The following extract, dated May 23^rd 1939, is taken from the Minute Book of the Committee appointed in March 1938 to consider the establishment of a Council of Social Services [later named Community Council].

“Two thirds of those present had expressed the opinion that further progress would be difficult until the Council actually was in being …  Further, it was calculated that the present financial position would be sufficient to insure a period of at least six months.  Finally it was unanimously resolved that an effort should be made to establish the Council in the beginning of September …”

What follows is an attempt to describe some of the significant 

events in the life of that Council over the past 60 years and more.

Items have been culled by Dennis Kidd a former CVS trustee, and Janet

Walker a former member of staff, from Minute Books, Annual Reports and 

newspaper articles, which collectively make up the CVS Archives. Later items 

have been added by Karen Westropp and Kenny Lieske. We have attempted to highlight the successes  and challenges which have all been such an exciting part of the ‘Council’s’ history.  It is an impressive record, and  provides an opportunity to acknowledge with gratitude the thousands of people who, throughout the years, have given of their commitment, energy and money to support the organisation and its aims. 

Themes in the first half of the decade were dictated by the War.  For example the Community Council assisted in the administration of the Blood Transfusion service and the Red Cross who then, as now, were engaged in helping people to locate lost family members.  (1,560 messages were handled during a twelve month period in 1943-4).  Various initiatives were also set in place.

1940-1            Following “a survey of Youth Service in the city…” York Council of Youth Organisations was developed.

The Community Council began what has been a continuous and rewarding relationship with social work training when the first social science students came from Leeds University for their practical work. 

1941-2  An Old People’s Welfare Committee was inaugurated - which many years later was to become independent as Age Concern York.

A Citizens’ Advice Bureau opened.

Affiliated organisations included an Unemployment Service Committee and York Refugee Committee.

1943-4     District Committees were formed. 

The CAB received 3,800 enquiries in a 9 month period.

1944-5  The need for larger premises arose for the first time! Records show the Community Council “seeking premises that might also enable them to offer accommodation to other voluntary organisations in the City…”

1945-6  …and “removed from its cramped quarters in Minster Yard to 64 Walmgate…” the rent for which was the princely sum of £26 per year “paid quarterly in advance…”          The building was named ‘Community House’, the first to bear the name.

York Marriage Guidance Centre was inaugurated.

1946-7  A bitter winter with heavy snow and intense frost, followed by severe flooding.  York Community Council noted,  “The exceptionally bad winter held up activities for old people who simply could not venture out of their houses even for the clubs they really enjoy…”

1947-8  This year saw changes in the management of York Community

Council.  The Annual Report notes that “owing to increasing pressure of work, Judge Gamon was compelled to resign Chairmanship and, for similar reasons, Mr. Creer had to resign from the position of Hon. Treasurer…”  Judge Gamon did not sever his links with the organisation, however, becoming their President.  The new Chairman was F.Seebohm, Vice-Chairman L.E.Waddilove, and Honorary Treasurer W.R.Willis. 

York Community Council and the Women’s Voluntary Service launched a ‘Meals on Wheels’ Scheme, the meals being provided by the Civic Restaurant at 1/- per head.

1949-50

At the close of its tenth year the Community Council gave its attention once more to constitutional matters.  “Steps were taken to incorporate YCC in order that it may act as Trustee for Charitable Funds”  and the Annual Report noted that the “Constitution was changed to include representatives of other Voluntary Organisations who may wish to become affiliated to the Community Council and thereby co-ordinate further these activities.

1950s

This decade saw the development of some well-known York organisations by York

Community Council, in some cases fairly speedily followed by their move to independence.

1951-2  Of rather more significance to the CVS today is the record in the Annual Report of the failure of the Community Council to secure a renewal of the lease to their premises in Walmgate.  They therefore acquired the freehold of “property in Priory Street.”

