History
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SOUTH CRAVEN VOLUNTEER BUREAU
A small committee was formed of which Mr. George Smith became Chairman, Miss Barbara Thompson Secretary and Miss Margaret Crowther Treasurer. Thanks to Social Services an office was set up in the basement of their premises, but with a separate address 4, Back Colne Road. The Office officially opened on 3rd September 1984, with Mrs. Pat Bhagat as the first Co-coordinator until December 1984 when Mrs. Val Goater was appointed. In June 1989 she was replaced by Mrs. Jane Kayley, until 1994 when Mr. Milton Pearson was appointed, Mrs. Caroline Hebden having been employed since 1991 as Admin Worker. Inevitably various members of the Committee have come and gone but the death of Miss Barbara Thompson was a sad blow. We also had to say goodbye to Mr. R Towell who had been our vice-chairman from the beginning. Mrs. Thompson was never replaced as Secretary. In 1988 Mrs. Frances Brookes became chairman of the Bureau - the name having been amended from Centre. For a period Mrs. Winnie Annan took on the Responsibilities of Treasurer. When it became impractical for her to carry on due to an immediate commitment abroad, Miss Crowther: resumed as Treasurer; Mrs. Christine Myers also gave assistance in preparing salaries for staff. In 1990 the Bureau acquired charitable status. It had been agreed with the Social Services Department that the Bureau would concentrate its work in the South Craven area, but would, in co-operation with Settle take an interest in certain Skipton projects. In 1987 an office was obtained in Skipton, the office was shared with the Victim Support Scheme. This involved extra input from Mrs. Val Goater and Mrs. Christine Malone of Settle. Money received for this project was held by the Bureau. Certain members of the Bureau Committee were also on the pilot committee. It was through the work of Mrs. Goater that the Victim Support Scheme in Skipton had been set up. Initially the idea had been that when schemes were running satisfactorily the Co-coordinator would withdraw, leaving a strong committee to carry on, but this did not always work out in practice. Early in September 1987, with the help and support of Mrs. Sheila Robinson, a Caters' Scheme was formed. The initial meetings were well attended with advice on first aid, lifting etc. This was followed by a group of caters meeting at the home of Mrs. Janet Mitchell This continued for some time, but did not quite meet the needs of the caters themselves. It is hoped that the new South Craven Carers' Relief Scheme now being In 1984 the Social Services instigated a club for the blind and partially sighted, and an organizer was required. Mr. George Smith took this under his wing. The Social Services bus still picks members up for their regular meetings. In 1987 the first of the Play schemes were organized by Mrs. Goater at which 411 children attended. Funds for these have not always been easy to obtain, but have continued more or less continuously to date. The purchase of the inflatable has proved a useful income for the Play scheme funds, as it is loaned out on a regular basis. The Bureau has from the commencement and particularly through its Newsletter tried to help in the placing of volunteers and the supplying of information. Increasingly, however, its expertise has been turned to the development of schemes which are of real need in the community. In September 1992 until Christmas 1992 in St. Peter’s Church Hall, a pilot After School Care Scheme took place to explore the needs for such a scheme. The needs were obviously there, but as this was recognized as only being temporary, parents did not dispense with their current childcare arrangements. A permanent scheme of After School Care is currently being planned for the near future. Other valuable groups have been formed through the work of the Bureau, groups which are now happily working on their own. The Epilepsy Support Group which meets at Airedale General Hospital is now supported by their national Headquarters. The Partially Hearing Group which meets at Skipton came initially under the wing of the Bureau. With the idea of providing information in the community the South Craven Access Guide was published. The acquisition of a computer has made it much easier to produce posters and store information for use by both the Bureau and other organizations. The next step, of which we have already taken the first, is to appoint a Co-coordinator to organize a fully developed scheme for Carers. This is a very exciting stage in the development of South Craven Volunteer Bureau.
