Meet Catherine Skyvington – Library Supervisor at Harrogate Library

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Please introduce yourself.

Hello, my name is Catherine and I am a library supervisor at Harrogate Library. I have worked here for just under two years and my main role is to manage the staff and volunteers, as well as the building. I also plan events and activities, and work alongside our outreach team to create partnerships within the community.

What attracted you to the organisation and role?

I have always enjoyed working in the public sector and have previously worked in Leeds Libraries and at an older person’s charity called OWLS. One of the tasks that I particularly enjoyed was managing the charity’s volunteers and organising their befriending service, so when this role came along which involved working with volunteers and dealing with books, it seemed perfect!

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

Working with volunteers is so incredibly rewarding and it allows you to meet such a wide variety of people. It is important to know why someone wants to be a volunteer and what their strengths are, so they can be fitted into the right role. It is also vital that volunteers are made to feel valued and they know they are just as important in the running of the organisation as the paid members of staff.

What have you learnt about yourself while in this role?

Every day is different in the library and working with the public means I never know what will be round the corner. I’ve learnt to stay calm and understand that patience and listening skills are key!

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

I can play the saxophone and love playing around on a drum kit!

Village and Community Halls: A guide to surveys

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Volunteers managing England’s 10,000+ rural community halls are being provided with guidance to help them commission the right type of building survey.

The resource was instigated by ACTion with Communities in Cumbria who, when working with halls across rural Cumbria, found there was variable knowledge amongst funders, surveyors and village hall committees about what was needed and required in procuring and carrying out surveys of village halls and similar rural community buildings.

The guide has been authored by Ben Stagg, Director of stagg architects who wrote ACRE’s net zero design guide in 2024.

Explaining the benefits of obtaining a survey

The guidance takes a hall committee through the benefits of obtaining a survey, explains different types of surveys and how to go about engaging a surveyor. The section for surveyors will be useful for hall committees to share when commissioning their surveyor. There is also a comprehensive chapter on energy surveys.

Surveys are important because they help ensure your hall is kept in a good condition and that alteration and improvement work is appropriate and beneficial.  They don’t just describe the existing situation; they can also be used to identify improvement works and assess and evaluate recommendations.

An invaluable guide

Julie Minns, Member of Parliament for Carlisle and North Cumbria said: “This is an invaluable guide. Community buildings are an important focal point and resource for local people the length and breadth of the country. They are particularly important in rural areas where geographic and social isolation are great. The vibrant and varied activities in the community centres in North Cumbria, are proof of just how needed and valuable this guide from ACRE is.”

The National Lottery Community Fund were pleased to support this guidance through an initiative of the ‘Northumberland, Durham and Cumbria Community Places’  project that they fund.

The National Lottery Community Fund provide grants for hundreds of village halls every year.  Duncan Nicholson, Regional Head of Funding for the North East and Cumbria said: “Due to the generosity of National Lottery players we are able to support the innovative and vital work that projects like this deliver. Communities across Northumberland, Durham and Cumbria Community spaces will be able to continue to use much needed locally based accessible venues assured that buildings are fit for purpose and protected for future generations.”

Copies of the guidance can be downloaded here.

Social Enterprise Support

At the beginning of 2025, we worked with the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub and Social Vision to offer free peer support, workshops, mentoring and networking for any budding social entrepreneur in North Yorkshire. The programme has ended but we are pleased to share some of the slides and resources here:

We are developing a new Community Business peer network so please sign up to our newsletter and look out for further information.

Join the Yorkshire & Humber Secure Data Environment Citizens’ Jury

What is a Citizens’ Jury?

Being part of a Citizens’ Jury is your opportunity to share your thoughts, hear different opinions, and work together to make recommendations that really matter.

This Citizens’ Jury has been commissioned and funded by Yorkshire & Humber Secure Data Environment to recruit 25 members of the public to help shape the future of healthcare research.

How Does a Citizens’ Jury Work?

The Citizens’ Jury is designed to encourage open and meaningful conversations.

