The newsletter of Rural Action Yorkshire Autumn 2009 Issue 113

Networking events in your area Village of the Year is announced A new Community Involvement Officer News from South Yorkshire’s Network Funding opportunities

In this issue...

In this issue... Letter from the CEO.................. 02

Chairman’s Viewpoint ............... 03

Rural Community Buildings.. 04/05

Village Awards results.......... 06/07

Ryedale Show........................... 08

South Yorkshire Network .......... 08

Funding Success ...................... 09

North Yorkshire events ............. 09

Details of our AGM.................... 10

New Member of Staff ................ 10

Yorkshire and working to get the networks established. Amanda Kent – see her introduction inside – has taken up the lead on community led planning and has already established a healthy number of leads with interested groups and parishes. Unfortunately we have lost two highly regarded members of our team during September. The funding for the Two Dales Live project in Richmondshire finally ran out and Cath Calvert and her colleague Kathryn Chapman have left. We thank them both, but especially Cath who has worked on the project from the start, for their dedication and determination to leave the project fit for purpose. So projects come and projects go. I have felt that we have relied too much in the past on projects to keep us in touch with our communities. That was fine when we had work to do across most of our area but latterly this has not been the case. So to get back to basics, we are arranging a series of local network meetings to introduce more community groups and people thinking of becoming active to each other and to us and our services. Success in community activity depends a lot on confidence. Learning about what others have achieved, being able to share ideas and understanding the help that is available will all help to build that confidence. I look forward to meeting more of you at our network meetings and at the Annual General Meeting.

BILL CROSS Acting Chief Executive

PS We’re also looking forward to our move into new premises. See the back page for more information.

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The Summer has been very busy, as the articles in this edition show.

Our new members of staff are already making an impact. Melanie Swanwick – see our article on the South Yorkshire Rural Network – is building good relations with other voluntary sector groups in South

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As we move into Autumn and think of log fires instead of barbeques, coats instead of T-shirts, crinkle of leaves rather than fresh green growth: we look back of this last year of change. Change within the Third Sector. Some attributed to the overall economic downturn, other changes due to the finish of many funding streams, both national and European. Many voluntary organisations are finding difficulty in sourcing future funding and nationally this sector has seen many having to close or re-group. Here at Rural Action Yorkshire we have weathered the changes. The Trustee Board are aware of the changing situation and are approaching it with a determination and confidence. Funding and grants are the life blood of the Third Sector, but now we must also look for fresh opportunities for income. Therefore we are also looking for services that we can offer that can bring in a constant revenue source and to work in future partnerships. Summer finished with a fantastic reason to celebrate: our Golden Jubilee of the Village of the Year competition. An awards evening was held at North Stainley Village Hall, with prizes awarded for the Calor Village of the Year and Village Ventures. The event was a resounding success, with around ninety people enjoying the evening which was finished off with a very good supper! It was good to see so many people networking and the buzz in the room was almost touchable. Look out for details of our showcase conference to be held sometime in March- dates, details and timings are in the process of being prepared. This event will give another good opportunity to network with like-minded people. We hope that many of our members and other stakeholders will come along to further the voice of rural communities as we bring you all together.

Linda Lloyd Chairman, Rural Action Yorkshire

Seeds of Change

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Coming soon - during the Autumn and Winter Rural Action Yorkshire will be holding a number of Network Events across North, West and South Yorkshire to give communities further information about the types of support service that we provide. The events will include speakers from local communities who have used our support for Community Led Planning, Village Halls Advisory, Community Development and Project Management . There will be a chance to speak to our staff and network with other groups who may have undertaken similar projects or initiatives to those in your village. South Yorkshire Wednesday, 18 November 2009 at Todwick Village Hall, near Rotherham at 6pm. Thursday, 3 December 2009 at Moorends Community Centre, near Thorne at 6pm. North Yorkshire Wednesday, 25 November 2009 at Bishop Monkton, near Harrogate at 6pm. Dates for West Yorkshire events will be circulated soon.