Origins of the centre: In 1983 North Yorkshire County Council identified the need for the development of voluntary activity in the area. Money was set aside for the local community. There was already a Good Neighbours scheme operating in the South Craven district, and local people thought that this was sufficient, with the social services filling other needs. There was a feeling that they did not want another ‘bureaucratic’ agency. There were many stormy meetings. North Yorkshire County Council became disenchanted with the whole idea and threatened to withdraw the money it had available. It must be remembered that it had already met with similar failure in Skipton – its first target and ideal choice (being the centre of Craven as a whole). Eventually a steering group was set up. Two years later, a Management Committee was appointed. This included a councilor Mr. George Smith, as Chairman, and three people from the Good Neighbours scheme, namely Barbara Thompson (Secretary), Margaret Crowther (Treasurer) and Eddie Towell (Vice Chairman). And others. There was a general feeling of great reluctance about the project. Premises were sought, but rents were found to be too high. Then the Social Services offered a room underneath their own offices in Cross Hills, in what was then a cellar, and arranged for the to be put in hand to convert this. The post of Voluntary Services Co-coordinator was advertised, with the hours being set at 20 per week. A lady named Pat Bhagat took the job, but experienced a very bad press – Mrs. Bhagat being identified as a ‘supremo’. Mrs. Bhagat felt she had little support from any quarter, and resigned three months later. She had felt lonely in the post – and with no clear identifiable role. She also felt she could not approach local existing volunteer groups, unless she was invited to do so, and was therefore unable to create a satisfying role for herself. North Yorkshire County Council became increasingly disillusioned about the area as a whole – they felt it was a bad area for such a venture, but agreed to one last attempt. An advertisement was inserted in the local paper by the Management Committee, but this was followed by another report of the appointment of a new ‘supremo’ – Mrs. Val Goater, the lady who accepted the challenge. Mrs. Goater took up her post, and half an hour later found she was on her own to make of the job what she could. She felt it was all very negative, and found that virtually nothing had been done. On the first day, the local paper arrived, and a report ensued. The local Blind Club was visited – Councilor G. Smith being himself involved with this. Mrs. Goater found there was drifting, no planning and that everything occurred on an ‘ad hoc’ basis. As a first positive step in her new capacity, Mrs. Goater found someone to do the teas! She worked with Mr. Smith, and they arranged a programme, and worked on this for a year until eventually someone else turned up. Mrs. Goater felt she had a challenge on her hands. She approached local pensioners’ groups and talked to them – generally and more specifically, but managed to get herself known, recognized and appreciated. She identified a need for summer play schemes in the area. However, at first there was no real sense of purpose. A play scheme where the play leaders were paid was, after a great deal of work for Mrs. Goater, very successful, but there was bad press and continuing problems. Present Situation: The summer play schemes – the first successful venture for Mrs. Goater, have been followed by many more successes, not the least the setting up of support groups for the deaf and epilepsy sufferers. These have all been instigated and developed by Mrs. Goater – sometimes unprompted, and sometimes as the result of a chance meeting with someone able to identify their own special needs; more often now because Mrs. Goater is sought out as a willing listener and ‘doer’. The Volunteer Centre today (June 1988) is not representative of its title. The stated aims and objectives of the original Volunteer Centre were as follows: 1. To provide information – for people living or working in the area about opportunities for voluntary work. Today’s centre is much more than a volunteer bureau. It is more a cross between this and a council for Voluntary Services interested primarily in the development and furtherance of voluntary work in the area. There is really nothing similar with which to compare it. The present co-coordinator – the title is inappropriate, since she fills the role more of development officer, is in direct contact with members of the public both face-to-face and by telephone in the whole area – including Skipton, where she puts in 10 hours a week in addition to the 20 hours in Cross Hills – and works very much with them as well as on their behalf. In actual fact, Mrs. Goater exceeds her hours to an unrecognized degree weekly because of her strong and real commitment to the task. Evening meetings are a feature of her week; meetings out of town take up traveling time – but all these sacrifices she deems necessary if the valuable community links and networks she has built up are to be maintained and strengthened. Mrs. Goater also feels a personal responsibility for raising funds and she feels if she is able to raise annually the equivalent of her salary, her role is justified. Of late, there has been great upheaval caused by the proposed