Over a few days, you will;

  • Learn about the Yorkshire and Humber Secure Data Environment (SDE) and why it matters. A secure data environment (SDE) is a platform that stores and provides access to data while keeping it secure and private. SDEs are often used to store health and social care data for research and analysis.
  • Share your views and work with the group to provide answers to key questions.
  • Hear from a range of experts, including clinicians, researchers, policy specialists, and people with different opinions.

Why Should You Join?

As a Citizens’ Juror, you will:

  • Represent your community and make sure all voices are heard.
  • Help shape how the NHS uses data to improve healthcare and research.
  • Get training and learn new skills.
  • Be paid for your time.

Who Can Join?

Yorkshire and Humber Secure Data Environment are looking for people from all backgrounds across Yorkshire and Humber. They will choose participants through a random selection process to make sure the jury reflects the region’s diversity.

You do not need to be an expert – they want everyday people with everyday perspectives.

Ready to Get Involved?

This is your chance to make a real difference to NHS services and healthcare research.

Apply now to the Citizens’ Jury, closing date Sunday 23 February: https://re-url.uk/WP3K

Volunteer at the Mobile Library

North Yorkshire Libraries are recruiting volunteers to offer digital support on the Mobile Library.

Sessions are pre-booked and members of the community sit down one to one with a volunteer to find out how to get online and/or to complete digital tasks using either the library laptop or their own device.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering, please email katy.lane-ryan@northyorks.gov.uk.

Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) Upskilling Programme

NHS England has announced the launch of the  Mental Health Services Data Set (MHSDS) Upskilling Programme eLearning sessions, available now via the NHS Learning Hub.

The programme is a free and short online course designed to support all providers – NHS, VCSE and independent sector – who submit data to the MHSDS to build their confidence and expertise in navigating the dataset and improve data submissions.

It will be particularly helpful for smaller providers and/or those who face technical or capacity challenges. Anyone involved in submitting or using MHSDS data will also benefit from the programme, including ICBs, local authorities, social care organisations as well as national and regional NHS England policy leads.

The two available sessions cover:

  • Session 1 – Basics of data collection in the NHS mental health services, scope of the MHSDS, data set version changes and accessing data reports.
  • Session 2 – Detailed guidance to registration and start submitting the data, with provider testimonies and available support.

The sessions can be accessed via the NHS Learning Hub, at the end of the MHSDS Upskilling Programme’s resource catalogue, or via your Open Athens account. To find out more, the national team will deliver a launch webinar and live demo on Thursday 6 February (10-11am).  Please register to join the webinar.

 

NHS 111 select mental health option

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing a mental health crisis, access urgent support 24/7 by calling NHS 111 and selecting the mental health option.

Local crisis teams are not changing and the service is still provided by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust in our region. It is just a new telephone number to call – making it simpler for people to find the right support in a mental health crisis.

To help you get the support you need, you will speak to a mental health advisor who will ask you some questions and listen to you. They can offer self-care advice over the phone, transfer you to the crisis service if needed or refer you to other local services.

You can call for yourself, or someone else. NHS 111 is for all ages, including children and young people and those with neurodevelopmental needs.

If you are deaf or have hearing loss please use NHS 111 SignVideo or the 18001 111 Relay UK app.

If a person’s mental or emotional state gets worse quickly, this can be referred to as a mental health crisis or a mental health emergency. If this happens, it is important to get help quickly.

A mental health crisis can mean different things to different people, but often means that you no longer feel able to cope or be in control of your situation. It can cause a significant disruption to your life and your ability to function.

You should call NHS 111 and select the mental health option if you are worried about:

  • thoughts about your life not being worth living or about harming yourself
  • feeling out of control or unable to cope
  • feeling anxious about leaving the house
  • hearing voices or seeing things that others can’t

If you or someone else have physically harmed themselves, or if their life is at risk, then you should still call 999 or go to A&E.

Find out more about NHS 111 select mental health option

Free digital support in North Yorkshire

Would you like support learning how to do something online? Received a new phone or tablet for Christmas and want to get to grips with it? You can receive free one to one support with your digital queries on the Mobile Library in Sleights, Danby, Castleton and Robin Hoods Bay.