A  Family Service Unit was established early in the fifties, and the

Annual Report for 1951-2 records that “The York Adoption Society and The Family Service Unit, ventures launched by YCC, become self-supporting…”

[In 1953 the Family Service Unit purchased premises at 82 Bootham, now owned by the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service].

Health issues came to the fore in the mid-fifties.  A York and District Association for Mental Health, and a York Association for the Care of Specially Handicapped Persons were formed under the Community Council umbrella.  The organisation also offered “its service to the York Tuberculosis Committee…”

1958-9  The Marriage Guidance Council constituted itself as an independent  body.

1959-60  At the close of the decade comes the first mention of a close association with the Yorkshire Evening Press, with the development of the Toys for Christmas Appeal.

Finance for the Community Council must have been worrying, with the purchase of new premises, but the Hon. Treasurer doubtless heaved a huge sigh of relief when, he reported that “for the first time since incorporation income for 1958-59 exceeded expenditure” [by £11.00!!]  And in the Annual Report of the following year it was noted that “the outstanding debt on 10, Priory Street was discharged…”

A decade which saw further development and consolidation of the work in its new premises.  At the very beginning of the 60s the Community Council was fortunate to receive a legacy of £400 which was used to “fund modernisation and redecoration of 10 Priory Street…”

The Community Council had been providing a regular bus service to Brandesburton and Adela Shaw Hospitals [Kirkbymoorside] to enable relatives to visit.  However in 1961, due to lack of use, the Kirkbymoorside service “has had to be discontinued”.

Other activities included the sponsorship by the Old People’s Welfare Committee of an Abbeyfield Society in 1962.  The first house was at 34 Acomb Road, and the Society moved to independence the following year.  By 1968 it had acquired two more properties.

1964     York Community Council celebrated its Silver Jubilee!

In the same year Jennifer Kaner began a substantial research project on the recruitment, training and use of volunteers.

1965     The Community Council was still thinking about young people,

although on this occasion as volunteers, and were on the lookout for a “part-time organiser for voluntary work by young people still in school and youth clubs…”  Clearly this was also a volunteer post…”We think this work should appeal to some business or professional man or woman who has retired and is keen to use their talents in service to the community.”

Volunteering was high on the agenda, perhaps influenced by finance.  A rather doleful comment from the Hon. Treasurer lamented “the fact that a year markedly free from Capital and Special expenditure has resulted in deficit of £10”  and in the same year the first Community Service Volunteer arrived at Priory Street.

1967     The first attempt to develop St. Sampson’s church clearly fell on stony ground as the

Community Council noted that it “suffered grievous disappointment when, together with the Old People’s Welfare Committee, the offer of St. Sampson’s church for an old people’s day centre could not be accepted on cost grounds.”

1968     A grant of £1,350 from the Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust was

“used to re-equip and renovate offices at 10 Priory Street…” 

1969     In the Annual Report the Chair recalled “how many voluntary organisations in the City were conceived and launched under York Community Council sponsorship”.  Indeed, right at the end of the decade came the setting up of the Detached Youth Work project as a sub-committee of the Council.

The Chairman of Youth Action commented that “the most significant thing about the last year in Youth Action  has been its continued existence…”  Concern was felt that the co-ordination role was taken by Community Service Volunteers for a 6 monthly period and, whilst commending the quality of the work, he pointed out “that for an organisation trying to give the impression of permanence and stability this is not the ideal system.”

Over 25 years few changes had been made to the Structure of the Council, and it was

1970s

This was a decade of huge developments, although not all voluntary organisations were satisfied with their achievements.  In the Annual Report for 1970 Youth Action York recorded:

            “Stabilisation - unachived Work - disorganised Numbers involved - unexpanded” going on to explain that “the problem lies in the structure of the group… we need a ‘permanent’ organiser…”

Other work with young people was being noted.  1970 saw the first mention of a “6 weeks Adventure Playground in the Bell Farm area…”

1971     A new ‘Structure and functions’ for the Community Council are proclaimed in the 32^nd Annual Report.

            A new structure has been formulated for York Community Council, which will now consist of a Council composed of affiliated voluntary organisations and interested individuals, an executive committee elected from members of the Council and sub-committees formed as necessary from members of the Council with relevant knowledge and interest and co-opted experts.

