Agenda and draft minutes

Volunteering in Guildhall  Ward and helping our communities.

Priorities and our ward committee spending last year and next.

Talk to your local councillors, groups and organisations and give us your views on what is important to you in your community.

1.     Main meeting – welcome and introductions (7pm)

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Melly who welcomed everyone, set out the housekeeping rules and reminded residents that the meeting was non-political.

2.     Volunteering in Guildhall Ward and helping our communities

Cllr Melly introduced the topic as an opportunity to discuss and celebrate volunteering in the community.

Councillor Melly then invited the first speaker, Sadie Harvey, York Centre for Voluntary Service CVS Supported Volunteering Project Coordinator. York CVS is passionate about supporting and championing York’s Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector. Practical support and guidance is provided to enable charitable organisations in York to thrive. Free one-to-one support can be provided to help identify funding opportunities and write bids; develop policies and procedures; assist with setting up of groups, charities and social enterprises; explore legal structures and governance issues; and undertake health check of the organisation.

Networking events are organised to bring people and organisations together to share knowledge, build skills and create opportunities for collaboration.

Training courses, such as first aid, aimed for charities, community groups, social enterprises and volunteers are organised on a regular basis.

York’s Volunteer Centre, based within York CVS provides support and promotes volunteering across the city by connecting people with meaningful opportunities and helping organisations to recruit, support and retain volunteers.

Support for Volunteer Managers is provided via promotion of volunteering opportunities, advice on volunteering best practices, training and events, Volunteer Management Forum and access to resources such as risk assessment templates.

Listing of current volunteering opportunities from across the sector is available on the York CVS website. This resource enables charitable organisations to promote their volunteering opportunities and prospective volunteers to browse available roles in York. A regular slot on Jorvik Radio offers an opportunity to highlight volunteering opportunities to radio listeners.

Supported Volunteering Project offers tailored support to individuals who are interested in volunteering but would like assistance to be ready to volunteer or to access and sustain volunteering opportunities. The Project is delivered in collaboration with t Yor Community Wellbeing Hubs. Supported Volunteer Project Coordinator holds drop-in sessions at 30 Clarence Street Hub on Friday mornings between 10am and 1pm and at Acomb Garth Community Hub on Mondays between 9am and 12pm.

York citywide volunteering pledge reflects on the ambition to create best volunteering experiences for volunteers in York. Any volunteer involving organisation in York can undergo an assessment and adopt respective recommendations to achieve the Volunteering Quality Mark. Overarching principles of the Quality Mark are: a positive volunteering ethos within the organisation, accessible and inclusive volunteering, recruiting and welcoming volunteers, supporting and developing volunteers, valuing volunteers, volunteer processes and good governance. So far six organisations have been awarded with the Quality Mark and the application is available via the York CVS website.

Diversity in Volunteering is a pilot project providing support for refugees and asylum seekers to find ways to contribute to the society via volunteering. Information sessions with translated materials on how to access volunteering opportunities in York and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Tracy from the Groves Community Association stated that a lot of their projects would not be possible without help from organisations such as the GoodGym, or the Probation Service. Help with distribution of the local newsletter, or festival flyers helps to spread the word about projects and to attract new volunteers.  Tracy invited anyone interested to join their monthly estate clean-up sessions held on the 1^st Saturday of each month, 10am, meeting outside Helmsley House.

Q – Would it be possible to prevent cars from parking on housing land on Clarence Street?

A – We are aware that vehicle parking at that location damages the grass space and are working with CYC Housing to rectify the issue. It is a communal shared space and requires some type of demarcation from the road, perhaps some planters.

The Groves Repair Café, an initiative allowing York residents to visit and get their broken items fixed was mentioned and promoted by one resident.

Pastor Paul from the York Elim Pentacostal Church introduced himself and briefly spoke about their church building on Monkgate, next to the Theatre@41. The building is now open to the public and space is available for community groups to use.  It was useful to learn about the range of projects already happening in the locality and Pastor Paul is keen to discuss and explore projects aiming to tackling poverty.

Q – Could you explore provision of stickers with a polite notice asking cyclists to dismount? Those could be attached to bollards at locations where cyclists and pedestrians share the route. 

A – The issue of inconsiderate cycling gets raised very often. Thank you for the suggestion. The recent Police operation resulted in seizing several customized Ebikes which were in contravention of the Highway Code.  

Q – There is an issue with cyclists riding on the pavement along Monkgate. I experienced it on the way to the meeting this evening.

A – Thank you for raising it with us. Please do keep reporting such issues to the Police.

A project to introduce community edible growing is taking place in Clarence Gardens. Four raised beds will be installed next to the existing herb garden. Volunteers are invited to join the inaugural session on Wednesday 6^th of May, 6pm, meeting outside the park pavilion. Recent flyer drop attracted 12 responses from residents interested in being involved. For more details about the project please chat with the Community Officer, or come along to the session on the 6^th of May.

Cllr Melly added that the potential to create a community café at the park pavilion is being explored and several meetings with various stakeholders have been held. Councillors were advised that no appropriate drainage exists under the pavilion. Appropriate drainage connection would be required for a commercial type of café operation. This obstacle prompted exploration of other alternatives.

Q – Has progress been made with installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points at Monk Bar car park?

A –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.