activities such as yoga and arts and crafts.

The village has no public transport and an ageing population who can be socially isolated. The Institute serves the needs of this demographic as well as bringing in people from further afield. The Institute has a proactive trustee board.

The village hall committee is planning further work on the building such as replacing the roof. They are also looking to diversify their community activity. The committee members know that they can get in touch with us for support and guidance whenever they need it.

[single_story_pull_quote]

About the organisation

The Clothing Bank Ryedale sorts and distributes clothes donations to local families and individuals, encouraging reuse and recycling, providing social, craft activities linked to recycled textile.

How we can help you

As a registered charity, we understand your needs. Our local advisers work across North Yorkshire and will come to you to ensure you get access to the best quality advice and guidance including funding advice, helping you set up as a community organisation, governance and trustees, finance support, marketing advice, and exploring ways to further develop your organisation.

If you know a community group, charity or social enterprise that needs some support to be even more successful, contact one of our friendly advisors on 01904 704177 or info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

We are funded by North Yorkshire Council and NHS North Yorkshire.

Do you need help with:
  • securing income for your organisation or project?
  • turning your ideas of becoming a new community organisation into a reality?
  • benefiting from greater security as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)?
  • thinking about reviewing your organisation and planning ahead?
  • understanding trustee’s legal roles and responsibilities?
  • benefitting from a financial health check?

Our advisers can help. Call us today 01904 704177 or email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk.

“We are all very proud of the hall, many people here have an emotional attachment to it. Next, we will be replacing the roof and looking to increase our commercial activity so we can reduce the number of fundraising events. We will be in touch.”

Trustee, Kilburn Institute

VCSE Collaborative Meeting Update

The latest meeting update from the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s VCSE Collaborative is now available to view. The update provides an overview of the meeting, which took place on Monday 11 March 2024 and covers the following topics:

  • Social Prescribing Conference and Networking Event
  • Research Engagement Network Update
  • Connecting the VCSE sector with the wider Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
  • Volunteering for Health Funding Application
  • 2024-25 Planning
  • Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Expo

Click here to read the latest update.

 

Meet Roy Attwood – an invaluable volunteer for over 30 years!

, ,
As part of our work to highlight the contributions of people whose work involves or supports volunteers, we met up with Roy Attwood, who has been a volunteer at Glusburn Institute Community and Arts Centre for over 30 years. We asked him about his experiences and also found out a little something that not many people know!

Please introduce yourself

My name is Roy Attwood and I’m 78 years young. I volunteer at Glusburn Community & Arts Centre. I was born and raised in Skipton, North Yorkshire. When I got married, we moved to Glusburn as we couldn’t afford the house prices in Skipton. The plan was to get a foot on the mortgage ladder and move back to Skipton, but over 50 years later we’re still here!

What attracted you to the organisation and role?

I have volunteered at the Centre for well over 30 years.  My first involvement was through our children who attended dance classes there. I was also part of a new indoor bowls group from its inception. All regular user groups were invited to send a representative to the monthly trustee meeting, and I volunteered to be the indoor bowls rep. When a new Chair of Trustees was voted in, she asked me to support her as Vice Chair and that then got me seriously involved in volunteering!

I spent my working life in engineering and take a practical approach to things. I feel I have a wealth of skills gained through work experience and training opportunities over the years, and it seemed a shame to let these go to waste when I retired. For me, volunteering is a fantastic way of transferring my skills to help benefit others.

What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a Volunteer Coordinator/ Manager?

I’m not sure anyone has ever actually given me advice regarding volunteering!  But if I could offer anyone any words of wisdom, I would say: “If you’re interested in volunteering, have a good look at the skills you’ve gained over time and see if they can be of benefit to another organisation”.  You’d be surprised at how transferable your skills can be, and this is particularly important at the start of retirement.

What have you learnt about yourself while in this role?

I gain a huge amount of personal satisfaction from volunteering and love seeing the benefits for me personally and for being part of a team. I cherish being able to help others and give advice where I can.

Finally, please tell us something about yourself that your colleagues would be surprised to know.

Not many people know that I’m related to Sir James Falshaw, a former Lord Provost of Edinburgh. He was involved in the railway boom of the 1840s as, like me, he was an engineer!

Want to find out more about how we can support you?

If you are currently in a volunteer coordinator role, why not have a look at our specialised training or join our coordinator’s network that offers practical guidance and support to volunteer coordinators and managers across North Yorkshire.

How smart is smart heating for your community venue?

,

Michael Fletcher, Digital Inclusion Project Manager at Community First Yorkshire, shares his thoughts on smart heating – it’s pros and cons and whether there are any cost benefits for your community building or village hall.

“In today’s world it seems that everything is digital this and smart that, and that’s before we even start talking about artificial intelligence. At the top of the smart pile lies smart heating systems. There’s a whole myriad of different types of devices on the market so if you’re thinking of installing one, make sure you do your research. Let’s delve into how smart they really are…

For a start, smart heaters still need a person to control them so you could argue they are not completely hassle-free, but the installation of one could provide significant benefits for your village hall or community building.

One of the primary benefits of smart heating systems is flagged as their ability to optimise energy usage. With uncertainty around energy costs and increasing awareness of environmental issues, improving energy efficiency is a crucial consideration for any community facility.