intention of the North Yorkshire County Council towards moving the centre of operations into the centre of Craven – to Skipton in fact. The Management Committee is now faced with the difficult decision of whether to defend what they have supported for so long or to encourage progress to be made for the expansion of services in a new area with the risk that they might ultimately lose some of Mrs. Goater’s time and expertise in their own thriving community. Mrs. Goater is at present herself in a very difficult positions – her success in South Craven has widened – as was hoped and anticipated by North Yorkshire County Council – but there is also a danger that she will not be welcomed with open arms into the alien Skipton area, which has in the past misinterpreted the role of the South Craven Volunteer Centre and might see it as a threat to their own operations which exist at present. That there are needs which are unmet in the Skipton area is obvious. South Craven Volunteer Centre often receives cries for help from people living in the Skipton area, and the survey I conducted personally during the months of May and June this year corroborated these needs. There were also views expressed regarding the lack of a centre where advice could be sought in times of need – a need that is often immediate and cannot receive immediate response from the existing agencies. Mrs. Goater very much determines the procedure of the agency herself. She is supported by membership of the North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organizations, and is herself on many committees. North Yorkshire County Council is still funding the project, and there is now a Community Programme worker assisting with clerical duties. The future position of this person is unclear due to government policy changeover to the new Adult Training Programme ‘Employment Training’ (ET) which will replace the Manpower Services Commission’s Community Programme n 5th September 1988. The agency has an unstructured pattern of working, within a necessary framework. It has to be so, for it to fill its own perceived present function – but it works very much to a code of practice. The organization has its own constitution which enables it to have clear and agreed aims. There is no problem with decision making, liability is clarified and accountability ensured. The advantage of being an unregistered organization makes it autonomous, not having to answer to external authority. Eventually charitable status could be sought with the benefits that would provide, although this would restrict the nature of the campaigning work. Any group set up by the South Craven volunteer Centre has its own funds which have come from various sources, usually through fundraising, donations and occasionally through grants. The relationship of the agency and Mrs. Goater more specifically with other agencies are in the main very personal and rewarding, although difficulties have been experienced particularly with the moves under foot with other voluntary organizations which do not appear to have a very clear idea of the role of the Volunteer Centre and what its aims and objectives are. The aim of the volunteer Centre on the whole is that of ‘enabler’ and advice-giver and supporter for any organization which feels the need for such assistance, or to set up or help to set up new organizations where needs are at present unmet. The general public has identified the working methods of the agency, and there is a good feeling locally about its value. The agency is placed fairly and squarely in the voluntary sector, especially the Social Services who continually make referrals for aid, without ever making these into demands. Services are delivered directly to the public, Mrs. Goater takes a great pride in her contact on the basic grass-roots level with local people. Only in this way does she feel able to identify needs and respond accordingly. She does not wish to lose this role. If the agency is not able to offer any services requested of it, Mrs. Goater has personal knowledge, built up from experience, of what advice to offer – where to seek the required help. She has worked on building up a relationship with other local agencies by getting to know them personally. The office premises themselves are an asset. This has been proven by the difficulties experienced in the search for similar premises in the center of Skipton. Debi, the CP worker, and myself spent a whole morning going round the estate agents, and identifying likely properties which had lain empty for years – to no avail to date. Mrs. Goater has made a success of her role, due to her refusal to be discourages, but at times admits this has been a strain, and she has almost given up. She is a good leader, a good organizer, but sympathetic to peoples’ needs. She is down-to-earth and very level-headed, refusing to be swayed or manipulated. The finances of the agency are handled superbly by the Management Committee who administer the funding given from North Yorkshire County Council. If the voluntary sector is to fulfill its potential, voluntary agencies need to pull together more in the future. (Read ‘An Overview’ – attached). Because of government policy there will be an ever-increasing need for community care, and this means a need for a caring community. It was never the intention of the North Yorkshire County Council tat their original plan to cover the whole