New funding option for community buildings in rural York

A new funding opportunity for community buildings in rural areas of York has been announced by City of York Council.

The Community Buildings Fund will fund capital improvements that support decarbonisation and digital connectivity, as well as making general improvements and refurbishments. Funded via the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), there is a total of £150,000 capital available to support successful projects.

Support for a wide range of projects

Open to anyone who owns or is responsible for running a community building in an area of York designated as rural, the new fund can support a range of activities including:

  • Improving energy efficiency and insulation
  • Installing new equipment which will reduce energy usage
  • Upgrading or installing broadband and Wi-Fi
  • Upgrading or installing hearing loops and similar digital infrastructure.

Support is also available for general repairs, improvements and refurbishment alongside work to decarbonise or improve digital facilities.

Contact Community First Yorkshire for support

Community First Yorkshire has been involved in the development of the fund, consulting with a number of community buildings in the area. Now the Community Support North Yorkshire team is on hand to help develop individual applications.

City of York Council is advising applicants to speak to the team before submitting a bid to ensure it stands the best possible chance of success.

For more information, download the Application Form and the Guidance for Applicants.

The fund opens on Thursday 1 August 2024 and the closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 6 September 2024. Applications received after this will not be considered.

To contact the Community Support North Yorkshire team email communitysupport@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk or call 01904 704177.

Meet Gail Squires – a long-time volunteer and book enthusiast!

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As part of our work to highlight the contributions of people whose work involves or supports volunteers, we met up with Gail Squires, who has been a volunteer with Ripon Library Action Group (RLAG) since its formation in 2017 – and is now also one of the Group’s trustees. We asked her about her love for volunteering and also found out a little something that not many people know!
Please introduce yourself

Ripon Library Action Group was formed in 2017 when the then North Yorkshire County Council reorganised its library provision. Ripon Library is a hybrid library that has permanent paid staff supported by a team of volunteers.

I have been a volunteer at Ripon since it became a hybrid library. In my role, I assist the staff by ensuring that:

  • returned books are correctly shelved
  • reserved books are processed using the computer system
  • books are picked for reservation requests – including those for housebound users and book groups
  • new library members are welcomed and signed up.

I also help with numerous types of enquiries, keep the library tidy and carry out anything else the staff ask me to do!!  I am also now a Trustee of the Ripon Library Action Group (RLAG)

What attracted you to the organisation and role?

I became involved in volunteering at the library because, at the time, I was responsible for collecting and returning books for a reading group I had joined. I had just moved to part-time working hours and I wished to help to ensure that the library continued to provide its many important services.

What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a volunteer?

When thinking of becoming a volunteer, I feel it is important to do something that you have an interest in, be it outdoors, creative arts, performing arts, befriending, becoming more involved in the local community, etc.

Find the organisation or person that can provide more information and even try out various different areas to find the one that is most suited to your interests and the time that you are able to give.

The best piece of advice given to me, once I had decided where to volunteer, was: ‘If not sure of anything – ask!’.

Finally, please tell us something about yourself that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know

Whilst not a spring chicken myself, I have always been active, which keeps me out of mischief.  I spent my early working life nursing and then latterly in administrative roles working around my family commitments.

I enjoy keeping fit, particularly swimming, so much so that in 2015 I swam in Lake Windermere as part of the Great North Swim with my daughter raising money for the Royal British Legion and St Michael’s Hospice.

I sing in a local community choir, love animals (especially dogs), enjoy helping to look after my grandchildren (getting into mischief) and cooking – I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Michel Roux Jnr. Oh, and I am married to a former England and British Lions Rugby player!

Why are community digital hubs such a fantastic idea?

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With our popular Digital Inclusion Programme now open for new funding applications, project manager Michael Fletcher asks why digital hubs are so important to make sure no-one in the community is left behind. He writes:

Today, it feels like more and more of what we need to do is moving online. Have you ever thought about how your organisation could help your community so that everyone can learn about how to get online and get ahead in the digital world? That’s what a community digital hub is all about! Let’s dive into why setting one up is such a fantastic idea.

Not everyone has the same access to tech and the internet. A digital hub makes sure everyone, no matter what their background is, can get online and use technology. It’s all about making sure no-one gets left behind.

A digital hub isn’t just about tech

A digital hub isn’t just about tech; it’s also a place to meet new people and stay connected. People can learn how to video chat to help stay in touch with friends and family – reducing loneliness and making new connections.

