No rural community left behind

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Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) is urging politicians of all persuasions not to forget the needs and circumstances of people living and working in the countryside in the run up to the general election.

The charity claims that for too long, governments have overlooked the challenges that rural residents face, including diminishing public services, inadequate infrastructure, and housing which has become increasingly unaffordable resulting in hidden poverty and ageing communities.

Politically, the issues facing rural communities clearly matter – from recent shock by elections in North Shropshire, Tiverton and Honiton, Somerton and Frome and Mid-Bedfordshire, to Dorset Council changing control in May. A further 50+ rural parliamentary constituencies are also predicted to change hands at the general election based on current polling data.

Jeremy Leggett, ACRE’s Policy Adviser said, “9.7 million people live in the English countryside, equivalent to the population of London. But more often than not, they don’t get the same attention from the government as their counterparts in the city. And people are starting to recognise this – whether it be disgruntled farmers protesting for the first time about cheap imports, young families given notice to leave their rental property to make way for another Airbnb letting, local businesses flooded again in Worcestershire, or pensioners unable to make their way to hospital because there’s no local clinics or public transport.

“We believe lots can be done to close this gap, from creating a new statutory advisory body charged with requiring government departments to appraise the impact of policies on rural dwellers, to funding much more community-led housing, and supporting villages to develop plans so they can become more resilient to climate change.”

ACRE has set out a suite of policy recommendations for the next government which it is sending to prospective parliamentary candidates via its 38 member organisations, of which Community First Yorkshire is one, which work in support of rural community initiatives in every county of England. It is hoped the publication this will trigger a debate about what it means and takes to represent rural communities in 2024.

James Blake, Chair of ACRE said, “We know from our experience of managing recent grant funds for village halls that even a modest amount of government investment targeted at rural communities can spur on some impressive initiatives that respond to local needs. So, we hope the next government will recognise the value of proactively rural proofing policy so that even more opportunities are afforded to the people who live and work there, whether that be investing in services, infrastructure and affordable housing, or backing projects that contribute to Net Zero. We stand ready to help those in Westminster to ensure that no rural community is left behind.”

Download ACRE’s ‘No Community Left Behind‘ report.

Notes to editors

Press contact: Phillip Vincent, 01285 425645, p.vincent@acre.org.uk

ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) is a charity speaking up for and supporting rural communities. It is the national body of the ACRE Network, England’s largest rural grouping of charities which facilitate a wide range of community-led initiatives that encourage a culture of volunteering and mutual aid, reduce social isolation and loneliness, increase the supply of affordable housing, boost the local economy, and reduce impact on the environment.

My Vote My Voice

The Members of Parliament that represent North Yorkshire will be chosen by you in the election on Thursday 4 July 2024.

In North Yorkshire there are seven parliamentary constituencies that North Yorkshire Council is responsible for.

  • Harrogate and Knaresborough.
  • Richmond and Northallerton.
  • Scarborough and Whitby.
  • Selby.
  • Skipton and Ripon.
  • Thirsk and Malton.
  • Wetherby and Easingwold.

To see the list of candidates standing in the election in your area visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/election2024.

You can cast your vote however it suits you – in person, by post or by proxy, which is when you identify someone to vote on your behalf.

If you are voting in person you will need to bring a Photo ID to your polling station. You can make sure you have an accepted form of identification here, www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/how-vote

If you don’t have an accepted form of identification, you can apply for free voter ID by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June. Apply for free voter ID here: www.gov.uk/apply-for-photo-id-voter-authority-certificate.

You can vote from home if you can’t or don’t want to go to your polling station on election day. Registering to vote by post is easy – you’ll simply need to prove your identity. Apply for a new postal vote or cancel an existing one, before the deadline of 5pm on Tuesday Wednesday 19 June at www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/apply-postal-vote.

You can apply for a trusted friend or family member to cast your vote by proxy at your polling station at www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/apply-proxy-vote.

