country air 123

The newsletter of Rural Action Yorkshire Spring 2012 Issue 123

Get the latest news online:

www.ruralyorkshire.org.uk www.twitter.com/ruralyorkshire

In this issue… FEATURE Success Stories page 2- 3 Village SOS Roadshow page 5 What’s the Localism Act? page 6 Digital Switchover– Tyne Tees page 10

Plus all the latest project updates and rural news.

Hooray for Heptonstall!

Keep on keeping on!

We are often contacted by groups wishing to refresh their Community Led Plans (CLP) and sometimes we hear how they have struggled to move actions forward from their original plan. The diversity in size, history and culture of Yorkshire’s rural communities inevitably mean that there appears no single reason why some plans steam ahead at a pace and others languish. It’s arguable that some communities’ recognition of CLP and their responsibility for it is just simply not achievable overnight and will only happen gradually over time. However, the methods and styles of community engagement employed can be a determining factor and it was for this reason that Rural Action Yorkshire was approached by the CLP Steering Group, Heptonstall Forward; they needed a new method to engage the local community, particularly those who hadn’t been involved in the original plan.

The group had dedicated huge amounts of their time and energy in trying to promote involvement in the first CLP. They had become increasingly disheartened by the lack of local interest in implementing actions and had serious reservations about the wisdom of refreshing the original plan. So, a different kind of consultation event was designed – one that aimed to attract different people in different ways and was in essence a celebration of their unique village. RAY and Heptonstall Forward then designed an in-depth questionnaire, which clearly demonstrated that responsibility for the success of community initiatives rested with the community itself.

Since the plan was published in November 2011, five new community groups have been formed and are actively taking projects forward. A further three groups are taking their first steps and one group is pending.

If you’d like to know more, have a look at Heptonstall’s very impressive, newly launched (community led) website: http://heptonstall.org

North Stainley ‘50 Club’

Started in 2009 by Neville Newton as a way of promoting better community relations, membership of the ’50 Club’ costs £50 per household (or £25 for single adult households). The club is intended to develop friendships and to actively support village groups and activities, particularly those with a focus on children and young people. To date the ’50 Club’ has given more than £3,000 to groups from the junior school, the Brownies, the junior cricket club and the Mother & Toddler group. Trips have included canoeing and plans are afoot for tennis and golf coaching and a visit to Aerial Extreme in Kirklington.

Neville firmly believes in leading by example, with older generations being heavily involved in local activities and engaging with children and young people. This can give the youngest members a greater sense of community. The Club’s activities have brought them to the attention of government, Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society, and a senior manager from the Office for Civil Society are attending a 50 Club meeting on 5th July to see the great work the Club has done bringing people together.

RAY Contacts Switchboard: 0845 313 0270 Leah Swain, Chief Officer .............. ext.236

Gillian McIntosh Head of Finance & Admin ................ ext.230

Rebecca Craven Marketing & PR Officer .................... ext.232

Paula Wilcox Operations Officer ........................... ext.221

Marilyn Bennett Operations & Finance Assistant ........ ext.222

Amy Robinson - 07963 533674 Project & Performance Manager

Tina Chamberlain - ........ 07963 533675 Regional Manager .......................... ext: 235

Sarah Robinson - 07540 691028 North Yorks Rural Network Development

Co-ordinator .................................. ext: 223

Maggie Farey - 07825 380051 North Yorks Development Officer

Kathryn Chapman - 07825 380052 North Yorks Development Officer ...... ext.247

Mel McGeoch - 07722 127503 West Yorks Development Officer

Nick Butterworth - 07847 619388 Rural Capacity Building Officer

Amanda Kent - 07545 430977 Community & Neighbourhood Planning Officer

Active Communities ........................ ext.227

Melanie Swanwick - ........ 07757 639929 South Yorks Rural Network Development Co-ordinator (Barnsley & Doncaster)

Lucy Atkins - 07834 322296 South Yorks Rural Network Development Co-rdinator (Rotherham & Sheffield)

Andy Ryland - 07722 127505 Rural Community Buildings Adviser

02 The Newsletter of Rural Action Yorkshire

Disclaimer: Every effort is taken to provide accurate information. However, Rural Action Yorkshire accepts no responsibility for any error or omission in, or complaint arising from, items in this publication. The views expressed in Country Air do not necessarily represent those of Rural Action Yorkshire. The display of advertising material does not represent an endorsement.

