Worried about the cost of living?

If you’re struggling to pay for food and other essentials, there are local schemes and organisations in North Yorkshire which may be able to help or point you in the right direction.

You’ll find information about emergency financial support, managing debt, benefit entitlement, energy bills and staying connected all in one place at www.northyorks.gov.uk/costofliving

North Yorkshire Council’s cost of living web page also has information about pension credit, schemes to help families and local community-based support including Warm Welcome spaces as well as advice on staying safe and well.

If you’re less confident with technology and have friends or family who might be able to help you understand what support is available with the cost of living, please ask them to look at the web page with you. You can also go into any North Yorkshire library or North Yorkshire Council office.

 

If you’re not sure who to turn to, you can call North Yorkshire Council’s customer service centre on 0300 131 2 131 Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 4:30pm asking for ‘cost of living help’ when prompted.

Business leaders to help drive growth

Business leaders and entrepreneurs from across the region have been announced as members of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s newly created Business Board.

Following an extensive process, 13 volunteers have been recruited to the board to reflect the diversity across York and North Yorkshire, providing valuable knowledge and experience from across the region’s growth and core sectors.

Jane Colthup is one of the 13 who has been recruited to the Business Board.

Jane is the Chief Executive of Community First Yorkshire, focussed on improving the lives of people living in Yorkshire through attaining more thriving, connected, inclusive and sustainable communities. Community First Yorkshire is the local infrastructure organisation in North Yorkshire, championing and supporting the VCSE sector. As a member of the Action with Communities in Rural England network, Jane understands the issues facing rural communities and is keen to address inequalities.

Speaking about being appointed to the Business Board, Jane said: “I am thrilled by my appointment to the Business Board, and super keen that the 7,400 VCSE organisations, that are essentially small businesses, contribute to the growth of the York and North Yorkshire economy.

“With my rural hat on, I am also keen to ensure that our rural communities have the same opportunities for education, work, access to health care, transport and digital services as their more urban cousins. The Business Board’s focus on skills, housing, transport and the green economy means this is the perfect vehicle to bring everything together to improve our lovely region.”

Business Board Members

  • Jennifer Wood – Chair, Co-Founder of O&3 Limited
  • Caroline Bell, Joint Managing Director at Shepherds Purse Artisan Cheeses
  • Jane Colthup, Chief Executive at Community First Yorkshire
  • David Dickson, Chair at St Leonards Hospice
  • Cherie Federico, Director at Aesthetica
  • David Hall, VP of Power Systems at Schneider Electric
  • Andy Hughes, AGH Engineering Limited
  • David Kerfoot, Chair at Fix Our Food
  • Nicola Kingswell, Scientific Director at Labskin Limited
  • Rebecca Layton, Owner of Layton Hill Hotels
  • Sam Leach, Co-Founder at Spark
  • Andy Makin, Director at EnviroVent Limited
  • Jessica Wright, Managing Director at Peel X

The Business Board will provide a strong and independent business voice for York and North Yorkshire, advising the Combined Authority and Mayor on strategy and policy to unlock its economic potential and stimulate growth and prosperity.

In response to UK Government’s proposed new National Industrial Strategy, the Business Board will oversee the development of the York and North Yorkshire Growth Plan.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire said: “I am delighted to welcome these outstanding individuals to the Business Board. We received a high volume of applications from some exceptional candidates, and it was a difficult decision to choose just 13.

“The Combined Authority has recently agreed draft strategic growth priorities for York and North Yorkshire. The strategic growth priorities will help to inform our Local Growth Plan which will launch in Spring 2025.

“The Business Board will have a key role to scrutinise and provide insight into the Local Growth Plan and how it will support emerging opportunities for growth that we are yet to fully realise. With new and emerging growth, it is important that we have the right plans in place to attract private sector investment in York and North Yorkshire and create more and better opportunities for people who live and do business here.

“My mission is to ensure that devolution delivers healthy and thriving communities across York and North Yorkshire and small businesses are at the heart of that. The Business Board will have a role in ensuring that we are supporting small businesses that are the lifeblood of our communities to be resilient and to thrive.