Apply for a proxy vote for this election before the deadline of 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

To find out where your polling station is, enter your postcode here: www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/how-vote.

You can also call 0300 131 2 131 (please say ‘Election’ when prompted) to request information about how to vote.

Sign up to Community First Yorkshire Funding Portal today!

The team at Community First Yorkshire knows how the right funding can help organisations and communities to thrive. Often, they hear how challenging finding that funding can be.

To help organisations easily find the funding they need, Community First Yorkshire has launched a new funding portal. The Open4Community site is free to all VCSE organisations across North, West and South Yorkshire. Sign up to search for local and national funds, save reports and set up alerts. There is also useful information about Community First Yorkshire’s bespoke advice service, training and much more.

Use this funding portal to: 

  1. Browse the wide range of grants available to North Yorkshire VCSE organisations
  2. Get regular email updates and funding alerts
  3. Access funding training and connect with others
  4. Work with the VCSE Support team to submit successful applications
  5. Share your funding successes to inspire others

Sign up here for FREE today.

The Voluntary Sector Manifesto

The AEVCO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations) and NCVO  (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations) has launched The Voluntary Sector Manifesto, which presents a range of ways the next government can work with charities to make a positive difference.

Click here to read the manifesto in full.

Developments in Safeguarding Masterclass Webinars

To celebrate Volunteers week which takes place 1-7th June every year, NYSCP are proud to welcome partners from the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. The masterclass will highlight the important role that volunteers and those who work in the VSE community hold in the partnership and in the safeguarding of young people across North Yorkshire. The session will also be the launch of a new and exciting campaign; highlighting key safeguarding messages for those in the VCSE community and beyond.

The NYSCP Developments in Safeguarding Masterclass is a monthly free lunchtime webinar which features the latest information on best practice, changes to legislation and guidance as well as local, regional and national learning. Each month will feature different subject and delegates will hear from multi-agency partners dedicated to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

Attendees will learn more about safeguarding in the VCSE community and the delivery of key safeguarding messages.

Audience: Anyone working / volunteering with children young people and their families across North Yorkshire with the view to help you keep up to date with current developments surrounding safeguarding children.

Cost: Free

Date / Time: 5 June 2024 – 12:00 to 13:00

Book here.

Mayor meets York and North Yorkshire community groups

Voluntary and community groups have met with York and North Yorkshire’s new Mayor, David Skaith.

Community First Yorkshire hosted a roundtable event on Thursday (16 May), inviting the Mayor to meet more than a dozen local voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “I want to put people and communities first. Addressing the cost of living is a major driver for me ​and working together with organisations such as these is how we will create a real impact. I was there to listen, to understand the needs and challenges faced by these organisations and the communities they serve. Voluntary and community organisations are well loved parts of every community, and they also play a vital role in our economy as employers and enterprises.”

The visit, held at Community First Yorkshire’s offices in Askham Bryan, marked the first sector-specific meeting for the Mayor since taking office on Tuesday 7 May.

Alison Semmence and Jane Colthup, chief executives of York CVS and Community First Yorkshire respectively, said: “We’re really pleased that within his first ten days of office, our York and North Yorkshire Mayor was so keen to meet with representatives of the VCSE sector to discuss how we can work together for our local communities.”

Other organisations taking part in the roundtable included: York Carers Centre, St Nick’s, Community Furniture Stores, Explore York, York Mind, Revival North Yorkshire, Carers Plus, SELFA, HADCA, North Yorkshire Together, CaVCA and Resurrected Bites.

Groups introduced their work, before discussing areas such as funding, perceptions of the sector, the benefits to the local economy, and opportunities for collaboration outside the region.

Earlier in the day, the Mayor visited Better Connect. The Knaresborough-based not-for-profit organisation hosted a launch event for their new UKSPF funded programme Rise2Thrive. Thirty-three community organisations across York and North Yorkshire have formed a partnership, led by Better Connect, to support individuals across the local area to overcome barriers that move them closer towards and into employment.