Front page picture: Spring lambs, North Yorkshire

Feature: Welcome to

Spring!

Getting communities to work together is what RAY is all about, in this issue we focus on how to work together and rewards reaped by communities that have.

Nun Monkton Broadband The villages of Nun Monkton and Moor Monkton, near York, will be able to enjoy high speed broadband in the coming weeks, thanks to the latest Community Broadband Project funded by Defra’s Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), with match investment from NYnet, CLANNET, and the Nun Monkton Community itself. As the fifth project of its kind under the funding, the Nun Monkton project began in earnest over a year ago when the community, and an interested local business, got together to drive forward the initiative and gather the support of the residents of Nun Monkton. For the network to be sustainable it needed backing from residents and businesses in the village. Fortunately three local business interests, Green-tech, Richard and Kate Harpin and Nun Monkton Estate, stepped forward to support the business plan. It was also crucial for neighbouring Moor Monkton to get involved to increase the viability of the scheme.

Mike Turnham, Community Broadband Champion for Nun Monkton said “we have a real mix of residents here in the village from retired people to young families, each needing access to the internet for

different services. We have people who want to work from home or access applications like BBC iPlayer, and others who want to be able to order their prescriptions or groceries online. The whole village is very excited about the new network and people can’t wait to get connected.” The Nun Monkton Foundation Primary School is also very excited about the project. As the host of the hub for the network the project could not have gone ahead without their cooperation. The school understood the potential benefits to the local community and to their own pupils who may access the network to utilise the school’s Virtual Learning Environment. Nick Hall, Managing Director of CLANNET, the service provider of the network said “I was very impressed with the commitment and involvement of the community, which made us more determined to make this network happen. Equally Green-tech was just as determined and committed as they could see the benefit to their employees, many of whom live in the local community. Another benefit of the project is that we are training a local tradesman, Jack Stout, to become a fully qualified installer thus providing employment and a resource for the community.”

Husthwaite Book Exchange The withdrawal of the mobile library from Husthwaite has led two local residents to create a Book Exchange two mornings a month in the village hall and it’s proved very popular since it’s opening in December. So popular indeed, that the initial plan to allow unrestricted borrowing has had to be replaced by a limit of one fiction and two non fiction books per visit. Borrowers are simply asked to sign books in and out and there are no late fees! Over 1000 books have been donated, covering a wide range of tastes and genres. Community volunteers, some of whom had not volunteered before, now run the Book Exchange and a very handyman has created folding bookcases that lock and store neatly at the end of every session. Every effort has been made to make the Book Exchange look and feel as well managed as it is; from poster displays to the labels inside all the books. But it is more than just a library, residents, who may never have used the Village Hall previously, go to borrow books and chat with other residents, for some it is the only contact they may have that day. Refreshments are available, with a suggested donation of just 50p which it is hoped will go towards the running costs of the Exchange.

The Newsletter of Rural Action Yorkshire 03

Rural Action Yorkshire could help you

with your Community Led Plan, or to get

a new project or group started. Contact

us for advice, or to share your own good

news stories.

Discover Filey

The £21,481 project provides a mobile classroom with equipment and materials enabling volunteers and community groups to hold heritage and nature tourism activities throughout 2012 and beyond. The project’s partners include RSPB, YWT, Hull University (Scarborough Campus) and Filey Bay Partnership who will develop the local tourism economy through the new Nature Tourism Triangle.

Visit www.Discoverfiley.org.uk to learn more about Filey’s coastal heritage and book your guided tour.

The website offers interpretive information which promotes a programme of activities and the vast heritage which Filey has to offer.

