Agenda and draft minutes

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

Residents had an opportunity to talk with Ward Councillors about local matters. Representatives from local projects had an opportunity to discuss their projects with funders and find out about potential funding streams. Local Police Team were available to discuss any community safety matters and promoted the Community Messaging tool.

Workshop style session featuring discussions about local projects, priorities, asset mapping, funding opportunities and talks from Inspire Youth about their mobile youth club and Friends of Rowntree Park about ‘Make Space for Girls’ project .

Chaired jointly by Cllrs Kilbane and Crawshaw who opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. Cllr Crawshaw and Michal Czekajlo, Community Officer outlined current ward funding arrangements before Cllr Crawshaw introduction of tonight’s speakers.

Jess Ward, Founder and CEO of Inspire Youth Yorkshire spoke about the mobile youth club, a safe space for young people featuring activities, snacks and positive conversations about topics such as consequences of behaviour, or healthy eating.  Over the last year youth workers have been building relationships with local young people and it is hoped that this work will continue. The Mobile youth club was invited to work in York last year and initial trial sessions on Scarcroft Green were funded by the ward. Evidence and feedback gathered during the trial supported successful application to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) which enabled expansion to three other locations in the city. Currently the club operates on a weekly basis on Scarcroft Green, in Chapelfields, Foxwood and Bell Farm. Recent application to PFCC seeks funding towards continuation for another year.

Abigail Gaines, Friends of Rowntree Park Charity Manager outlined Make Space For Girls, a project aiming to make the park more friendly for older girls. Ward funded summer activities offered an opportunity for older girls to be involved in activities such as TikTok dance, orienteering, nature craft, photography, campfire, cooking, and film making. As well as provision of further activities the project is looking to install play equipment within the park.

Diane Rowsell, The Collective Sharehouse Director outlined the community food support initiative based at Clements Hall. The project is in its third year of operation, with three sessions a week providing food and sanitary product top ups for residents of the Ward. Food and monetary donations from local people, shops and businesses make it possible for the project to continue providing support during the cost-of-living crisis.

Cllr Crawshaw then outlined priorities of targeting areas of social deprivation and encouraging social inclusion that have been the focus of the Ward Team for the past few years and opened the floor to discussion about the way forward.

The following comments were offered.

Current priorities are right and should remain the focus of the ward.

Friends of Rowntree Park see new audiences engaging with the park resulting in enhanced community cohesion. Recent grant from Beneden Health enabled wellbeing sessions which are always fully booked.

We had to re-learn how to socialize after the pandemic and the projects presented today played a significant part in that process.

Presence of positive role models in the community was mentioned as an important part of the community helping young people to learn how to be good citizens.

Cllr Kilbane referred to ward budget that can be used as a start-up funding, providing groups with resources enabling them to be more resilient, help local projects to flourish and become more sustainable.

Cllr Crawshaw introduced Jane Granville, York CVS Funding and Development Officer who spoke about the support CVS offers to charitable sector organisations in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.