            Voluntary organisations concerned with social welfare in York and district have been invited to affiliate to York Community Council and so becoming eligible to nominate a representative to the Council.  Affiliated organisations will thus, through their representative, be directly involved in deciding the policy of the Community Council and will also benefit from the services it provides.

            The policies and decisions of the Council and executive committee will be implemented by a full-time staff headed by a Director with overall responsibility for day-to-day work.  A number of functions are anticipated for the restructured Community Council such as the development of new organisations, information, public relations, training, secretarial services and accommodation.

            The stimulation and formation of new organisations to fill gaps in the existing network of services may arise from requests by members of the community or from the Community Council’s own initiative.  The Council should be able to involve a wide range of people in such organisations and provide initial supportive services such as office accommodation, rooms for meetings and secretarial services.

            The Council will act as a centre of information for all social work, community work and allied initiatives in the city.  It is intended to extend the work of the CAB, and produce regularly a directory of voluntary social services in York and district, a newsletter and diary of events.  Research could be carried out on behalf of affiliated organisations, with larger projects in conjunction with students and staff of the University.  Leaflets and papers on matters of special interest, abstracts from government reports and practical handbooks will be published and circulated.

            In the field of public relations, the Community Council could represent the interests of voluntary organisations to the statutory authorities, the press and the general public and act as spokesman for voluntary organisations on general issues when this would be appropriate.  It could also assist affiliated organisations in the preparation of publicity materials.

            As a training body YCC will organise courses, conferences and meetings for volunteers, professional social workers or special interest groups in conjunction with such bodies as the University, the Educational Settlement, and the L.E.A., and also act as a placement agency for students.

            Secretarial services in the form of typing, duplicating or telephone answering services, or in the fuller sense of preparation of agendas, taking of minutes and implementation of committee decisions, could be undertaken for affiliated organisations at economic rates.  These are currently provided for the Abbeyfield Society, the British Polio Fellowship and several other bodies.

            The premises, which have recently been decorated, furnished and equipped, will be available for regular or occasional meetings or for use as a permanent or temporary office accommodation and at agreed rents.  York Marriage Guidance Council, Old People’s Welfare, Forces’ Help Society, Catholic Housing Aid Society and Youth Action are all already on this basis.

            The first Directory of Voluntary Organisations - the forerunner of the

regular ‘Citizens’ Guide’ - was published.  After thirty years as a Sub-committee of the Community Council, the Old People’s Welfare Committee became an independent organisation, although retaining its offices in 10 Priory Street.  In the same year a Detached Youth Worker was appointed.

1971-2     The Annual Report describes the new arrangements, the outcome of the review of the

Work of the Community Council begun in 1969, as follows:

“Last year’s Annual Report described the anticipated structure and future work of the Community Council; in this year’s report we have the opportunity to present the first results of the planning which took place.

The new structure is now in being.  Local voluntary organisations have been invited to affiliate, to help formulate policy and  to make use of the services and facilities offered.  The old Board has become the Executive Committee, elected by the full Community Council at the Annual Meeting.  The Citizens Advice Bureau moved into its own part of the premises on 2^nd August, 1971.  On the same date  Mike Clemson took up his duties as Executive Director [its first full-time employee] of the Community Council, releasing Helen Baillie to concentrate on the C.A.B.  The 1971 Annual General Meeting was commenced and adjourned on 1^st July, and completed on 21^st September, when the new structure was officially approved.”

Despite all this upheaval, the work of the organisation continued.  A Gypsy Education project was established, and the numbers of homeless people gave rise to concern, resulting in the opening of the first night shelter at Kent Street.  With the arrival in York of a number of Ugandan Asian refugees, staff were employed to offer necessary support and help with resettlement.  The beginnings of what became the Furniture Store were negotiated with a local dealer.