“It is crucial to me as Mayor that I have strong connections to the business community. As well as the Business Board, the business voice will also be supported by a development forum, which is soon to launch, a network forum, and ongoing engagement and support for business through the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Growth Hub and Invest partnership.”

The Business Board will meet in-person quarterly, with the first meeting due to take place on Friday 22 November.

-ENDS-

Meet Ann Ferguson – Chief Officer at Ryedale Carers Support

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Our volunteer interview this month is with Ann Ferguson, Chief Officer at Ryedale Carers Support. We caught up with Ann to find out about the amazing work they offer, and to hear about her journey from Trustee to Chief Officer.
Please introduce yourself.

Hello! I’m Ann Ferguson and I started working at Ryedale Carers Support based in Kirkbymoorside and Whitby in July 2024. My role is that of Chief Officer, working with a small group of really committed staff to provide volunteer befrienders to people across Ryedale and Whitby to give their carers a break, or to reduce loneliness and social isolation.

What attracted you to the organisation and role?

I have been a trustee at Ryedale Carers Support for a few years and then this role became available. It was too good an opportunity to let pass me by! It is a super organisation, very well-regarded across the area and within the local authority. I have worked in a range of different roles within social care all my life and in this role I am able to bring all my skills and experiences together in one place.

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

Volunteering is so incredibly rewarding, and it therefore attracts people for so many different reasons. The best bit about spending time with volunteers is getting to know them, to hear their life stories, and to see just how much value they can add to the lives of others and the development of your organisations. Never underestimate them! Great problem solvers, hard workers, quick thinkers and creative beings with so much to give.

What have you learnt about yourself while in this role?

If you need to know something… just ask the team! I have found the team to be so incredibly committed to the vision of the organisation, to be dedicated and hardworking, to be passionate and both knowledgeable and eager to learn. I know that I don’t like working alone, and work much better as part of a highly functioning team… and I have just that team!

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

This is by far the hardest question of the lot! My hobbies are very predictable… I enjoy walking, I am an avid knitter, and more recently, I started keeping chickens which is an absolute joy. As for something others may be surprised to know… I worked for my dad providing admin support to his wine importing business but I’m almost 100% teetotal. No danger of drinking the profits!

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.

The autumn budget and implications for the VCSE sector

The autumn budget announced on Wednesday (30 October), is set to raise £40 billion through tax increases that will work towards rebuilding public services.

£600 million in new funding for social care will help support the communities we serve, along with the rise on the weekly earnings limit on Carer’s Allowance. However, there was no mention of the voluntary sector in the budget and the implications from it will be challenging.

The increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC) to 15%, along with the NIC threshold being dropped from £9100 to £5000, will put additional financial pressures on already limited financial resources. This is in addition to a 6.7% increase in the national living wage, which whilst positive, will have a real impact on the sector when these costs cannot be passed on.

Higher payroll costs may hinder some charities’ long-term sustainability and this could result in a more limited capacity to respond to the needs of our communities at a time of increasing demand. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, along with sister councils across the UK, have written this letter to the Chancellor urging her to reimburse charities for these costs.

In terms of rising operational costs from next April, some may benefit from the increase in Employer’s Allowance from £5000 to £10,500 which will help charities reduce their National Insurance Contributions.

Volunteering with North Yorkshire Moors Railway is just the ticket

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Our development officer, Vicki, spend a lovely autumnal day volunteering at North Yorkshire Moors Railway, the only Arts Council funded museum that is also an operational railway.

She worked with the lineside crew of volunteers who help to maintain the 13 miles of grassland and vegetation which runs alongside the track. The day was spent clearing and then burning willow at a lovely spot on the line between Levisham and Goathland.

Vicki said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the day and time spent with the volunteers – without who the railway and associated museum wouldn’t be able to operate. I was guided and supported throughout the day, making me feel safe and welcomed into the gang.”

All Community First Yorkshire staff are able to take a day of employee supported volunteering each year in addition to the organisation’s annual team volunteering day. We are passionate about volunteering and the significant benefits it brings to the charities and initiatives we work with, and this is a great way to help us make a difference.

International Volunteer Managers Day 2024

A day to recognise our volunteer managers: 5 November.