The project will provide the evidence required to support a larger Heritage Lottery Fund bid which aims to convert a derelict building in Filey’s Country Park into an educational resource centre. The centre will act as the delivery hub for the ‘Discover Filey’ programme and will provide links with partner projects involved in the Nature Tourism Triangle.

‘We are extremely grateful to the LEADER programme for supporting our project and to our partners for helping us to achieve the first steps in fulfilling a long-standing ambition. It has enabled us to deliver a year-round all-weather programme of activity. This addresses the high demand for educational information surrounding the heritage of our wonderful coastline sought by visiting families & schools’. Kath Wilkie, Filey4Wards Development Trust.

The Great Wolds Valley

The story of how the Great Wolds Valley and Gypsey Race, the chalk stream running its length, have shaped communities through the ages is about to be told. The project, led by Lutton & Weaverthorpe Parish Plan Action Group volunteers, has secured funding to deliver the 11.5 mile Great Wolds Valley Heritage Trail.

The Trail aims to celebrate the heritage of the Wolds valley and so develop greater coherence between the Wolds communities through an increased sense of common interest. A desire to gain a better understanding of the local environment and further promote pride in the Valley for the benefit of future generations has been identified through surveys carried out during the preparation of Parish Plans in Luttons (incorporating Helperthorpe), Weaverthorpe, Kirby Grindalythe (incorporating Duggleby), and Foxholes (incorporating Butterwick).

Using local voluntary professional expertise and a programme of community engagement, the project team will research and design interpretation panels depicting the archaeology, built environment, landscape, geomorphology, flora and fauna of the Great Wolds Valley. The Heritage Trail will be promoted by a leaflet showing the location and route of the trail, the positioning and content of the information boards and the character of the area. The same material, and particularly the artistic interpretations, will be reformatted for use in the local primary schools, to develop an understanding of history and man’s impact on the environment.

The volunteer time associated with delivering the project has provided match funding valued at £38,350 which has enabled the project to gain grants of £38,910 from CWWW LEADER and £38,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In addition to the groups own funds, the project was awarded £1,000 from REACT (Ryedale District Council).

‘The archaeology, history, built and natural environments are latent assets little understood within the valley communities and little known outside the valley. However, there is a love of the serenity of the landscape and a fear of change. This project seeks to build confidence in the communities without imposing radical change, whilst providing opportunity for some increase in economic activity due to a moderate increase in visitor footfall. The LEADER programme provided the ideal vehicle at just the right time to enable our voluntary group to respond to the desire of our communities expressed in the Parish Plan, by capitalising on the heritage assets all around us. We are grateful to the LEADER programme and personnel for the support provided in furthering this project’.

Andy Macdonald - Chair of the Lutton & Weaverthorpe Parish Plan Action Group.


Feature: LEADER

Village SOS Roadshow in Skipton

Celebrating Enterprising Communities

In many rural communities across the UK, vital services are being lost or withdrawn. Around 400 village shops and 700 rural pubs close each year; remote areas of the UK are unable to access broadband; vulnerable people are left stranded without access to basic services like post offices, healthcare, shops and schools. Now a growing number of communities are taking matters into their own hands, turning the threat into an opportunity and setting up community owned and run enterprises. Across Yorkshire, local people are setting up enterprising projects like shops, pubs, and transport schemes to help reverse the trend of rural decline for their community. Could you help to spark a rural revival in your village? If you could help rally your community into saving or setting up an enterprising service in your village, help is at hand. The Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS project is hosting the Skipton roadshow, along with Rural Action Yorkshire, the Plunkett Foundation, Co-operatives UK and Locality. Skipton has been selected as a key location to host the Village SOS Roadshow as it tours the UK bringing vital expertise, resources and a place to discuss your enterprise ideas. The Roadshow is completely free and will take place on Thursday 10 May at The Rendezvous Hotel, Skipton, from 10am to 3:30pm. The Village SOS campaign seeks to inspire local people to follow in the footsteps of communities like Hudswell in North Yorkshire, who not only saved their pub through community enterprise, but also have a shop (thought to be the smallest community-owned shop in the UK!), bookswap scheme, allotments and broadband access for local people. If you want to find out more about how community enterprise can help your village, come along to Skipton’s Roadshow, which will not only showcase the very best examples from the region, but will give you access to expert advice on everything you need to know, from getting your idea off the ground, engaging with your community and marketing it to the wider world, to applying for funding, choosing the right legal structure and business planning. It’s also a great place to talk to others in the same boat, to learn from and inspire each other. To find out more about the Village SOS Roadshow, visit the RAY website. To book a place visit www.villagesos.org.uk. You can also follow tweets using #VillageSOS.