Community Shops were set up to give advice and information to local people.  With the help of students on placement from the Community Work course at York University, the first one was established in South Bank.  A second one followed in Leeman Road.  

Work began with lone parents, and a Toy Library was established.  The annual appeal by the Evening Press for toys was changed and for the first time vouchers were given. 

1972-3            Negotiations were put in place for the purchase of the next door property at number 8 Priory Street for £6,500, although subsequent alterations cost the Community Council 12,876, and Community House expanded to become the building we know today. Ad hoc student placements were formalised by the development, in conjunction with York University, of a Student Placement Centre.

Local government re-organisation left the Community Council trying to make sense of what it all meant, not just for itself, but for voluntary organisations in York.  Not all was straightforward either with the alterations to Community House.  Apart from the time taken up, “the necessity to prune the scope of work drastically for financial reasons, the general shortage of materials and the impact of the three-day week all added to the problems and delayed the completion of the work.”

1973-4  Work with homeless men at the Kent shelter continued, catering for

about 20 people each night, supported by many volunteers.  All was not straightforward however.  After complaints by local residents, the Corporation called a public meeting and the Planning Committee subsequently recommended that an extension of planning permission should be refused.  This provoked wide-scale reaction, “culminating in a petition being presented to the City Council, signed by over 2,000 people, asking that the Shelter be kept open until alternative provision could be made.”  This was agreed, and money was made available to provide alternative premises at Brunswick Terrace, including the provision of a full time warden.

Sadly, the South Bank Community Shop lost its premises, and was unsuccessful in finding an alternative.  However the Leeman Road shop continued, although the Annual Report noted that “both shops would have benefited by more support than the Community Council has been able to give with its present resources…  Experience… shows the need for a full-timer who can co-ordinate activities and who is not linked with sectional interests in the community…”

Re-settlement of the Ugandan Asians was completed in September 1973.

Following the interest in the Kaner Report on volunteering in the City, the Community Council employed a worker for three months to investigate the need for a Volunteers Centre, “to act as a contact point between potential volunteers and organisations requiring them…”  Optimistically the Council goes on to say that “there is every possibility that the Centre will open soon after April 1974”

1974-5     The Citizen’s Advice Bureau finally became independent of the Community Council after more than thirty years under its umbrella.  

The Volunteers Centre, with an Organiser paid for 12 hours per week, recorded the recruitment and placement of nearly 350 volunteers in its first year of operation.

Leeman Road Community Shop closed due to lack of volunteers and money.

Attempts were still being made to raise money for a Detached Youth Worker.

Student placements continued, and attempts were being made to “obtain a grant from the Department of Health and Social Security to set up a student unit…”

Work with gypsies continued with the running of a successful educational project in the summer for gypsy children.  The Annual Report noted that “it seems a strange situation that, several years after the government has passed an Act requiring local authorities to provide sites, there is still not one official site in North Yorkshire, while individual gypsies, who thus have nowhere to live, are fined for illegal parking…í

On matters of finance, the Treasurer noted that “there were significant increases… in expenditure.”  One reason was the bringing of staff salaries “into alignment with local authority scales.”

1975-6  The beginning of the Annual Report for this year included an extract from the report of a student on placement, describing a Community Council.  Included was this commendation, “York seems to be a fairly good example of a successful Community Council, both in terms of the services it provides for voluntary bodies, the initiatives which it has taken to formulate new groups to meet previously unrequited social needs, with the groups then carrying on towards independence, plus foremost in terms of its emphasis on ongoing communication…”

This year saw the start of two pieces of work which subsequently developed into established organisations.  The ‘North Yorkshire Resource Unit’ with funding from Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust, eventually became the North Yorkshire Forum for Voluntary Organisations and, thanks to dedicated work by a committed volunteer concerned with the rights and needs of people with handicaps, a Standing Committee was formed, becoming what is now the Disability Rights and Resource Centre. 

