• Support in North Yorkshire

    Helping North Yorkshire groups and organisations to thrive

    Four adults sit around a wooden table, smiling and discussing documents and pamphlets. One woman points at a paper, while the others listen attentively. A mug and notebooks are also on the table.

If you’re a voluntary or community organisation or a social enterprise in North Yorkshire there is a wealth of support and advice that we can offer you.

We are a local infrastructure support organisation for North Yorkshire, dedicated to supporting and developing thriving communities to reach their goals.

We help groups and organisations to grow and thrive through specialist advice, quality resources and training. We also facilitate networks and provide leadership development opportunities.

What support can you access?

We offer training on a wide range of topics, including trusteeship, funding, governance, safeguarding and social media. Whether you are looking to learn the basics or take your organisation to the next level, we’ve got a course for you! Bespoke training can be arranged on request.

Our networks give you the chance to learn from others and share experiences. Groups are available for finance employees, volunteer coordinators, those managing community buildings, and anyone working in the sector in our VCSE Voices network.

Our Leadership Hub helps you grow leadership skills, strengthen networks and develop your team. Our Leadership Mentoring programme supports new and emerging leaders, offering guidance and encouragement. We connect you with quality resources, peer support and personal development opportunities, alongside bespoke advice to help you succeed in your role.

Our free-to-use funding portal, Open4Communities, allows you to set up tailored funding searches and receive personalised updates straight to your inbox.

We can talk you through the different options for charitable structures to find the right one for you, then lead you through the journey from start to finish. We also offer organisational health checks to help you review your strengths and identify areas for improvement.

We can help you recruit and manage volunteers. We can also help strengthen your organisation’s volunteer practices, from recruitment to management and shine a light on their wellbeing.

Our experienced team are here to help trustees, staff and management committees with a wide range of organisational support including:

  • Finding potential grants and funds, support with applications and fundraising ideas
  • Understanding governance structure, registration and compliance
  • Engaging with your community and delivering effective services
  • Business planning and financial management
  • Developing policies and safeguarding practices
  • Strengthening social media and marketing activities
  • Recruiting and managing volunteers, including attracting new trustees
  • Carrying out an organisational health check.

Complete our online enquiry form or call 01904 704177 and one of our development officers will get back to you.

Bringing support closer to communities

For many organisations, finding the right funding, governance support or training opportunities can feel daunting. Our Development Officers are here to make that journey easier – offering face-to-face conversations, practical advice and connections that help local groups to grow and thrive. A day spent at Scarborough Library showcases the kind of advice, guidance and encouragement we can offer:

Getting in touch

To find out more, do get in touch. Simply fill out our online enquiry form, call us on 01904 704177 or email info@communityfirstyorkshire.org.uk. We are here to help your organisation thrive and make a positive impact in your community.

Many of our support services are free and are funded by North Yorkshire Council, Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Bradford District and Craven Health Care Partnership (HCP).

Other support resources

Three older adults sit at a table by a window, using a smartphone and tablet together. Connecting at their North Yorkshire Community Hub, they share smiles as bright daylight streams in.

Building resilience through digital inclusion

Four older adults sit around a table in a bright room, smiling and talking. They have papers, a laptop, and coffee mugs in front of them, appearing engaged in a friendly meeting or discussion.

Funding

A stone village hall with a shingled roof stands beside a grassy area and a noticeboard displaying community news. Traditional stone cottages and rolling hills are visible in the background under a blue sky.

Community buildings

A laptop, notebook, pen, and coffee mug sit on a wooden desk. In the background, two people are seated and talking, slightly out of focus, in an office or meeting room with large windows and noticeboards.

DBS checks

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