of Craven should be forgotten in the flush of success for the South Craven, which originally proved to be more forward-looking. It is commendable that the Management Committee is already looking to help the Skipton development - they have already offered to fund the Skipton play schemes project for this summer which they do not have to do, and are extending their expertise gained from experience to the people of Skipton. It is exciting for me to feel I have been involved in this period of change, and I hope to see the advancement of the voluntary work carried on in this area by the move to Skipton becoming a reality. However, the narrow-minded attitude of Skipton itself has been a deciding factor before and feeling may run high this time once again. Perhaps it is because they envisage a bureaucratic North Yorkshire Social Services controlling the purse-strings and the services. Perhaps it is because they feel the existing organizations already offer a sufficiently satisfactory service, or perhaps self-defense is a motive. Whatever the outcome of the public meeting on July 7th, the work already undertaken by the South Craven Volunteer Centre with its hardworking Management Committee and Voluntary Services Co-coordinator stands as a beacon to light the way forward. South Craven Volunteer Centre The South Craven Volunteer Centre has continued to expand during the past twelve months. Assistance with clerical work is now being given by Carmel Reynolds who is employed by Manpower Services Commission and is proving to be a great asset to the centre. The centre is currently extending its opening hours to Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carmel and I welcome visitors for information, requesting assistance or offering help. I have again organized summer play schemes at Sutton, Cowling, Glusburn School and Glusburn Institute for four weeks this year. The play schemes have received a tremendous amount of support from the local community which has assisted in meeting the running costs of £2,400. A total of 411 children attended the various activities and the cost per session was 20p which means that with door takings at £560 a total of 2,800 20 pence’s were received. Both play leaders and helpers enjoyed working with the children as did the many entertainers who took part. Children greatly appreciated the disco, magicians, Punch and Judy shows as well as musical/magic show. An air mattress, purchased with money form the B.B.C. Children in Need Appeal was the most popular entertainment of all. It gave the children a chance to use their energy by jumping on many days when it was impossible to play out of doors. Early in the year I arranged a series of meetings in conjunction with Sheila Robinson, Health Visitor, for people who were interested in helping and supporting Carers. Such topics as Basic First Aid, Dealing with Fits, Lifting, Incontinence Aids, Medication, Feeding and Stimulation were covered; these meetings were extremely well attended. Several local people are currently offering their help to those relatives who are looking after someo0ne in thei9r own home. Having a support service available I then commenced organizing a group for Carers. These began by a small number of people meeting at the home of Janet Mitchell, Sutton, and are currently taking place monthly. The number attending is increasing gradually. A programme of speakers has been arranged and the group meets on the last Thursday of each month. My thanks are extended to Janet for her hospitality. One of the biggest ‘headaches’ experienced during the past year has been the distribution of E.E.C. butter and cheese due to the complicated criteria being laid down for qualification. The Volunteer Centre arranged for one ton of butter and cheese to be given out to local organizations for distribution to their members. A door to door collection on behalf of the Children’s society on the White Bear estate raised £86.26 an increase of £16 on last year. My thanks are extended to the ladies who collected. The establishment of the Skipton and District Victim Support Scheme is now complete. This year the scheme has appointed a coordinator, Clare Dunn, trained twelve volunteers, received local donations as well as a salary grant from the National Association of Victim Support Schemes. Clare works very closely with the Police and volunteers visit victims of crime as soon as possible after an offence has taken place. The scheme is now covering the whole of the Craven area. During the past year I have been asked by Social Services to carry out research into the unmet needs in the Skipton area. An additional ten hours per week have been allocated for this purpose. On the 1st June I started work in Skipton, based in an office in High Street House, Newmarket Street, shared with the co-coordinator of the Victims Support Scheme and Christine Mullane, Voluntary service co-coordinator for Settle who is also working part time in Skipton. The work now being carried out by volunteers from the South Craven Volunteer Centre is varied and includes transporting of patients to the hospital and optician, taking disabled and handicapped people on holiday, transporting a child of deaf parents to nursery, visiting and befriending the elderly as well as helping with shopping, etc. In addition they are caring for handicapped and elderly people. Volunteers are also placed with local organizations such as the blind Club, Luncheon Club and Meals on Wheels. My grateful thanks are extended to all who have offered help and support during the past year. Valerie J. Goater
