Support grant opportunity to provide VCSE infrastructure support across North Yorkshire

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North Yorkshire Council (NYC) and Humber and North Yorkshire NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) is seeking a supplier, or a consortium of suppliers, through a competitive grant process, to deliver capacity building (infrastructure) and support to North Yorkshire’s Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector.

The grant recipient would provide support which includes the provision of funding advice; training for staff, volunteers and trustees; support for new groups in setting up; voice and representation; and networking activities among many others. This helps to ensure we have a robust, effective and quality VCSE sector across North Yorkshire.

Please note: This opportunity is to provide VCSE infrastructure support across North Yorkshire, not including York, which is delivered by York CVS.
The grant start date will be 1 April 2025 and the grant recipient will be expected to meet the following criteria:

  • The supplier (or lead supplier) must be a not-for-profit organisation
  • Must be able to deliver support to VCSE organisations across the full North Yorkshire Council boundary.

The current agreement for the provision of this infrastructure support service will finish on 31 March 2025. Therefore, this is prior notice that a competitive grant process will be run to identify a provider for this service. The new agreement will start on 1 April 2025 and will be in place for three years with the option to extend for an additional 2 years (maximum 5 years). The opportunity is expected to be published in late-September/early-October 2024.

Attend the information webinar on 5 September to find out more

The commissioning team will be holding a webinar to provide some additional information about this service and how to submit a response. The purpose of this webinar is to provide organisations, that are interested in delivering infrastructure support, information about the requirements of the grant with some hints and tips on how to submit a response to the competitive grant process. The details of the webinar are as follows:

Date: Thursday 5 September 2024
Time: 2pm – 3pm
Where: Microsoft Teams

If you are interested in attending the webinar, you’ll need to register on the YORtender portal and search for Quote/Tender 88523 – Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector Infrastructure Support Grant – Market Engagement Webinar.

There will be a registration form within the ‘Documents’ area of YORtender, please complete the form and return through YORtender no later than 3pm on Wednesday 4 September. Dial in details for the Webinar on Microsoft Teams will be sent out via email when registration closes. Please note, attendance at the webinar will be capped at 2 people per organisation.

Additional information

The webinar is an engagement exercise; any subsequent opportunity will be advertised separately and all organisations wanting to participate will need to respond as and when it is published.

The grant opportunity and all associated documents will be published on YORtender. You can use the following link to register: Supplier registration (eu-supply.com). If you require any assistance with registering/returning a submission, please contact Mercell via email on
uksupport@eu-supply.com or 0800 840 2050 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm).

Would you like to become a governor?

NHS Humber Teaching Foundation Trust is looking for new Governers to join their council board. Read the Trust’s helpful guide, outlining what it means to become a Foundation Trust Governor.

Join the Head of Corporate Affairs, Stella Jackson, for a presentation on what the role of Governor entails – these will take place via Microsoft Teams on:

  • Tuesday 24 September – 12.30-1.30pm
  • Wednesday 30 September – 6-7pm

Contact Katie Colrein via email at katie.colrein@nhs.net or telephone 01482 389132 to book a place.

Also, click here to view the promotional flyer, and alternatively, if you were interested in becoming a member of the Trust, download this form to start the process.

How can affordable housing help you?

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Living in rural North Yorkshire is an aspiration for many, but the reality often falls short due to the lack of available affordable homes.

Many people who grew up in rural areas are likely to want to remain in their home village, especially if their family and close friends are there too.

We’re working with North Yorkshire Council Rural Housing Enablers to explore what housing people need.

Chat to Rural Housing Enablers about your housing needs if you live in parts of Ryedale

  • Do you live in or have a family member who have previously lived in one of the following parishes – Claxton, Sand Hutton, Gate or Upper Helmsley, Warthill, Buttercrambe with Bossall?
  • Are you in Housing Need?
  • Are you having difficulty in finding a home to rent ahead of buying an affordable home?
  • Are you an Employer having problems recruiting or retaining staff?
  • Is there a lack of affordable houses (to buy or rent) in the parish/es where you live?
  • Have you had to move away due to the lack of affordable housing?
  • Do you own a small piece of land, that could be considered for an affordable housing development?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, please pop along to Claxton & Sand Hutton Village Hall on Thursday 26 September between 3 – 7pm for an informal chat with one of the Council’s Rural Housing Enablers.