To find out when the Mobile library will visit these locations have a look at the website or call Northallerton Library on 01609533832.

To book a slot please call Northallerton Library or email the Mobile Library: supermobile@northyorks.gov.uk

If you access the Mobile Library at a different stop, please speak to the staff on board about the availability of support at your stop.

Babington and BT Group Apprenticeship Fund

Introducing Babington’s partnership with BT Group, empowering businesses, charities and public sector organisations to unlock access to BT’s £4 million Apprenticeship Fund

What is the Apprenticeship Fund?

BT Group, partnering with Babington, is making available up to £4 million from its apprenticeship levy funds to help SMEs, charities and the public sector train new apprentices or up to upskill their existing workforce. The Apprenticeship Fund is designed to financially support the apprenticeship training contributions that, as an employer, you may be required to make towards the cost of an apprenticeship. Currently, this is 5% of the maximum funding band applicable to the programme for apprentices that are aged 22 and over.

How the Apprenticeship Fund can benefit your business

Apprenticeships are a valuable way to strengthen your business, you can develop new skills, invest in your employees and upskill your workforce to be more effective and efficient. By working with Babington, you can be assured that they will identify the right training provider for your needs and ensure that the apprenticeship aligns to your business objectives. Through their network of trusted, high-quality training providers, they can secure you with the funding required for your apprenticeship programme and ensure that your apprentices add genuine value to your business.

How it works:

Eligibility: If you require funding support towards the cost of your apprenticeship programme, they can look to support your needs through the Apprenticeship Fund initiative. If your apprentices are below the age of 22, they can support you directly through Babington.

Application: You can register your interest as an organisation through the BT Apprenticeship Fund website (register here) and your application will be reviewed, if successful, you will be provided with access to funded apprenticeship training within 20 days, subject to meeting the funding criteria.

Tailored training: Once successful, they’ll work with their network of providers to match you with the right provider to deliver your needs.

Access the helpful overview leaflet here.

Help map the size and scale of our sector’s workforce 

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Humber and North Yorkshire Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Collaborative is working in partnership with the University of York to record, understand and evidence who is part of the VCSE sector workforce across our region.

The VCSE sector is a crucial part of Humber and North Yorkshire’s health and social care workforce, providing many services to our communities. However, there is a lack of understanding of what the sector’s contribution consists of, and without the data it is difficult to get system partners to recognise the size and scale of the sector and to understand what we have within Humber and North Yorkshire.

Positioning the VCSE sector as an equal partner

Humber and North Yorkshire VCSE Collaborative‘s mission is to position the VCSE sector as an equal and key partner in the design, planning and delivery of health and social care across our region. To do this, they need to know who powers our VCSE sector; who makes up our workforce, our working patterns and our contribution to health and care across our communities. To collect this data, they need your VCSE organisation to be involved in a workforce mapping exercise.

The data your organisation provides will be collated to create an in-depth picture of our sector. This will feed into the planning of future investment and resource allocation into the sector for the delivery of health and care services across our communities. By completing the survey, here’s how you will be supporting your organisation and the wider VCSE sector across Humber and North Yorkshire:

  • Value – if we can show the value provided by our workforce this can evidence the need to invest more into the VCSE sector.
  • Diversity and inclusion – the sector is diverse and being able to showcase that and evidence a sector that represents its communities is hugely valuable to health and care system partners.
  • Volunteer management – this can evidence the role and value of volunteers that provide significant hours that the sector could not do without.
  • Planning – talent retention – knowing the sector means organisations can compare themselves to the rest of the sector and not lose talent to other organisations.
  • Data driven – the world is dependent on good data. This survey creates a collective picture which leads to better decision making.
  • Impact – understanding the values and strengths of the sector workforce means we can drive real impact and build trust with both communities and system partners.

The survey is open now and will close on 28 March 2025. Before you complete the survey, please read this guidance.

Get involved here