What is ‘smart heating’?

But first what do we mean by smart heating? Smart heating works by connecting your heating system to the internet so you can then control it remotely by using a device (such as a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop) via Wi-Fi.

How much control will a smart heating device give you?

There are several different types of smart heating devices that you can control, but the most important is your thermostat if your heating is run through a boiler. Basic models allow you to control the heating without being on site and, if you have different groups using your hall, you can adjust the temperature accordingly. You may want the heating set a little higher whilst a yoga class is on and knock it down a degree or two when the aerobics session is up and running.

Some more sophisticated devices may be able to sense movement in rooms and switch the heating on and off as the room is in and out of use. Some can even sense if a window has been left open. This is as conundrum I face at home as my partner insists on having windows open while the heating is on. I argue that if it’s warm enough to open the window, then you don’t need the heating on. Naturally, it’s an argument I never win . Back to the smartness of devices – while they may be able to detect an open window, I haven’t found one yet that will close it for you.

Taking this a step further, you can install smart radiator valves (or smart electric radiators), and rather than controlling just a single thermostat, you can control each one individually. If you have multiple rooms within your hall, you can have each one set at different temperatures in different parts, including switching radiators off/down in rooms while they’re not in use. Why heat the kitchen up if it’s not in use?

If you have a smart speaker installed, you can even control all of this through voice control. “Alexa turn down the radiator in the kitchen to 10 degrees” but be careful you can distinguish between the hall and any smart system you may have installed at home.

Smart heating systems include diagnostic and predictive maintenance capabilities. By monitoring the performance of heating equipment and detecting potential issues early on, village halls can schedule maintenance proactively, minimising downtime and costly repairs.

Using the data to help you understand your energy usage

One of the most valuable aspects of smart heating technology is the wealth of data they provide. If your hall is considering any energy saving/carbon reduction installations, then the most important thing to do first is to understand your current usage. Where is usage higher and where is it lower? Does this correlate with what you are expecting? Are there any spikes in usage at times you wouldn’t expect? Smart heating data can help you analyse this, although you may be able to get this information from your energy supplier also. Often, they can provide data broken down into half hour slots. As the famous quote goes, knowledge is power itself.

So, in summary smart heating could make managing your hall that bit simpler, could make you more energy efficient and could help save you money on your energy bills. But you must weigh this up against the cost of installation.

So how smart is smart heating? I would say it’s pretty smart, but still needs human intervention. We’re not all redundant just yet.”

If you want to speak to Michael in more detail about smart heating, do drop him a line by email: michael.fletcher@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk 

How do you define ordinary and extraordinary leadership?

, ,
Ahead of speaking at our Ordinary Extraordinary Leaders Conference in May, Johanna Hooper – Leadership and Change Management Expert from Limitless Peak Performance – shares her views on what makes a good leader.

Think of a leader you admire. What are their attributes? What do they look, speak, sound like? How do they make you feel?

When you thought of that leader, what image came to mind? Captain America? Churchill? Martin Luther King? Elon Musk? Your boss? Someone more local?

Now think about the image you have in your head – would you call them ordinary or extraordinary?

Do we put leadership on a pedestal?

Here’s the thing. I think we can be in danger of putting leadership on something of a pedestal and that can make it hard for us to feel like ‘good’ leaders, or recognise ‘good’ leaders around us.

Did you know, there’s a theory for this? Well, actually there’s a couple:

  • Implicit Leadership Theory says we have preconceived ideas about what a leader is, does, looks like and who they are. And these preconceived ideas are shaped by our experiences and images shared via the media.  No worries there then…..
  • Then there’s the Great Man (!) Theory. It states that ‘heroic’ individuals with certain laudable characteristics (intellect, courage, abilities) naturally emerge as leaders because of their inherent greatness.  I mean, there’s a bunch of aspects to that theory that can make us ordinary folk feel ‘less than’.

With all that external influence as to what makes a ‘good’ leader, is it any wonder that not many of us are in a rush to claim our “Best Leader Ever” badges?

Are you and ordinary or extraordinary leader?

Now mull on this: are you an ordinary or extraordinary leader?

Funny question, huh? Presumably, we might all want to be extraordinary but we might feel that we are *just* ordinary leaders? And if we think we’re *just* ordinary leaders, what is that doing to our performance, mindset, self-esteem?

For my money, it’s time to shake off this notion that you can’t be ordinary and extraordinary at the same time.  Leadership is both a privilege and a responsibility. It comes in many different forms and there is no ‘one size fits all’ model. Great leaders are all around us, even in positions that aren’t technically leadership roles.

When you think of the person who has had the most profound impact on you, are they extraordinary ordinary? Mine was. Not in my command chain, not formally designated as ‘leader’, not heroic, not lauded, but the impact on me was powerful. What impact are you having on the folks around you?”

Want to hear more?

Want to hear more from Johanna? She will be speaking at and facilitating our Ordinary Extraordinary Leaders conference on 22 May at The Pavilions, Harrogate.

Book your place now and discover the leader you could be.

Johanna is a retired Commander who, since leaving the Royal Navy in 2014, has had a career in management consultancy and now runs her own business, working with both small business leaders and executives in larger organisations across public and private sectors.