Lord Wolfenden, the Chair of a Government Working Party on the Future of the Voluntary Sector, spoke at the Annual General Meeting

The Community Council’s major fundraising venture was to open a 50/50 charity shop, initially housed in premises on Ouse Bridge.  During its first year of trading ‘Clothespeg’ raised £1,586

1976-7  The annual report noted that “it will be obvious that one of the main problems this year has been the increasing number of unemployed…”  and the Community Council therefore took the decision to become involved in the first of many Government Schemes to support unemployed people.   During the year 119 people were employed at a cost of over £75,000.  Comment was made of the renovation of the Grange Social Services Day Centre for handicapped people undertaken by workers on the Job Creation scheme, remarking “what better illustration of co-operation and partnership can one have than a voluntary organisation using government funds to renovate a local authority day centre?”

The Community Council was finally successful in its attempts to gain funding from the Department of Health and Social Security for a Student Unit.  Early student work included a study of the needs of young disabled people and “in the development of the new housing estate at Foxwood Lane.”  The value of student work was early recognised.  The Annual Report noted that “as the Unit becomes established and builds up the number of placements, so its influence on the developmental role of the Community Council will become even more significant.”

The Standing Committee for the Handicapped, renamed itself the Fuller Life Action Group, involving itself in its first year with establishing a Talking Newspaper for the blind, and a Disablement Income Group, organising a Conference on Stress on Families with Handicapped Children, and acting as consultant to the renovation of the Grange.  Continuing the theme of disability, the speaker at the A.G.M. was Alf Morris MP.

The Group Work Project with One Parent Families “coped with a 100% increase in referrals, over 200 one parent families having sought advice, practical help or the opportunity to join one of the several groups established or supported by the project…”

Following the preparation of a Local Plan for Bishophill, the Community Council convened an initial meeting “to examine possible uses for the buildings and to produce viable proposals…”  Discussions were set in train with the Methodist Church about the future use of the former Priory Street school.

For the first time the Community Council was involved in the election of voluntary representatives to the Community Health Council, a role it still continues.

At a time of high inflation, finance was giving much cause for concern.  The Treasurer reported a deficit of £3,047, and emphasised that “the Community Council cannot support further deficits.  The aim, on the contrary, must be to repay … over the next two or three years…”

1977-8            Celebrations were in order - to mark “the Silver Jubilee of the Community Council’s move to Community House, the Lord Mayor hosted a Civic Reception….on 17th November 1978.  Lord Seebohm, who originally acquired 10 Priory Street for the Community Council was present, as was Mrs. E.M.Gamon, widow of one of the founder members of the board.”

The Chairman, Donald Frith, writing in the Annual Report, expressed the pleasure of the Community Council at reading in the Wolfenden Report “many of the ideas which we ourselves had supported…” and noted that Lord Seebohm had quoted York Community Council “as an example of good practice.”

Of significance to today’s organisation, it was noted in the Annual Report that the Community Council “has now signed a three year license with the Wesley Methodist Church to develop the old school buildings in Priory Street into a sports and community centre…”

Government changes to the Job Creation Scheme, to be succeeded by a Youth Opportunities Programme and a Special Temporary Employment Programme for adults caused the Community Council to spend considerable time in discussing what its role should be.  The Annual Residential Conference at Bridlington was also devoted to the subject.

A three-month period saw Community House scaffolded, re-painted, and roof repairs undertaken.  Optimistically, the Annual Report suggested “the possibility of a civic trust award for the building…”

The Student Unit provided the impetus for work on estates in York, and for research into young people’s experience of living in Selby, and those of families with handicapped children in York.  This last led to the development of a project in which volunteers were matched with families - known as Parents and Children Together.  As part of the services offered by the Children’s Society, PACT is still providing a quality service in 1999.