Community Led Plans

Hit the Ground Running

On page 2 we described how Heptonstall worked hard to get local people involved in their Community Led Plan (CLP). It’s not surprising that one of the biggest concerns about developing a CLP is the challenge of engaging and involving the community –quite rightly too, since engaging effectively may determine the longer-term success of the plan. What is surprising, is hearing that some plans are initiated without any effort being made to explain to the community what a CLP is! Investing time in a strong information campaign to raise your community’s awareness of CLP, will pay dividends; Ultimately, it could help you to ‘hit the ground running’ when you do launch the project. Practical steps you can take to raise awareness and stimulate interest:

• Run an article in your parish newsletter about CLP: what it is (and what it isn’t!), the process involved and the importance of everyone’s input.

• Highlight the social and fun potential the project has.

• Emphasise the value that direct involvement in the project would have.

• Add a CLP information page on your website, giving case studies of existing successful CLPs.

• Make it a conversation. Ask: ο 3 things they would like to improve

or change within the community. ο 3 things they most value within the

community. ο People to say if they support the

development of a plan. ο If they have any specific areas of

interest they’d like to get involved in.

• Hold a public question and answer meeting or focus group meetings and form a Steering Group.

In this issue, we’ve asked Ray about the Localism Act. Q. When can we use the Community Rights? A. Community Rights to Bid, Challenge and Build and Neighbourhood Planning all came into effect on 6th April 2012. Communities can now:

• Nominate a building or piece of land to be added to the ‘register of assets of community value’, which will be created and maintained by the local authority (the ‘Right to Bid’)

• Submit an ‘expression of interest’ to take over the running of a service provided by the local authority (the ‘Right to Challenge’)

• Submit an application to the local authority to agree an area and a body to produce a Neighbourhood Plan (NP)

Q. How will Neighbourhood Planning be funded? A. The Parish or Town Council or the Neighbourhood Forum will be required to fund the process, including consultation, development of the Plan and publishing costs. The local authority has a legal duty to provide support and advice, including evidence gathering and technical advice. Q. Who pays for the referendum? A. The NP must be agreed by more than 50% of voters in a neighbourhood referendum. The local authority is responsible for covering the costs of the referendum, which is likely to take place at the same time as local elections. The local authority is also responsible for paying for the ‘independent examination’ of the Plan, which takes place before the referendum. Q. What does a Neighbourhood Plan look like? A. There are no templates or guidance on this – it can include as many or as few planning policies as are wanted, covering key issues for the local area. Q. Can a Neighbourhood Plan stop development? A. No. The NP must be in line with the strategic policies of the Local Plan. If the Local Plan sets a requirement for 100 additional houses, the NP cannot lower the number, but it can determine the placement and design. Q. Can a Neighbourhood Plan cross Parish boundaries? A. Yes. Two or more Parishes can work together to produce a NP for an area. However, you cannot have more than one NP in any parish area. Q. If the Parish Council does not want to do a NP, can a community group lead on the NP instead? No. NP has to be led by the parish or Town Council, in a parish area however, residents and community groups can be involved. Q. How do we know the local authority has made fair decisions about which assets it has agreed to add to the list of community assets? A. The local authority is required to have a process in place for dealing with community nominations from 6th April and must be transparent about decisions they’ve taken Q. How will local authorities monitor services delivered by other organisations (taken over by the ‘Right to Challenge’)? A. The organisation will be selected through a robust procurement process

and rules of procurement will apply to ensure the service is run and

managed appropriately.