Network Events

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The Department for Culture Media and Sport has announced new changes to the Licensing Act 2003 which will take effect immediately. These changes are the result of pressure from ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) and other organisations. ACRE is the national umbrella body for organisations such as Rural Action Yorkshire. The Legislative Reform (Supervision of Alcohol Sales an Church and Other Halls) Order 2009 will allow volunteer committees managing community buildings to take joint responsibility for the sale of alcohol in their buildings instead of being required to appoint an individual as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). Small communities, many of them rural, have found it very difficult to recruit and fund a volunteer DPS who was willing to take on the responsibility and the required training. Management committees will need to ensure that the sale of alcohol is included in their Premises Licence and be able to demonstrate clearly to their local licensing authority how they operate and that there will be appropriate supervision of alcohol sales at different types of events. ‘Village halls and other community buildings provide an extremely important resource for communities, accommodating a wide range of educational, welfare and sports and leisure activities’ says ACRE’s Village Hall Information Officer, Deborah Clarke. ‘These much needed changes have taken years of lobbying by the Rural Community Action Network. We are therefore very pleased that the Department for Culture Media and Sport have listened to our concerns and taken action to de-regulate particularly in the current climate where committees are struggling to cope with reductions in funding, and legislative requirements’.

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Energy Audits There has been a great deal of interest in Rural Action Yorkshire now offering Energy Audits with several either completed or in the pipeline. Energy Audits are useful in identifying the potential for improving the energy efficiency of community buildings and can form an essential piece of any future planning for the building. For more information about energy audits please contact Jonny Wooldridge at jonny.wooldridge@ruralyorkshire.org.uk or on 0845 313 0270. Our other services for members include governance and management issues, through to practical advice on major developments and renovations.

Rural Community Licensing Act Changes

Funding News If you’re looking for funding for a project at your hall, then we may be able to help. Rural Action Yorkshire is now providing an in-depth advisory service to Community Halls across the LEADER area of North York Moors, Coast and Hills. This service will assist committees with their LEADER applications. Several introductory workshops are soon to be announced: look out for dates on the RAY website.

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Newton le Willows, in Wensleydale, is celebrating after being revealed as this year’s Village of the Year. We spent months searching for a truly special village, as we were also commemorating the Golden Jubilee of organising this much-cherished competition. Judges visited communities around North Yorkshire whose entries celebrated the best the county has to offer. Villagers and VIPs gathered at North Stainley Village Hall for an awards event where the results were announced and the prizes presented: as the overall winner, Newton le Willows received a commemorative plaque and £1000 in prize money. Category winners received £500. The winners are - Overall winner Newton le Willows Business category Stillington Communications category Bishop Monkton Community category West Burton Sustainability category Newton le Willows Anne Hopkins Memorial Trophy Hellifield The villages of Middleton Tyas and Spofforth were presented highly commended certificates as their strong entries offered tough competition to the other finalists.

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The Winner is Crowned

Golden Jubilee Rural Action Yorkshire has celebrated their Golden Jubilee of the competition by launching a commemorative book. Originally, known as ‘Best Kept Village’, the history of the competition mirrors many social and environmental changes which have occurred since its start in 1959. The book contains contributions from judges, competition organisers and winning villages that tell of things as they really were. It provides an opportunity, in some cases uniquely so, to set down a living history of facts, information, anecdotes and memories of a competition which, RAY believes would have to be invented if it did not already exist. Copies can be purchased from Rural Action Yorkshire by calling 0845 313 0270. The book costs just £3 (£4 incl. p&p).

Village of the Year Co

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Newton le Willows wowed the judges with their all round performance and a keenness to get things done. As a community they don’t take no for an answer and bring together all generations to raise money and get involved in events. Judges were particularly impressed with the village’s approach to climate change: they also won the Sustainability award for their Green Festival and Car Free day.