Group Work with One Parent Families continued to expand from four to nine groups around the city.  The project is also “able to send voluntary visitors to anyone who prefers to be seen at home…”

The Community Council Working Party on Race Relations was successful in obtaining a grant from the Commission for Racial Equality to employ a part-time Organiser.  The post is principally to develop the Home Language Tuition Scheme, although also to promote general educational work.

Work in North Yorkshire continued, with support to local development agencies in Thirsk and Sowerby, Ryedale, and Selby.  The first county conference for voluntary organisations, held in Northallerton, attracted 60 participants, and another first was the issue of a County newsletter-cum-directory.

Finances were turned round after the deficit of the previous year.  A number of contributory factors included, the first of a series of successful, but immensely time and energy consuming, Summer Spectaculars was held at the University and the profits from the first year of trading of the Clothespeg shop.  Ever vigilant however, the Treasurer commented, “The accounts for the year give an invaluable breathing space after the bad result of the previous year.  There is however, need for great caution…”

1978-9  Another reason for celebration, as the Community Council reached its 40th anniversary year. The Chairman used the opportunity to reflect in the Annual Report on its role, noting that it had been involved in the establishment of no less that 35 organisations in that time.  He went on, ”Among the best-known perhaps, are the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, the Blood Transfusion Service, Marriage Guidance Council, the Abbeyfield Society, Youth Action, the Shelter for Homeless Men and Age Concern…” 

The Priory Street Sports and Community Centre was officially opened on March 21st by HRH Princess Margaret.  The buildings had been renovated by 35 people from the unemployment register under the aegis of the Job Creation Scheme.  In a letter following her visit Princess Margaret commented “the whole project is a most inspired concept, the likes of which I have not seen before.”

A part-time worker was appointed to the Community Relations Project, and work developed included a Youth Group, an Indian Dance group, the provision of an information resource and assisting schools colleges and other groups in discussions on Race Relations issues.

A suggestion from Alex Lyon M.P. was followed up by the inauguration of a working group to “investigate the need for and feasibility of a neighbourhood Law Centre for York…”  The annual report noted that “various possibilities are still being explored.”

As a result of the Fuller Life Action Group Job Creation scheme, and continued work by a volunteer, “two organisations have been initiated and are well established and flourishing - The Friends of the Grange Film Society and York Sports Association for the Disabled.”  As a result of student placements a branch of the Parkinson’s Disease Society was established in York, and a major conference on schizophrenia was organised.

Finance was a worry yet again, with the balance sheet showing a deficit of £963.  To address this the Treasurer noted “a reduction in staffing hours, and a revision of rents and other charges in Community House…” whilst encouraging “all efforts … be put towards the raising of funds, a more attractive solution, but one which is increasingly more difficult to achieve.”

1979-80

Raymond Fox took the helm as Chairman of York Community Council, and began his first report by paying tribute to his predecessor Donald Frith.

A cautionary note is raised at the start of the Annual Report “work in 1979-80 has been inhibited by two constraints - increasing financial pressures caused almost entirely by inflation and an unprecedented turnover of Administrative staff”   More optimistically however, it goes on to say “progress has been made in a number of areas…”

1979 was The International Year of the Child, and one of the ‘areas of progress’ was work towards the establishment of a Children’s House - a non-residential play centre for children aged 5-11 years.  Much of the planning was done, but “problems of finding premises means that the house will not be opened until later in 1980.”

Following student development work the North Yorkshire Council on Alcoholism and a York Stroke Club, were established.  Comment was made on the desire of the Student Unit to become more involved in work with local community groups, noting that “more recently the unfortunate saga of the Foxwood Community Centre has been one of our concerns…”

The Fuller Life Action Group was involved in the publication of a York Access Guide for Disabled People, produced in conjunction with pupils of Fulford comprehensive School.

Reporting on the success of the Priory Street Sports and Community Centre, attention was also drawn to “ the difficulty of future planning when the lease of the building is on a short term basis, and the future of the site is unknown…” 

The Volunteer Centre reported on its involvement with two significant developments - in seeking volunteer drivers for the York Disabled Transport Service, and the Royal Jubilee Trust Pilot Project where the aim is to recruit young volunteers from industry. 