International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay) was created to celebrate and recognise volunteer managers for the incredible work they do in organising and supporting volunteers worldwide. This year is even more special as we celebrate its 25th year!

Each year a new theme is chosen, and this quarter century milestone brings a new subject of “what’s our future normal?”, which explores:

  • The place of volunteer leaders in volunteering strategies
  • The future workforce make up of both volunteers and volunteer leaders, and their views and expectations
  • The importance of how personal volunteer data is being secured and handled
  • The increasing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in volunteer management
  • And much more.

To help celebrate the volunteering sector, we’ve pulled together a list of our top resources to help inspire and educate volunteers, volunteer managers and leaders, and those considering a volunteering role:

Get involved in the festivities by following us on Facebook, X and LinkedIn, and use the celebratory hashtag #IVMDay24.

Civil Society Covenant – contribute to NAVCA’s response

The government is consulting on a new Civil Society Covenant, resetting  and improving the relationship it has with the VCSE sector.

The Covenant aims to:

  • support collaboration between civil society organisations and government
  • ensure respect for the different roles we play, and protect our independence
  • support all public bodies and civil society organisations
  • build on and support existing agreements in place at a local level
  • complement other arrangements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The CEO of NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action), Maddy Desforges, contributed to a roundtable and subsequent reception at No. 10 to launch the work. Both the Secretary of State, Lisa Nandy, and Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, recognised the importance of close work with the VCSE sector, and the common goals and ambition it has with government.

They spoke of respect for the VCSE sector, recognising its unique contribution to society. They were clear that the Covenant needs to be with all levels of government – local authorities, NHS, and each government department.

This is an important and unique opportunity to influence government and emphasise the importance of local infrastructure and local charities and community groups.

Get involved 

The government is keen to hear from small, local organisations, and the NAVCA network is key to that.

NAVCA will submit a response on behalf of the network – join them on 13 November, 1-2pm, to share your ideas and develop a collective response that highlights the role of local infrastructure. You can sign up for the meeting via the NAVCA website here. If you can’t make this meeting, please add your thoughts to the NAVCA discussion forum here, and the team will include these in their response.

Please share the survey with your local networks. NAVCA will co-create a set of common messages for members to draw from.

You can view the Covenant framework here, with more information on the NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) website here. The deadline for survey submissions is midday on 12 December.

November: A Month for Men’s Health

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International Men’s Day is celebrated as part of Men’s Health Awareness Month.

Globally, men die on average six years earlier than women, and for reasons that are largely preventable. Which means that it doesn’t have to be that way: we can all take action to live healthier, happier and longer lives.

Men’s Health Awareness Month highlights various health issues affecting men. This year, Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board has several events planned to raise awareness and promote wellbeing.

Lunch and Learn session on cancers primarily affecting men and people assigned male at birth
Mon 18 November (12-12:45pm)

Did you know…

  • More than half of new cases of cancer in males are prostate, lung or bowel cancer (2017-2019, CRUK)
  • 1 in 8 of those born male will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
  • Bowel cancer is treatable and curable if diagnosed early?

This session will focus on the cancers which primarily affect men, and our session will include:

  • Signs and symptoms of the following cancers…Prostate, Testicular, Bowel, Lung
  • Bowel screening, testicular checks and Lung Health Checks
  • How to reduce your risk of cancer?
Men’s health awareness session
Tuesday 19 November (12-1pm)

Join this session with Men’s health expert Paul Galdas, Professor of Nursing and Men’s Health, to increase your understanding of men’s health in the workplace. This session would be particularly helpful for line managers, wellbeing champions and leaders in the following areas: Occupational health, health and wellbeing, OD & People professionals and will cover the following:

  • The detrimental impact of masculine norms and unhelpful male stereotypes; strategies for overcoming the stigma and barriers that prevent men from engaging with mental health support, fostering a culture of openness and acceptance.
  • Why waiting for men to reach crisis is not an option; the importance of early, proactive support and how certain approaches aimed at getting men to ‘open up’ can be counterproductive.
  • The current evidence on successful strategies for supporting men’s mental health in the workplace. From policy changes to personalized support systems, what measures are proving effective in making a real difference.
Health and Wellbeing Conversations Training
Thurs 21 November (12-1pm)

This training is aimed at line managers (of any profession, banding or grade), peers and colleagues working in Health and Social Care roles who have caring responsibilities for staff – for example clinical and educational supervisors, team leaders, members of staff networks, health and wellbeing champions or Wellbeing Guardians.

