Take our Great Wold Valley Survey here
Join the Facebook group for our Great Wold Valley project
As the independent champion for people using health and social care services in North Yorkshire, we know all too well the challenges facing the largest county in England.
With just over 600,000 people scattered across a huge area, only eight of our towns have a population of more than 10,000. In much of the county there are just 76 people per square mile compared with the English average of 430. This means most of our residents live in smaller communities – making access to services, isolation and transport key issues for us.
Healthwatch North Yorkshire is the independent champion for people using health and social care services. As an independent charity commissioned by North Yorkshire County Council to deliver statutory duties, our sole purpose is to make care better. We talk to people about their experiences and signpost them to local services and sources of help and information such as luncheon clubs, advocacy services and support groups.
Our focus in 2020 is very much on rural issues, including transport, isolation and access to services. We’re working with communities across the county to find out what the issues are, what support is available and how people can be better connected with help in their area.
We have relationships with local care commissioners and providers, and we have the power to make sure that people’s voices are heard by the Government and those who run services. But we need to hear as many voices as possible.
Early in 2020 we are focusing our research and outreach activity in a pilot project in the Great Wold Valley area. We want to know how people find out what’s going on in their area, and what support is available to them. Do people know what’s happening in neighbouring villages, what groups and support is available nearby, how to access district and county-wide services like Warm & Well (who help with fuel poverty)? Are people up to date with changes to NHS and social care services such as the Scarborough Acute Services Review, and do they know how they can have their say?
We want to know what’s working well and what needs to be improved to ensure people are getting the right information at the right time.
From January to March, we will be out and about, talking to people in community groups, village halls, places of worship, cafes and elsewhere about what information they need and how we and other organisations can ensure it reaches them.
You can find a previous report we produced on rural access to services here.
Outreach dates
We will be talking to people in the Great Wold Valley at these places and times:
- Monday 20 January North Yorkshire Supermobile Library, Weaverthorpe 10.30am-12.30pm
- Monday 27 January Rarey Halt Tearoom, Weaverthorpe 10am-noon
- Friday 31 January Pop-up Cinema at Weaverthorpe Village Hall. The film is Green Book. 7pm (Film starts at 7.30pm)
- Monday 3 February Weaverthorpe Weebles 9.30am-11am Weaverthorpe School
- Friday 7 February Kirby Grindalythe Luncheon Club noon-2pm
- Saturday 8 February Foxholes Library and Coffee Morning 10am-noon Foxholes Community Hall
- Monday 10 February Rarey Halt Tearoom, Weaverthorpe 10.30am-12.30pm
- Friday 21 February Weaverthorpe Brunch Club 10am onwards (last orders 11.30am)
- Sunday 1 March Church service at St Andrew’s Church, Kirby Grindalythe 10.30am
- Sunday 1 March Three Tuns Inn, West Lutton From 1pm
Alex Day 