Natasha Babar-Evans, CEO of Better Connect, said: “We were delighted that in David Skaith’s first few days of appointment he chose to meet with and understand our sector and the impact that we make across our communities.”

There was also an opportunity to visit Whixley Village Hall, which has looked to turn their inefficient hall into a green friendly community building, with support from Community First Yorkshire.

The Mayor leads York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, which formed on 22 January. The Combined Authority is delivering the region’s historic devolution deal, which is worth more than £540 million over 30 years.

Elected on 3 May, the Mayor is working with City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council to utilise devolved funds and attract new investment.

Powers and responsibilities for the new Mayor include:

  • Responsibility for 30-year Mayoral Investment Fund and the powers to borrow against funds
  • Full devolution of the Adult Education Budget
  • Powers to improve the supply and quality of housing and secure the development of land or infrastructure
  • Powers and funds to improve transport through a consolidated, devolved, multi-year transport settlement
  • Responsibilities for community safety and the powers to appoint a Deputy Mayor to carry out many of the duties previously held by the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority website is at: yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk, which includes details of upcoming public meetings.

ENDS

For further information:
David Williams, Communications Officer, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority 07870485691 / david.williams@yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk

Photo shows: David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, with voluntary, community and social enterprise groups ahead of a roundtable event at Community First Yorkshire’s offices in Askham Bryan, Thursday 16 May.

About York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
A combined authority is where a group of councils work together across a larger area. The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been created at the request of City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council and is a legally recognised, single body. Its role is to use some of the money and powers that up to now have been held by central government, and work with local leaders and communities to invest in ways that will help to make York and North Yorkshire a better place for you to live, work and do business. The Combined Authority is led by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, who was elected on May 3, 2024.

Combined Authority website / Facebook / X / LinkedIn

 

 

Let’s Talk Scarborough

North Yorkshire Council and the Scarborough Town Board want to hear your views on how they should use £20 million earmarked by Government for Scarborough’s regeneration over the next ten years as part of its Long-Term Plan for Towns.

They want people living and working in Scarborough to have their say by filling in the survey.

The Let’s Talk Scarborough survey is part of a wider engagement strategy, which seeks to build a vision for the future of the town with input from as many members of the community as possible. In addition to the survey there will be in-person public engagement events, the details of which will be available here.

The Scarborough Town Board has been expanded to include representatives from more sectors.

Government has given the following themes for projects to focus on:

  • Enhancing safety and security
  • Reviving our high streets, regenerating Scarborough and enhancing our heritage
  • Improving transportation and connectivity

 

The results of this consultation will inform the creation of the Long-Term Plan for Scarborough, building on previous regeneration schemes which will must be submitted to Government by 1 August.

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

You can fill in an online survey here – 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.

For Let’s Talk Scarborough you will be asked to drop a pin on a map of Scarborough and answer questions about that place in relation to the themes above. You can comment on more than one location.

If you would prefer, you can pick up a paper copy from Scarborough, Newby and Scalby or Eastfield Library or the Scarborough Customer First Centre and return it in the pre-paid 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 3 June 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.

 

 

Great turn out for VCSE sector Mayoral Hustings

VCSE organisations from across North Yorkshire and York came together on Tuesday 16 April to pose questions to candidates ahead of the local elections for the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Mayor on 2 May.

Hosted by York CVS and Community First Yorkshire, the non-selective hustings provided an opportunity for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to meet the candidates, listen to their manifestos and to ask questions relating to issues that impact our sector.

Four candidates joined us

We welcomed the following candidates to the event:

  • Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, Liberal Democrats candidate,
  • Keith Tordoff, Independent candidate
  • Kevin Foster, Green candidate
  • Paul Haslam, Independent candidate

All candidates were invited to attend, however Keane Duncan, Conservative candidate and David Skaith, Labour candidate were unable to join us on the day.

Each candidate spoke about their manifesto and their priorities if they were elected, then the hustings opened for questions from attendees and pre-submitted questions from the sector.