This training is designed to help you develop the skills to hold safe, effective wellbeing conversations. All discussions in the group will remain confidential and no personal stories will be shared outside of the training session.

To book on to any of the above sessions, please visit this booking page.

Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership has a section on their health and wellbeing webpage dedicated to Men’s Health.  There are lots of resources available, recorded webinars and signposting.  Do download their free health and wellbeing app HNY Our People (available from the app store), which encourages building healthy habits and has lots of tools to help you improve your wellbeing.

 

Government planning proposals must secure more genuinely affordable rural homes

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Recognising that the lack of genuinely affordable homes in the countryside is one of the biggest problems facing rural communities, Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has responded to the government on plans to revise planning policy and speed up development to drive economic growth.

Although the organisation broadly welcomed the proposals, they highlighted key areas where more work is still needed:

  • define genuine affordability
  • control second homes and short term lets
  • plan the delivery of rural affordable housing
  • development should be genuinely sustainable
  • more should be invested in the development of neighbourhood plans.

Commenting, Community First Yorkshire Chief Executive, Jane Colthup, said:

“There is a lack of truly affordable homes for people in North Yorkshire, most especially in our rural communities.

“We wholeheartedly endorse the feedback ACRE has provided and continue to support the work of various strategic groups in North Yorkshire charged with improving the supply of affordable rural housing.

“For example, earlier this year we carried out a housing needs survey for Craven Community Land Trust, which ultimately demonstrated the need for an additional 43 affordable homes across four parishes. We are also delivering the Defra Rural Housing Enablers Programme in North Yorkshire and have recently begun providing community led housing support in the Nidderdale National Landscape area, thanks to funding from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.”

Read the ACRE response to the government

Let’s talk Money with North Yorkshire Council

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North Yorkshire Council is now in the second year of providing many of your local services, from rubbish collection and recycling, public health, social care and education, roads, transport and leisure services as well as support for businesses. The council has brought together the services previously provided by eight councils into one, but there is still a significant task ahead as they continue to transform services now and in the years to come.

The council remains passionate about providing value for money services, and improving outcomes for local people, businesses and communities across North Yorkshire. But, like all councils, and many of you, they are facing major financial challenges. They are also experiencing ongoing increases in demand for services like adult social care and children and young people with special educational needs.

The council spends about £1.3 billion every year delivering local services to people and businesses. These include:

  • The collection of around 310,000 tonnes of waste from more than 300,000 properties. 45 per cent is reused, recycled or composted.
  • Maintaining over 9,250 kilometres of highways and with direct responsibility for nearly 7000 kilometres of public rights of way, and over 1,645 bridges.
  • Managing and maintaining 8,300 council houses
  • Processing over 50,000 housing benefit changes every year.
  • Providing 15,700 children and young people with special educational needs support
  • Providing 26 Leisure venues, including 18 with swimming pools
  • And supporting more than 3,300 children and young people via our children and families service

The council wants to hear from you about what is important to you and how you think they should spend the money available.

There are several ways you can take part in Let’s Talk Money:

You can fill in an online survey here https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/LetsTalk – the survey is on Commonplace, which is a safe and easy-to-use online tool used to engage with communities, by over 250 organisations including neighbouring councils in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

If you would prefer, you can pick up a paper copy from your local library or main local office and return it in the envelope provided.

You can also email letstalk@northyorks.gov.uk or call 0300 131 2 131 (please say ‘Let’s Talk’ when prompted) to request a survey.

You can write to:

Let’s Talk

North Yorkshire Council

County Hall

Northallerton

DL7 8AD

Accessible formats of the survey are available on request. Please share your views with us and encourage your colleagues, friends and family to do the same. The survey closes on 9 December 2024.

Questions from members of the public?

Please ask residents to email LetsTalk@northyorks.gov.uk or call the number above if they want to speak to someone about the Let’s Talk Money consultation.