The Village of the Year Competition provides a focus for villages to celebrate their successes, promote community development and show what they have got to offer on a wide range of social, economic and environmental activities. Newton le Willows highlighted what a village can achieve. Their focus on teamwork and self-help has brought their community closer together, with a packed social calendar as the result. They will now represent Yorkshire in Calor’s national competition.

Village Ventures Village Ventures celebrates the great community projects which local volunteers have achieved. Each year a range of projects compete for a cash prize, including minibus schemes, action groups to save local services, or innovative initiatives to improve the environment. This year’s winner was announced at the prestigious Awards evening in North Stainley in September. Congratulations to Ulley, who won Village Ventures 2009 for their village hall refurbishment. In 2nd place was Letwell’s ‘Rowans on the Ramper’ and 3rd place went to Tickhill’s booklet of walks. We are sure they have some new ideas for spending their prize money.

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ompetition

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North Yorkshire

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Social Enterprises Social Enterprise Yorkshire & the Humber (SEYH) and the North Yorkshire Forum are working together to arrange FREE networking events for social enterprises in York and North Yorkshire. York Friday, 27 November 2009 Harrogate Thursday, 4 February 2010 The events are aimed at existing social enterprises, or those thinking about becoming one. Contact the Forum to book a place or for more information, on 01347 825710.

Ryedale Show At the end of July we attended the Ryedale Show and enjoyed the opportunity to talk to visitors about what rural life is like for them where they live. Everyone who visited the RAY stand was asked to vote for the services and facilities they felt are the most important in rural areas and results show the top 5 as: 1. Village school 2. Doctors surgery 3. Village shop 4. Affordable housing 5. Village hall The treasure hunt competition proved popular with all ages and the winner was Councillor Keith Knaggs, who correctly guessed that the treasure was buried at Kirkham Abbey. We would like to thank Castle Howard Estates for the kind donation of a family ticket to Castle Howard House & Gardens.

Funding Fair A Funding Fair will be held in Northallerton on 3 November 2009. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in raising funds for their group or project. The event is from 2pm to 5pm in the Golden Lion Hotel on the High Street. No need to book, just drop in. Funders attending include: The Lottery, Lloyds TSB, LEADER, NYCC, Children in Need and Yorventure. The event is being organised by Northallerton and District Voluntary Services Association. Further details from nicky@ndvsa.co.uk

Visitors to the Rural Action Yorkshire stand at the Ryedale Show

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Join the South Yorkshire Network

This is your chance to get involved with the new networks being created in South Yorkshire. Meet other groups, share stories and get support to make things happen. Being involved in the network will enable rural voluntary and community groups to have a voice with local authorities and other public service providers, by identifying challenges such as access to services, rural isolation and the economic downturn. RAY is responsible for organising networks for each local authority area and will receive support from partner organisations. We believe that networks are vital for the survival of community groups who often face isolation by their rural location. By working together, you can highlight what support you need, including advice on funding, governance, property management and financial management. The quarterly network meetings will commence in January 2010 and allow groups access to project partners in each of the four local authority areas. Membership is free to all voluntary and community groups and open to all groups who deliver services to rural communities in South Yorkshire. Melanie Swanwick has been busy meeting rural groups already and is encouraging them to register their interest by completing an online form at www.ruralyorkshire.org.uk To contact Melanie at our Barnsley office, call 01226 320120 or 07757 639929, or email melanie.swanwick@ruralyorkshire.org.uk

ACRE Funding Success Rural Action Yorkshire received 7 applications to this year’s COMMA fund and shortlisted 3 projects to be considered by ACRE for funding.

We are very pleased that 2 projects have been selected for funding, the first is a project in Bradfield in South Yorkshire. This project has received £8,000 from COMMA to replace a footbridge, lost in the floods of 2007, which will make access to a local picnic area and beauty spot easier for members of the local community.

The second project to be funded is in Denholme in West Yorkshire. This group has received funds totaling £10,095 to help pay towards a new bus shelter in the village. This project has the support and backing of both the local council and METRO.

The next round of COMMA funding will be announced in the new year.