Questions were wide-ranging

The questions covered a range of topics, including the candidates understanding of the VCSE sector, what support they would provide, and if they understood the challenges faced by the sector. More specific questions were asked about affordable housing, library services, violence against women and girls, support for refugees and people seeking sanctuary, and support for Trans and LGBTQ rights.

Want to know more?

If you would like to know more about each candidate and about the forthcoming elections on Thursday 2 May, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has produced this information booklet.

First leadership conference aims to help North Yorkshire VCSE sector thrive

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Voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations from across North Yorkshire will be heading to Harrogate in May for the sector’s first one-day conference designed to build leadership skills at all levels.

The Ordinary Extraordinary Leaders conference (Tuesday 22 May at Pavilions of Harrogate) is being organised by VCSE support organisation, Community First Yorkshire. Its focus will be on sharing the experiences and insights of a diverse line-up of speakers to show how ordinary everyday actions can deliver extraordinary results.

As well as attracting people currently in a leadership position, the conference is aimed at new leaders, people wanting to take on a leadership role and anyone interested in exploring their potential to take their career in the VCSE sector further. It will be as relevant to someone leading a small team or project as it is to someone heading up a department or organisation.

More than a dozen speakers throughout the day will offer a wide range of perspectives from tackling culture change in the British Army to establishing a charity from scratch, taking on a new leadership role or working with teams of volunteers.

Aim is to help vibrant VCSE sector thrive

“We have such a vibrant VCSE sector in North Yorkshire, playing an essential part in supporting community action and wellbeing, and providing a voice for local people and underpinning statutory health and social care,” said Community First Yorkshire Chief Executive, Jane Colthup.

“With around 7,000 VCSE organisations across North Yorkshire, that collectively employ the equivalent of around 10,000 full time members of staff and work with more than 67,000 volunteers, our goal is to ensure that they all have the skills they need to thrive and seize new opportunities.

“We know that excellent leadership skills can help drive success. So, as we celebrate International Leadership Week this week, I’m really looking forward to our first conference focused specifically on helping our fantastic VCSE organisations learn from each other.

“With so much diversity on the line-up, it promises to be a thought-provoking and inspiring event.”

Superb speaker line-up

Speakers attending the conference include:

  •  Major General Zac Stenning – Commandant, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst & the Army’s Director Leadership
  • Richard Flinton – Chief Executive, North Yorkshire Council
  • Professor Stephen Eames CBE – Chief Executive of Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
  • Johanna Hooper – Leadership and change management expert, Limitless Peak Performance
  • Valentina Hynes – Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of SVH Inc CIC
  • Debbie North – Cabinet Office Disability and Access Ambassador for the Countryside and Founder of Access the Dales

Two interactive sessions, featuring another eight panellists to provide a wealth of different experiences and insights, mean the event will cater for everyone no matter what their background is, how much leadership experience they have or what their career aspirations are.

Find out more and book your place here.

It’s a date… but which awareness day is right for you?

How to make the most of awareness days for your marketing strategy

There are many awareness days and campaign weeks coming up that it’s useful for us all to be aware of – June is a particularly busy campaigning month! Awareness days and weeks can be a great way to fundraise, strengthen your reputation and boost your social media presence.

Did you know there’s even a ‘Take your dog to work day’ (a favourite of ours) and ‘National Biscuit Day (definitely a personal favourite)?

As an organisation, we use them as part of our marketing strategy to help lift our PR activity. The trick is to be selective and only choose those that align with your overall business strategy. Many organisations provide comms packs with ready made content including social media posts, media releases, web copy and graphics which make engaging in awareness all the easier, especially when we’re all limited for time and resources.

Here’s a few that we’ll be getting involved with in the coming three months. As you can see, there are so many and we won’t be able to give a focus to all of them so we’ll select the ones that are most relevant to our business:

May
June
July

 

As you can see, there’s plenty of choice. Do keep an eye on our social media channels and get involved: