Please introduce yourself
My name is Leo Thai, I volunteer at WHISH (Whitby Hidden Impairments Support and Help). I’ve volunteered there for just over a year and my role is now a Qualified Youth Worker.
What attracted you to the organisation and volunteer role?
I was involved with the organisation initially as a parent. Having experienced first hand the fantastic work that they do, and how much they have helped me and my family, it was impossible for me not to want to give something back. It was a small start, a few hours here and there and I felt welcome from day one.
What would you say to anyone thinking of volunteering?
I can only speak from experience. That old saying of what you give in life, you get back – as I said, I wanted to give back by volunteering as a way of saying ‘thank you’ – and it changed my future. What started as a few days volunteering has so far turned into new experiences, happy memories and brought me into contact with new friends and fantastic people. It has also lead to paid employment in a new field of work that I love. The skills I have learned are so varied and help me and others. I really can’t believe how things have changed for me in just over a year through volunteer work.
My advice would be find something you believe in and feel passionate about, start your volunteering journey and see where it goes. You won’t know until you start!
What was the best piece of advice given to you as a volunteer?
I can’t pick one piece as I get so much great advice from many different sources at WHISH. As well as helping others, volunteering is also about learning and gaining experience – so if I need to know anything I just ask the right person. If you are the right fit for the organisation you should get all the advice and support you need.
Finally, tell us something about yourself that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know
I don’t know if it’s a surprise to anyone but I love writing. My three favourite subjects are politics and political theory, Aston Villa FC and nostalgic humour, if that’s actually a thing. I could read a newspaper by the time I was 3 years old, but still left school with no formal qualifications.
On Friday 21 March, leaders from the NHS, North Yorkshire Council, the VCSE sector, rural organisations and our national parks, gathered at the Galtres Centre in Easingwold to explore a shared understanding of rural health inequalities and how we can work better together to address the impact of them. Organised by Community First Yorkshire and Healthwatch North Yorkshire, the North Yorkshire Rural Health and Care summit was a dynamic discussion on rural healthcare challenges and solutions.
Dena Dalton, Head of Health Collaboration at Community First Yorkshire, shares her thoughts about the event.
Rural healthcare: more than just medicine
One key theme from the summit was that rural healthcare isn’t just about improving access to healthcare services. Transport, digital access, community support, housing, and infrastructure all play critical roles in health outcomes. When it does come to healthcare though, many rural residents feel ignored, as Ashley Green, CEO of Healthwatch North Yorkshire, pointed out.
Access is a major issue – people often have to travel 50+ miles for hospital appointments, and there is a shortage of local GPs. Community transport services are a lifeline – where they are funded to exist, yet digital connectivity remains a challenge. Poor broadband access limits online healthcare services, which are becoming increasingly essential.
The cost of rural healthcare
Providing healthcare in rural areas is more expensive than in urban settings, especially given the higher proportion of older adults. York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Mayor, David Skaith, reiterated the importance of housing and transport in improving health in rural areas and is developing ways to address these. Additional new interventions from the authority include a Men’s Mental Health Task Force and plans to establish a Sports Council to promote early intervention in health issues.
Richard Webb, Corporate Director of Health and Adult Services at North Yorkshire Council, reminded us that older residents are vital in keeping communities connected. He challenged stereotypes about ageing and emphasised that rural inequalities look different and require specific attention. He also suggested that rural housing should be commissioned in partnership with VCSE organisations.
Rural isolation and mental health
Debbie Swales, CEO of Revival North Yorkshire, shared a moving account of how older people in rural communities experience isolation, leading to poorer health outcomes. As she put it, rural North Yorkshire may look like a ‘chocolate box’ environment, but for the elderly, the view often changes – and not always for the better.
The Very Reverend John Dobson, Dean of Ripon and Chair of the North Yorkshire Rural Commission highlighted the mental health struggles of farming communities. He called for the government to recognise digital connectivity as a fundamental right and to scrutinise rural strategy with a health focus. Without affordable housing, many rural communities risk decline.
Challenges in primary care
Simon Stockhill, GP and Chair of the Humber and North Yorkshire Primary Care Collaborative, illustrated the daily reality for GPs, pointing out vast geographic disparities in doctor availability. Scarborough, for instance, has significantly fewer GPs per capita than Harrogate. He emphasised the importance of integrating primary care, communities, VCSE organisations, and care sectors to address health inequalities effectively.
