Cost of living support

Below features an article from the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership’s latest newsletter:

As winter approaches, many households face increased financial pressures due to higher heating bills and other seasonal expenses. The following organisations and schemes are available to support families that may need it.

Foodbanks: Foodbanks provide emergency food supplies to those in need. Organisations like the Trussell Trust operate foodbanks across North Yorkshire. You typically need a referral from a local agency to access these services.

Clothing Banks: Clothing banks offer free clothes and shoes to those in need. For example, the Harrogate Clothes Bank provides pre-loved clothing to the community, as does theclothingbank.org.uk

Community Support Organisations: Various local organisations offer support, including Warm Welcome Spaces where people can find a warm place to stay and access other resources.

Warm & Well – North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre (NYCALC)

Emergency Payments:

Local Assistance Fund

The North Yorkshire Local Assistance Fund (NYLAF) provides emergency support for essential items such as food, utilities, and household goods. Applications are made through authorised agencies such as Children & Family Hubs, Living Well, IDAS.

North Yorkshire local assistance fund | North Yorkshire Partnerships

Budgeting Loans:

If you’re on certain benefits, you may be eligible for a budgeting loan to help with unexpected expenses. These loans are interest-free and repayable over time.

For further information, please see an extensive guide at – Cost of Living Support | North Yorkshire Council

Citizens Advice: Offers free, confidential advice on a range of issues, including benefits, debt, and housing. They can help you navigate the various support options available.

North Yorkshire Citizens Advice & Law Centre

Food Banks > Healthy Schools North Yorkshire – Information on Foodbanks

Vulnerability Commitment – Energy UK

Tackling Financial Insecurity Together | Turn2us – For advice, grants and support.

Free safeguarding training now available!

North Yorkshire Council’s Safeguarding Children Basic Awareness training is now free to access.

This virtual training package is aimed at individuals in organisations and voluntary groups who work with both children and young people to give basic awareness of child protection issues and how to safeguard children from abuse.

To access the training, click here.

It will take approximately 45 to complete and you will get a certificate at the end.

 

When somebody opens up, everybody wins

More than four in five people (86 per cent) surveyed for a recent report by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) highlighted cost of living as one of the most important issues facing the UK.

Selby-based charity Up for Yorkshire provides a wide range of support for residents on issues including the cost of living, mental health and community transport. They’ve seen a surge in demand in recent years – from receiving 12,000 enquiries in 2020 to more than 40,000 this year.

Chris Hailey-Norris, chief executive of Up for Yorkshire, reports:

“We’ve seen a huge increase in demand – a staggering increase – but that’s also something we’re happy about, because it means more and more people are joining the conversation, talking to us and getting help. My message is that it’s great to share what your concerns are, and there’s always options available. Some people assume nothing can be done, which is absolutely not the case. On the one side you’ve got so many families that are struggling, and then on the other there’s all these benefits going unclaimed – we want to encourage people to come forward and talk, to say if they are struggling and need help, because help is there. Sometimes it’s about confidence, breaking down the stigma of asking for help, and sometimes it’s about not knowing what help is available – that’s what we’re here for.”

To support those struggling to pay for food as well as reduce waste, Up for Yorkshire runs a community fridge each week where residents can take home quality, fresh produce that has been donated by local supermarkets, businesses and residents.

Chris added: “Our community fridge has been running for a number of years and it helps hundreds of people a week. We’re delighted when people come, and it is humbling to see the relief on their faces. It’s a team effort and that’s the beauty of North Yorkshire – we’re all in it together. We’re a proud county all about honesty and openness, and it’s our pleasure working with so many amazing colleagues, volunteers and partners to help so many people who are worried and need our support. Sometimes people come in not knowing what they want to chat about or where to start, and that’s fine – it’s about starting that conversation and finding out what is on offer. When somebody opens up, everybody wins – the person themselves, their loved ones, the whole community.”

You can also watch a short video with Chris.

In November North Yorkshire Council launched a campaign aimed at promoting the wide range of support available for people concerned about the cost of living, which aims to make sure residents know about the range of schemes and organisations available if they’re struggling. This includes information about emergency support with everyday living costs, benefits, energy bills, food and managing debt as well as pension credit which can all be found all in one place here.

The council’s cost of living web page also has information about schemes to help families, free adult learning courses and local community-based support including Warm Welcome spaces as well as advice on staying well. People can also go into any North Yorkshire library or North Yorkshire Council office to find out more about the support that is available.

FEAST activities this festive season

As the countdown to Christmas is on, there are still over 1,000 places available on FREE activities in your area during the school holiday.  All children and young people across North Yorkshire can get involved, with free places and a free meal for eligible families, thanks to funding from the Department for Education.

Please find the downloadable list of available FEAST activities here.

If your child is eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals or is made eligible by exception (see the FEAST FAQs for details), a unique electronic voucher will have been sent by their school via an email or text, through an online platform called Holiday Activities. This will enable you to book school holiday activities that are part of the FEAST programme for free. Watch this step-by-step guide on how to redeem your FEAST voucher and book free activities.

Don’t worry if there’s a waiting list – it doesn’t always mean that an activity is full. To ensure that a wide range of families get to take part in FEAST, providers wait a number of days after vouchers are issued before accepting any bookings. Please request a place and you should receive a notification from Holiday Activities if your place is confirmed.

Transport to Activities

Families can request assistance with transport. Once you have a confirmed booking on an activity, you can apply for free transport to the activities by filling in this transport request form.

Ready to unleash the festive fun? Head over to the FEAST website now to learn more. Don’t miss out on the magic – book your place today!

Free DBS guidance

We’re pleased to let you know that free, one-to-one appointments with a Disclosure & Barring Service Adviser are available for groups and organisations looking to seek information and guidance on DBS products and services.

The Regional Outreach Adviser service is available for one-to-one appointments either over the phone or Microsoft Teams.

The DBS Adviser for Yorkshire & The Humber can answer questions on the different levels and types of DBS check available, including when eligibility is met for higher levels of DBS check, information on the Update Service, responding to DBS information requests and making a referral to DBS when safeguarding concerns have been raised about a staff member or volunteer.

Appointments can be made between 9am-3pm, Monday to Friday (where slots are available).

To book a one-to-one appointment please email: DBSregionaloutreach@dbs.gov.uk

Please note appointments are available to staff and volunteers within groups and organisations and not individual people making enquiries about their own DBS check application or referral with DBS.

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-

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.