Learning new digital skills can also open so many job opportunities. Whether it’s finding a new job online, learning how to work remotely, or even starting an online business, a digital hub can be a game-changer for people looking to improve their career prospects.

From finding reliable health information to using fitness apps, a digital hub can help residents stay healthy and informed. Plus, they can learn about online health services.

Support is currently available through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to provide funding to establish digital hubs along with training and ongoing support to train volunteers/staff as digital champions.

Top tips for applicants

Interested in applying? Then here are some tips from applicants who have been successful so far:

  • Clearly demonstrate the local need
  • Think about what categories of people in your community need digital support and what scale of support do you think you could provide?
  • Ask yourself if digital support can be a bolt on to existing services you provide? For example, if you run a coffee morning, could you include a digital drop-in service for people to get help?
  • Explore whether you could run a donation scheme for IT equipment to provide to those without access to a device
  • Think about whether you could broaden support, so it is available for the wider community and not just those who currently use your facilities?
  • And, if you don’t have a venue you can use, are you able to take digital support to the users, either in their home or using community venues such as village halls to make it easier for people to access?
Apply by July 26

If you are interested in learning more, please contact project manager, Michael Fletcher. You need to be quick though, as the closing date for applications is 26 July.

For all the information you need, visit the North Yorkshire Council website.

More funding to help promote digital inclusivity across North Yorkshire

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Charities and community groups in North Yorkshire have another opportunity to apply for funding to help deliver digital inclusion projects across the county.

Working alongside North Yorkshire Council and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Community First Yorkshire, an infrastructure support charity, has opened a second application window for its Digital Inclusion Programme.

Increasing digital support in North Yorkshire

The aim of the programme is to increase digital support in North Yorkshire, through new digital inclusion projects and offers. The programme looks to support charities and community organisations to develop sustainable digital hubs and upskill volunteers and employees to become digital champions.

So far, funding has been used to support a range of different approaches from sessions in libraries or community venues and visiting people at home who have difficulty travelling to mobile classroom facilities that can take a service out to more rural areas.

Flexible support can be provided through one-to-one or group sessions either in-person or online. Often the new digital support is provided as a bolt-on to other services already being providing in the community.

More than 20 imaginative applications so far

“Since being launched earlier this year, this project has already attracted more than 20 imaginative and creative applications from organisations across North Yorkshire. It’s exciting to be offering a second opportunity for others to take part,” said Community First Yorkshire Chief Executive, Jane Colthup. 

“With so many services now available online, this drive to improve digital inclusivity across North Yorkshire is especially important to help our local communities thrive. We’re looking forward to seeing another good round of applications.”

Apply by 26 July

Funding is limited so applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by 26 July 2024.

More information can be found here.

 

If you are looking for funding for your VCSE organisation, our new Community First Yorkshire Funding Portal offers an innovative online platform that could transform the way you search for and find the funding you need. Find out more.

Being Young in North Yorkshire survey

Being Young In North Yorkshire

Being Young in North Yorkshire 2021-2024 is the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership Strategy for children and young people living in North Yorkshire, with a vision that “all children and young people are safe, happy, healthy and able to achieve in North Yorkshire”.

As they move as a partnership to develop a new Being Young in North Yorkshire Strategy from 2025, they would like to take the opportunity to consult with partners on the impact of the current strategy, shine a light on areas of achievement and good practice in line with our four key themes, and identify areas of focus and priority.

The Early Help Strategy

The Early Help Strategy outlines what Early Help looks like and how the approach works across North Yorkshire. The strategy is due for review and it is vital to consult with partners on their views of the Early Help, remembering that The Early Help System is not a single service. It is a network of services, processes and interactions that aim to help children, young people and families at the earliest opportunity. Improving this system requires clarity of what success looks like, shared across a range of partners, and informed by the voices of managers, practitioners and families.

Virtual Sessions

The partnership have arranged a series of online consultation events as an opportunity for you to share your views and help them shape the future development of these strategies. Three virtual sessions have been arranged and if you are interested in being involved, please email them at nyscp@northyorks.gov.uk confirming which session you would like to attend and they will send you the meeting link.

Tuesday 2nd July 2024, 9:30 – 11:00
Thursday 4th July 2024, 16:30 – 18:00
Wednesday 10th July 2024, 12:00 – 13:30