Neighbourhood Plans

‘Neighbourhood Planning’ is a new power introduced by the Localism Act which gives communities the power to shape development in their local area. Neighbourhood Planning came into effect on 6th April 2012, but it is optional. Neighbourhood Planning allows communities to say where they think development in their local area should go and what it should look like – this can include housing, businesses, shops, local services and green spaces. Neighbourhood Development Orders or Community Right to Build Orders are additional tools that can be used to grant planning permission for new development communities want to see go ahead. The Neighbourhood Plan is led by the Parish Council or Town Council, unless an area is not covered by a parish council, in which case a new Neighbourhood Forum will take the lead. A neighbourhood forum must be made up of a minimum of 21 people from the local area. The Neighbourhood Plan must be in line with national and local planning policy and must be agreed through a local referendum. What is the difference between a Village Plan or a Parish Plan and a Neighbourhood Plan? A Neighbourhood Plan is a statutory planning document and once agreed it becomes part of the Local Plan framework and will inform planning decisions, however it may not be appropriate for every area. A village or parish plan is not a statutory document but Community Led Planning is still an effective way of involving communities in creating a vision and ambitions for their local area and influencing future improvements in their area. More Information ... If you would like more information and advice

about Community Led Planning or if you are

thinking about developing a Neighbourhood

Plan for your area, please contact Amanda

Kent at [email protected].

For more information and resources on

Neighbourhood Planning, see the Rural

Action Yorkshire website:

www.ruralyorkshire.org.uk

Ask RAY– Localism


Localism Events for

Rural Communities As part of the South Yorkshire Rural Network project, RAY held a series of workshops for community groups and Parishes on Localism across the region during February. The free workshops gave training and information about the Localism Act, Community Rights and Neighbourhood Planning and provided an opportunity to discuss what it all means for rural areas and communities. The sessions sparked lively debate about the potential opportunities for community groups and Parish Councils and the challenges they may face. Some of the key issues raised included the need for funding from the government and support from the local authority for Neighbourhood Planning, the use of empty buildings as valuable community assets, the need for affordable housing in smaller villages and how to get the wider community involved in Neighbourhood Planning in Parishes.

The workshops were attended by over 50

people in total, including representatives of

community groups, voluntary and community

sector organisations, Parish and Ward

Councillors, officers and stakeholders. Four

workshops were held, one in each of the

South Yorkshire boroughs, at Chapeltown,

Tankersley, Sprotbrough and Brampton.

Following positive feedback from the events

and significant demand for further support

from parish councils and community groups, a

further round of workshops in each of the four

areas is to take place during April and May.

Find out more about Localism and our events

on the RAY website, or contact Lucy Atkins,

Rural Network Co-ordinator at

[email protected].

Monica Carroll has lived in the village of Woodsetts in Rotherham, South Yorkshire for 40 years and has been a RAY trustee since 1997. CA: How did you get involved with RAY? And what do you regard as your biggest achievement? MC: I stood as a parish councillor in 1983 because I wanted to make a difference. That sounds like a cliché and it probably is but I knew that if it was possible for neighbours to get to know each other better or even at all, then that would be the beginning of something bigger and better. The development and fulfilment of the priorities in the community led plan was hard work but immensely satisfying and it slowly evolved in to creating a cohesion that previously didn’t exist. Our small village now has a very solid nucleus of groups dedicated to the sustainability of those projects. This work was supported by RAY (then known as YRCC) and is one of the strengths of the organisation to this day. One of my greatest achievements was chairing the Objective 1 Rural Target Fund steering group which has enabled many communities in South Yorkshire to carry out projects that have improved the quality of life for their residents. CA: You’ve been a RAY trustee for a long time, what do you think RAY’s strengths are? And what should the next steps be? MC: I believe that a good organisation works best from the grassroots upwards. My work with RAY complements my work as a parish councillor and community worker and vice versa. RAY is currently developing a local community buildings network which will provide a whole host of support for those communities who have a village hall or building RAY has made great strides in networking at local authority level by being part of a number of borough partnerships throughout Yorkshire. This ensures that the profile of RAY and rural issues is high on their agenda. It also helps to identify isolated communities and assist them to work together for a common good. What do I want from RAY for the future? Well, it’s simple. We have a successful formula, managed by a great set of people who know what they are doing. They are on the right track and my role as a trustee is to help them stay there. CA: What do you see as the biggest threat facing rural communities?

