City of York Council is looking for volunteers to identify what would most improve people’s lives in five of the city’s less prosperous communities.
This project – 4CommunityGrowthYork – will benefit Bell Farm, Clifton, Navigation and Walmgate, Tang Hall and Westfield and is underway thanks to the council winning an initial £22,000 funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds, which the council has match-funded to £40k.
Once accepted onto this community-led local development project, the volunteers will focus on the needs of the five communities with special emphasis on supporting the more vulnerable into work. The £40k will go towards their training, research and consultations, as well as seeking expert advice and examples of best practice nationally and locally, such as the Tang Hall Big Local project which has similar objectives.
This feedback will help develop ideas on how to support and offer early help to families in need and to jobseekers and local enterprises. This will be looked at alongside existing work including with ward teams and residents’ associations.
4CommunityGrowthYork’s plans will be developed into a formal strategy which will be submitted to the EU by the end of August 2016, in a bid to win a further £1.29 million. This sum will be match-funded through the council, Government and Tang Hall Big Local funding to a total £2.58m, to realise the strategy and so help improve the quality of life of residents in the five communities.
Councillor Keith Aspden, Deputy Leader of City of York Council with responsibility for Economic Development and Community Engagement, said: “Applications to join the project will be especially welcomed from people living or working in the five key communities, and who have experience of both the private and public sectors. You’ll be warmly welcomed to the information sessions we are holding where you can find out much more. This is a significant project which could make a lasting difference to our communities.”
Information sessions for 4CommunityGrowthYork will be held at West Offices, YO1 6GA on:
• Friday 1 April at 12-1pm
• Tuesday 5 April at 4-5pm and at 5-6pm
• Friday 8 April at 12-1pm.
To book a place on the information sessions, or for more detail on the project, please email mora.scaife@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551834.