South & West Yorkshire

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Useful Websites

www.hse.gov.uk - for PDFs of 250 official publications

www.knowhownonprofit.org - for lots of resources and information

www.yorkshiredales.org.uk - to learn about their Sustainable Development Fund

www.btcommunityconnections.com - awards for laptops and free broadband

www.yorkshire-gold.com - to find out how Yorkshire is getting ready for the Olympics.

www.london2012.com/get-involved/inspire-programme - for information on linking your project to the Olympics and getting marketing support

www.home-start.org.uk - to learn about a new scheme in Ryedale which provides volunteer support at home for families with young children

Rural Action Yorkshire is delighted to welcome Amanda Kent who joins the organisation as a Community Involvement Officer. Amanda will be working with rural communities across the whole of Yorkshire to develop community plans with new and existing groups. RAY has a wealth of experience and resources and offers a comprehensive service including help with funding the plan, providing a community plan toolkit, project planning, training on questionnaire software, design and support drafting the final plan and help with promotion of the plan once it is complete. Amanda’s post is part-funded by BIG Lottery under the West Yorkshire BASIS Rural Infrastructure Support Systems project. Amanda has some great experience and fascinating interests. In addition to working for Voluntary Action Calderdale, she has spent time in export sales and marketing, having originally studied Indonesian and Dutch! In her spare time she likes learning the guitar, squash and photography. RAY is able to provide match-funding for those undertaking a community-led plan. If you would like more detail, please telephone Amanda or email: Amanda.kent@ruralyorkshire.org.uk

Community-led Planning

Annual General Meeting It’s that time of year again! The AGM this year will be on Saturday, 21st November 2009 from 10.30am at Hoylandswaine Village Hall, near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. We have important business to deal with as usual. The Trustee Board has come to the conclusion that it should reduce in size which requires approval by the AGM and an election for the Trustees to the new Board. Many of the existing Trustees will be standing again but RAY members are able to nominate new people for election and have received the papers they need to do this.

Councillor Stephen Houghton, the Leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council will address the meeting. We are very pleased at his interest in our organisation and I’m sure RAY members will want to hear what one metropolitan authority is planning for its rural communities.

We look forward to meeting you at this important event.

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Bill Cross Acting Chief Executive ext: 236

Gill McIntosh Head of Finance & Administration ext: 230

Rebecca Craven PR & Marketing Officer ext: 232 FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Paula Wilcox Operations Officer ext: 221

Marilyn Bennett Operations & Finance Assistant ext: 222

Rehana Motin Finance Officer ext: 233 COMMUNITY-OWNED ASSETS Jonny Wooldridge 07722 127505 Rural Community Buildings & Playing Fields Adviser ext: 226 COMMUNITY-LED PLANNING Amanda Kent 07545 430977 Community Involvement Officer ext: 227

YNYPFA 0845 313 0270

YLCA 01904 642435

NORTH YORKSHIRE Sarah Robinson 07825 380052 North Yorkshire Manager ext: 251

Margaret Farey 07825 380051 North Yorkshire Development Officer (Ryedale)

Mel McGeoch 07722 127503 Youth Café Development Officer

SOUTH & WEST YORKSHIRE Tina Chamberlain 07963 533675 South & West Yorkshire Manager ext: 235

Melanie Swanwick 07757 639929 South Yorkshire Rural Network Development Co-ordinator

COUNTRY AIR is the newsletter of Rural Action Yorkshire. It is issued quarterly to members, parish councils and village halls and is financed by subscriptions and advertising.

If you live in rural Yorkshire, then COUNTRY AIR is YOUR newsletter

and we welcome articles.

The views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of Rural Action Yorkshire.

Staff Contacts as at October 2009

William House, Shipton Road, Skelton, YORK YO30 1XF Registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee in England & Wales No: 1839458 and as a Charity No. 515538

www.ruralyorkshire.org.uk info@ruralyorkshire.org.uk 0845 313 0270

RAY is moving at the start of 2010.

We will let you know our new address.

Our telephone number, email and website addresses will stay

the same.