MC: My biggest fear- the future of rural communities is under threat because

there is more and more being asked of volunteers. It goes without saying that

the volunteers of the future are our young people. They need encouraging

whilst still young, they need the same sense of empowerment as adults, they

need more resources and above all they need to be listened to and respected.

Who is RAY?


Bawtry Community Library

Bawtry Community Library opened its doors to the public as a community run library on 1st March 2012, after the announcement by Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council that the library would close unless a community solution could be found. A group of local residents and business people from Bawtry came together to form Bawtry Community Library Group and requested help from local people to volunteer in the running of the library. Response from the local community has been extremely positive with over 60 volunteers already in place to help maintain the library including front of house, cleaning and gardening duties. The first day of opening was marked by an open day and in the first two weeks 676 people have called in the library not including those attending the open day. The Library group have been working closely with Bawtry Town Council, Austerfield Parish Council, the Bawtry Retailers Association and Doncaster M.B.C. The library has undergone a transformation with flowers and planting to the exterior provided by local businesses. The Group hope to register as a charity in the near future and are already responding to the local communities needs by asking what local people wish to see in the library. This has meant the reinstatement of big cushions for 4 year old users to sit on in the children’s area. The group have received financial support from a number of organisations and hope to secure the future of the library long term by generating income through various avenues. There is currently a second hand book shop operating from the library and artwork by

local artists for sale. It is also hoped that a Tourist Information service can be developed at the library. Anyone in the local area who may wish to get

involved can contact Lesley Gilfedder at [email protected]. Although there are already a good number of volunteers the group aim to open the library as much as possible to the local community. Volunteers receive training for front of house duties and support from the Bawtry Library Group Directors. Rural Action Yorkshire are supporting this group and others in Doncaster in the process of retaining their libraries run by the community. For more information or advice and support for library services in South Yorkshire please contact Melanie.Swanwick@ruralyorkshire .org.uk

Rural Touring Arts

RAY’s South Yorkshire Rural Network is pleased to be supporting the development of a South Yorkshire Rural Touring Network for the Arts. Point Blank theatre work across South Yorkshire and is playing a lead role with Local Authority Arts Officers to put a rural touring network in place to increase the range of touring arts activities on offer in rural communities. A South Yorkshire scheme will enable possibilities to subsidise high quality work and commission new work especially for our region. There is also the opportunity for joining the national schemes strategically. For example, the northern schemes are working together to enable local people to be involved in promoting art in their communities. There will be opportunities to see the best new work at international festivals, with a view to bringing it to their communities. Hundreds and thousands of pounds are being raised from rural touring events from box office receipts. Much of this money is re-invested in essential community facilities and other activities. Most schemes act as brokers providing their own brochures or 'menus', offering rural promoters a range of performances and other activities. It is the village or other rural promoter that chooses the 'act' on the understanding that it is they who will sell the tickets and, therefore, promote the event; they also take a percentage of the box office proceeds as well as all other financial, promotional activities such as bar sales, raffles and food sales. Assistance is offered by the touring scheme with the mechanics of the promotion - contracts, tickets, posters, press releases etc., - and importantly the scheme offers financial assistance with the event. This helps reduce the financial risk of such promotions. For more information contact [email protected] or Steve Jackson of Point Blank Theatre [email protected]


Pro-active Penistone People

Marketing Workshops It was noted during consultation carried out earlier in the Rural Voice Project, that many groups requested support in marketing, attracting new volunteers and more recently emerging interest in social media to do this. To meet that need the Project asked RAY’s Marketing and PR Officer, for help in delivering a series of six training sessions in each of the Rural Voice Project districts. We also incorporated one already arranged by Craven CVS at Bolton Abbey. The 3 hour sessions were open to any rural voluntary and community group, and the attendees that we had certainly covered the range of organisations that make up the third sector in North Yorkshire. From Village Halls, to Arts Groups, to Scouts, to Care Providers, we have been pleased to facilitate this training for more than 100 people during February and March. The evaluation of the course has been very positive and we are planning to put further resources into the Members’ area of the RAY website. We were delighted with feedback from the event : “Hugely useful”, “insightful and interesting”, “absolutely brilliant!”