After the success of last years play schemes at new venues in Sutton and Cowling it was decided to organize a second visit this year as well as the two weeks at Glusburn. Booking of St. Thomas’s Hall, Sutton and St. Andrew’s Church Hall, Cowling was straightforward, but there was a problem with booking Glusburn Baptist Church Hall where the Play scheme had been held for several years. Due to previous bookings, it was not possible to have two weeks together. Therefore I had to find another venue and was pleased that Glusburn School Governors agreed to the school being used. The small children were still able to use the purpose built playroom at Glusburn Institute. An estimate of expenditure was prepared early in the year and applications were sent out. Every organization approached donated money totaling £1,055 towards running costs. In addition to this an application was made to the B.B.C. Children in Need appeal for £700 to purchase an inflatable mattress. This was granted and arrangements were made for ordering and delivery of the inflatable in time for Sutton play scheme which was the first four weeks of activities. The play scheme receives tremendous support from local businesses and shops and items for use at the play scheme were received from: Hayfield Textiles The three play leaders who worked at the play scheme previously were keen to work again as were several of the helper. Some new teenager became involved and made an excellent team: a very happy atmosphere prevailed throughout the four weeks. Sutton play scheme was very popular, and the number of children attending increased daily. The new inflatable did develop a bulge during this week and the hasty plans were made with the manufacturers for the inner tube to be replaced. This arrived by post part way through the second week. I was asked to return the original inner tube for examination and presently await their report. Glusburn School proved to be a good base and allowed one classroom to be used for craft activities and the school hall in the old building as a noisy room where the record player and inflatable were in regular use. Several attractions took place including Professor Buster Balloon who made balloon animals, and Allen Jack came and sang songs and entertained with magic. Pc. Sharpe from Keighley police gave two Punch and Judy shows with a final theme of "don’t go with strangers". Pc. Neil Kershaw, Crime Prevention Officer came one afternoon to put post codes on bicycles. I personally was not able to spend as much time at the play scheme as in previous years due to other commitments, but I called each morning and evening and spent at least half a day per week baking or making sweets with the children. There was much appreciation expressed by local parents and children of the facilities provided to give enjoyment to the community. My personal thanks are given to everyone who helped in any way towards the success of the scheme. Valerie J. Goater Lasting Impressions After eleven weeks working in the South Craven Volunteer Centre, and bearing in mind my first recorded impressions, it is appropriate to reflect. I have continued to be inspired by Val’s dedication to duty. She has at times been disillusioned, disappointed and unrewarded for her efforts, which have always been the same – considerable. I have come to realize and appreciate the affect of the involvement – or lack of involvement – of other people. At times there has been criticism which is hurtful, but I have come to recognize this as constructive if taken as part of the whole. There have been only one or two negative incidents in the time I have spent here. Val’s style of working is infectious. She is a warm and caring person who does not like to be idle. If there is no obvious role for the moment, she will find one, and now that the work of the agency is so well-established and recognized, work comes in to find Val. It must have been difficult for her at first identifying her own role, though. I hope that the success of the South Craven Volunteer Centre will prove to people in the Skipton area the value of working together in a common cause. If voluntary organizations are to achieve success in the future years, as they are needed more and more, they must work together and not as solitary units. South Craven must be proud of itself and its achievements, and go forward in confidence. They will not lose the services of Val and the agency. By expanding, they too will gain. I have experienced with Val – and Debbie too – the negative feelings which come with disappointment. However, the overall feeling as I leave this placement is one of hope and faith in people and the future. I hope I can continue to be involved – perhaps in Skipton in the future. The voluntary services have so much to offer. With a caring support worker like Val they cannot fail, as long as adequate support continues to be given. Boundaries exist but they are open to expansion, as one area merges with another. They will still maintain they own individuality, of course, and rightly so, but by sharing the caring, the knowledge gained and the experience recognized, the whole will benefit – the whole area, the whole community, the whole country ultimately. Daphne Ripley. |