Helen Flynn, CEO of Nidderdale Plus, noted the increasing demand for digital support, as many older people struggle with the shift to online healthcare services. Meanwhile, Ivan Annibal from the National Centre for Rural Health and Care identified workforce shortages as the most pressing issue in rural healthcare. The cost of living in rural areas is high, making it difficult to attract and retain healthcare professionals.
My key takeaways
The lively panel discussions and table debates throughout the summit led to some clear conclusions:
- No one should be disadvantaged by where they live
- Rural healthcare is complex and varies by location
- Innovation is key in rural health, and risk-taking is necessary
- Rural communities are valuable resources that need greater support
- Addressing rural deprivation requires stronger advocacy
- We must push for better rural housing to improve health outcomes.
What’s next?
Insights and feedback from this summit are still being collated and will feed into a dedicated rural health and care plan. At the event, there was a commitment to revisit the Rural Commission’s findings, ensuring health plays a larger role in rural strategy. Councillor Michael Harrison, chair of the North Yorkshire Health and Wellbeing Board, thought this was also a good opportunity to reset the Board. All partners present committed to supporting change in some way, including building on new connections made, developing further knowledge through shared resources, and looking at ways in which secondary care can support in making appointments more accessible to rural populations. We will keep you posted as to what more comes from it.
If you want to discuss the event in more detail, please email Dena Dalton, Head of Collaboration at Community First Yorkshire.
Hear from Village Hall volunteer, Doug Allan, as he reflects on his role as Trustee of Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall.
My name is Doug Allan and I am 75 years of age. I am a Trustee of Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall, which is located in Topcliffe near Thirsk. I have been on the Village Hall Committee for eleven years and I have no specific title but tend to be a general ‘dogs body’, organising a wide range of fundraising events and undertaking lots of tasks that help the hall run smoothly.
The Big Project
In 2014 the Village Hall Committee embarked upon an ambitious plan to extend and refurbish the premises. I was asked to join the committee in a co-opted capacity to lead on raising the huge amount of funding to enable the development to proceed. The total investment was over £140,000, most of which was grant-aided by a wide range of organisations and by local community fundraising.
Fundraising Success
The major refurbishment was completed in 2016 and by that time I had effectively been embedded in the committee and was persuaded to remain as a member. Over the years we have raised thousands for Village Hall funds by organising events including the annual Race Night (the one held in February this year raised £3,500), bringing bands to perform in the hall and lots, lots more.
Village Events
Being retired obviously means that I have the time to invest in helping and supporting the Village Hall, which I believe is an invaluable community hub. It is great to be a part of the committee and to ensure that the facility is available to villagers and people from further afield to organise a fantastic variety of activities, including our extremely successful Warm Hub lunches, bingo sessions, scouts/cubs/squirrels meetings, knit & natter sessions, boccia, art classes, weekly quiz, a wide range of Christmas activities and many private party hires.
Why volunteering matters
I have enjoyed volunteering within the community in which I live and socialise. Through the Village Hall I have made many new friends and have thoroughly enjoyed keeping busy and organising events for everyone to enjoy…whilst at the same time raising the much-needed funds that help secure the future viability of our community hub.
Find out more about Village Halls Week 2025 and how to become a volunteer.
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!
In our first volunteer interview for 2025 we welcome Nige Ballard, a trustee from Amotherby Parish Hall. Nige is an extremely active volunteer in the village and has secured an incredible amount of funding for a new hall roof. Nige regularly attends our Community Buildings Network meetings so we are thrilled to extend her involvement to our Volunteer Co-ordinators Network.
Please introduce yourself.
I’m Nigella Ballard, known generally as Nige (which can confuse some people). I am a volunteer for our village hall, called Appleton-le-Street Parish Hall, although it is located in Amotherby. I have been involved with the hall since March 1987 and have been the treasurer since February 1988.
What attracted you to the organisation and volunteer role?
When I was fairly new to the village, I was told by the school crossing lady that there was a meeting at the village hall I might be interested in going to. The rest is history and she has become my longest standing friend in the village.
What would you say to anyone thinking of volunteering?
It’s great to be involved with your local community but be prepared to work hard.
What was the best piece of advice given to you as a volunteer?
I can’t remember being given any except from a past staff member of Community First Yorkshire who kept telling me “to delegate to others”.
Finally, tell us something about yourself that your fellow volunteers would be surprised to know.
From the age of four to twenty I studied ballet and danced at a reception for Margot Fonteyn. I met her afterwards, she was tiny! I gave up and took up caving instead when I went to university.