Creating a QR code You may have spotted these ‘barcode’ images on posters, adverts and in shop windows. ‘Smartphone’ type mobiles can scan these images, using the phone’s camera. They are then converted into a link to a website, or someone’s contact details. Community groups and village halls could try using these to direct people to more information about an event, or to a contact name and number for booking rooms or tickets. It’s all free! QR codes generated a lot of interest at our workshops. To have a go, use Google to find a QR-creator website where you’ll be able to download a J-Peg image to paste into your leaflets and flyers. Already using social media? Get in touch with us on Twitter and let us know how you’re getting on. Find us @ruralyorkshire.

Friarage Hospital

Have your say A series of nine public meetings are taking place between March and June for people to have their say on the future sustainability of children's and maternity services at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton. The ability of the hospital to sustain its high-quality services has come under pressure in recent years. Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) asked the National Clinical Advisory Team (NCAT) to review the service. NCAT agreed that while a first-class service was provided at present, the children's inpatient service was not sustainable. The meetings will be hosted by leading GPs, hospital clinicians and senior NHS managers from the Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby Clinical Commissioning Group and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Meeting dates are: 1 May, Colburn Leisure Centre; 10 May, Masham Town Hall; 15 May, Golden Lion, Northallerton; 22 May, Tennants, Leyburn; 30 May, Stokesley Town Hall; and 18 June, Bedale Hall. Meetings will begin with an exhibition and video at 5.15pm, followed by presentations and questions at 6.15pm. Entrance will be on a first come, first served basis but anyone unable to get in will be invited to submit a question for the panel. Find out more: www.nyypct.nhs.uk


Red Hot and Green Conference

Innovation and Economy

Recent figures reveal that over 9 million people could be living in fuel poverty by 2016. RAY’s ‘Red Hot & Green’ Conference at Wensley Village Hall in March looked at the reasons behind the figures and some innovative solutions. Diane Bland of National Energy Action has been working closely with Hambleton and Richmondshire district councils to provide real solutions, including ‘Energy Champions’; volunteers who asses hard to heat homes and give a detailed report on changes that can be made at a sensible cost.

Jill Armstrong’s presentation on executing a community scale project and implementing a Calor FREE project highlighted the good, the bad and the ugly! But her experiences generated much debate during the refreshment break. Victoria Eynon and Andrew Dawson from NEA and Daikin, looked to long term, low carbon technologies. Evidence from a trial of air source heat pumps showed how effective they can be, whilst saving money and not damaging the environment, giving vulnerable households an alternative to traditional energy sources. Kathryn Chapman from RAY and Peter Hirschfeld from HWRCC presented a practical guide to oil buying co operatives which examined the pros and cons of such a venture, and created some interesting questions during the question and answer session. Those attending remarked: ‘…very interesting, hard hitting; offering not only information, but also potential solutions and relevant contacts for further work’ ‘It has inspired me to try and start a co- operative in my own village and look at extra insulation options in my own home’ Get more information on green energy: contact RAY on 0845 313 0270.