For more information email affordablehousing@northyorks.gov.uk

Meet Tom Oates, and his guide dog Jerry!

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Our volunteer interview this month is with Tom Oates – a volunteer with Jennyruth Workshops and Ripon Museum Trust. We met with Tom and his guide dog Jerry to chat through why Tom volunteers, what volunteering at both organisations has given him and what he likes to do in his free time.

Please introduce yourself.

My name is Tom. I’m 27 years old and have a guide dog called Jerry.

I started with Ripon Museum Trust in 2016 – this 6-hour position was arranged through Harrogate College. This ended in 2019 but I returned in 2021 after the Covid pandemic. My role at the Workhouse Museum is Main Block Visitor Host where I meet and greet visitors who come into the Masters and Matron block.

My role at Jennyruth Workshops is as a worker and I am currently working 3 days a week on a work placement, taking on multiple enjoyable tasks.

What attracted you to the organisations and roles?

I am interested in history, working with people and interacting with the customers who come into Ripon Museum Trust. I originally started volunteering in the Court House where I was meeting and greeting – I didn’t have Jerry then.  It was small and I struggled with the layout – I had a mobility cane to help me but I didn’t really like it. I prefer the Work House as it’s a bigger museum and busier with families. I like customer facing roles which include telling them about the history.

At Jennyruth Workshops I work in the paint shop, do woodwork, bake (today I made flapjacks and gingerbread men) and I help make the packaging. I love the packaging as I can do it independently. There are some fiddly jobs but I ask for help when I need to.

Jennyruth Workshops is a good, friendly, family environment. Everyone mucks in. It is great for work skills building if you have additional needs.

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

It is a great experience. You’re part of a team. You’re sharing ideas with everyone who volunteers as well as staff. It is a great atmosphere to work in and it’s a friendly environment to be in. It’s great to volunteer with my guide dog and I am happy to work with staff to make the environment safe for all.

My confidence is up from my volunteering. I feel safe. I can walk to town safely from the museum. I feel really happy and do a good job. Volunteering helps with building your skill set and helps improve your mood. It has helped me become more independent.

What was the best piece of advice given to you as a volunteer?

Don’t send too many emails!!! I used to send a lot to Vicki at Ripon Museum Trust. She explained that she can’t always read them and asked that I be patient and wait for her response. I get a lot of emails myself and I don’t always have time to read them and I can get overwhelmed. I realise now that I used to send far too many.

A piece of advice from my work placement at Jennyruth Workshops is to “always take advice on board”.

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

I have completed 276 park runs at Fountains Abbey in Ripon. I run with a sighted runner and we have ran them all without stopping. I was given a new hi-visibility vest for the 250th run which has the park run logo printed on it. The next celebration will be my 500th run.

I have been running the Ripon park run since New Years day 2015. It gives me confidence, improves my fitness and I enjoy being outside in the fresh air with other people.

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.

England riots: an update from Community First Yorkshire

In response to the recent riots being experienced across parts of England, Community First Yorkshire Chief Executive, Jane Colthup, has issued the following statement:

Community First Yorkshire stands with our colleagues in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector in abhorring the recent riots in our towns and communities.

We endorse the sentiments and advice of our colleagues at NCVO and ACRE Staffordshire to ensure your teams and volunteers are kept safe and well.

We have signed the civil society group’s statement on the racist violence here: The Civil Society Group.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need further support or guidance: info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk

You are not alone; communities and kindness will always come first.

Our Emergency Response Toolkit is now available to download and is full of useful advice and information. Download the toolkit here.