Tyne Tees Digital Switchover What is digital TV switchover? TV across the UK is going digital. The existing analogue TV signal will be switched off and replaced with a new, stronger digital TV signal. Switchover is happening so that Freeview services (digital TV through your arial) can be extended to people who cannot currently get them. It also allows new services, such as High Definition channels to become more widely available. When will it happen? A large number of residents in Yorkshire will already have switched. However, many people fall within the Tyne Tees TV region and their Digital Switchover will happen on 26th September 2012. What do I need to do? If you receive Tyne Tees TV and need advice on what to do next then contact Digital UK. They will help you to understand how to retune your TV, give advice on whether you are eligible for further support and answer any other queries you might have. Do I need a new TV? No, you don’t need a new TV as almost any TV can be converted, even a black and white one. Most digital boxes connect to a TV using a SCART cable. If your TV does not have a SCART socket you will need to ask for a digital box with a built in “RF modulator”. What will RAY be doing? RAY understands that for many people living in rural areas their TV is a critical link providing both company and information. We will be working with our neighbouring rural community councils to identify Community Supporters across the areas affected by the Tyne Tees Digital Switchover. The Community Supporters will reach out to the most isolated and vulnerable individuals in their community to ensure they are aware of the Switchover and will not be left with a blank screen after September. More information at www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 505050. Interested in volunteering as a Community Supporter? Call Leah Swain at RAY on 0845 313 0270.


The Last Word... As you read this copy of Country Air, are you wondering about the impact of the national fuel situation on your community? I am. Fuel is a necessity in our rural community, especially when public transport is rare. Children to school, the proverbial pint of milk or loaf of bread, workers to work, whichever category you fit into, fuel plays a substantial part of your daily life. Whatever or wherever you are you will be used to these setbacks and another pull on our wallets! Despite the higher cost of living in rural areas, there are many initiatives that make us all proud to live within them, mentioned within this magazine are exciting developments at Nun Monkton, Bawtry and Husthwaite. ………. and when Broadband reaches all rural areas. I for one will be raising a flag! I, like many of my friends within my village in the Esk Valley, join in with activities that are held there. These activities bring people together and the hiring of the community building gives the upkeep of that building a boost. Whether it’s keep-fit, art class, yoga, photography, flower arranging, rag rug making, dancing, computer studies, domino or whist drives or booked privately for children’s parties and other celebratory events. The new Localism Act means that we need to continue to talk to people within sectors or local authorities that also touch into our rural areas, opening up dialogue in order to add value to their role. Linda Lloyd Chairman chairman@ ruralyorkshire. org.uk

Paying too Much for Energy? It is easier than ever to shop around and choose the best energy deal and changing supplier is one way you may save money on your energy bills. You may also be able to get a better energy tariff from your current supplier so it is worth contacting them to discuss this and also potential savings can be made by changing the way you pay your bills. Suppliers are now required to provide clearer information on bills and to provide you with an annual statement telling you what tariff you are on and the amount of gas or electricity you have used in the past 12 months. If you are a card, key or token meter customer you are now allowed to switch supplier even if you have debts of up to £200. So what do you need to do? Before you decide to change supplier and/or tariff you need to have you annual statement and a copy of your last few bills. If you use a card, token or key meter you will nee to have an idea of how much you spend a week/month on energy. Other information you will need is the tariff you are currently on (if you don’t know you can ask your supplier), how much you spent on energy in the last year, how you currently pay for your energy and your postcode. There are different ways you can find out about potentially better energy deals:

• Talk to your supplier or view their website • Use one of the approved online price comparison services listed on Consumer Focus’ website www.consumerfocus.org.uk • If you cannot access the internet you can call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 for a pricing factsheet for your area or general advice. Contact other energy suppliers to compare their deals too. Energy suppliers offer some of the most vulnerable customers rebates and assistance under the Warm Home Discount scheme. Call your supplier to see if you qualify. If you choose to stay with your current supplier but change to a different tariff then your supplier will arrange the change. If you have chosen a new supplier and once the contract is signed, give your new supplier a meter reading to ensure that you are billed at the right time for the correct amount. If after signing the contract you are unhappy about your decision to change supplier, you have seven working days to call the new supplier and cancel the contract. There will be no interruptions to your energy supply while you are switching and the process should be completed in 6-8 weeks. You will not be cut off and you will not need a new meter. The energy you receive in your home will remain the same. The only difference will be that your bill will be from a new supplier. If you have never switched before then have a go, it is always worth shopping around and you could be surprised by how much you could save. If you would like to know more, please contact Kathryn Chapman at RAY.


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