The Volunteer Centre plans to compile a new directory of voluntary organisations later in 1980.

“Two hundred young people have passed through the [Youth Opportunities] programme during the year… 78 have moved directly to full time employment…”

1980s

1980-1  The Chairman’s report notes “great progress in our relations with the County Council and with the City Council…” and some “meditating upon our methods of managing our affairs and internal organisation…”

The Community Council expressed itself “especially indebted to Paul Glicker, Assistant to the Chief Executive of York City Council, and David Lamburn, Advisory and Development Office for Voluntary Services, North Yorkshire Social Services Department, whose friendly co-operation and awareness of the potential of the voluntary sector makes the possibility for future development very exciting …”

The new decade saw finances again well up the agenda, and a special Appeal for £50,000 was launched in 1980 to try to ensure the effective staffing of the Community Council.   The General Secretary commented “there were significant signs… that the appeal was taking off with a growing realisation of the vital nature of the … work.”

This year say the opening of a ‘Clothespeg Premises Development fund’ against the time when new premises are found.

The Community Council expressed itself “especially indebted to Paul Glicker, Assistant to the Chief Executive of York City Council, and David Lamburn, Advisory and Development Office for Voluntary Services, North Yorkshire Social Services Department, whose friendly co-operation and awareness of the potential of the voluntary sector makes the possibility for future development very exciting…”

Demand for office accommodation resulted in arrangement for the use of No. 6 Priory Street, which became the base for the Community Youth Programme.

The projected opening date of the Community Council’s planned Children’s House moved to Autumn 1981, though the building in Lowther Street is undergoing renovation by the Community Youth Programme.

A ‘Directory of Counselling Services’ was produced by the Community Council Working Party on Counselling, who also ran a Workshop.

The Fuller Life Action Group celebrated the success of strategies to raise funds to employ a full-time worker for the Parents and Children Together [PACT] project.  They were also looking forward to 1981, the International Year of Disabled People, and hoping to achieve a long cherished ambition “to raise funds and acquire a building for a Family Support Unit in York which will provide short term care for handicapped children…”

The North Yorkshire Resource Unit continued its development role, including discussions with the local authority and the Rural Community Council about the possibility of opening a Charities Information Bureau in the county, “to link sources of charitable funds with organisations in need…”  The Resource Unit was still servicing the North Yorkshire Council on Alcoholism “in the absence of funds to employ a director…”    This lack of funding was considered “particularly regrettable…”  given the increased incidence of alcoholism.

Projects undertaken by students included the research into short term care for the elderly with Age Concern, and the needs of traveller families with the Community Relations Council.  The Student Unit tutor also recorded the range of supportive work, hoping that “people suffering from Strokes, Agoraphobia, Parkinson’s Disease, Alcoholism, and those attempting to set up adventure playgrounds, playschemes for handicapped children and community centres have gained from the involvement of our students.”

1981-2  A year in which saw the Community Council take legal responsibility for ”the spending of over £½ million on schemes and activities benefiting local people”  a large proportion of which was money from central Government for unemployment schemes.

Following serious flooding in January 1982 the Community Council was asked by the Lord Mayor to administer his Flood Relief Fund.  A team of voluntary staff was recruited, and over 235 applications for support were dealt with

Relationships with the City Council continued to develop.  The General Secretary noted that “one of the practical consequences of this relationship may have been the increase in Grant Aid to Voluntary Organisations, but of equal importance has been the mutual commitment to work together…”

Following the 1981 residential conference on Housing Needs, the Community Council established a Housing Needs Forum as a focal point for people from voluntary and statutory agencies concerned with housing issues.

A Community Enterprise Programme, funded by the Manpower Services commission, was established, providing work for 12 unemployed adults.  Amongst other work, this project took over the Community Council’s Furniture Store, moving from its long-established base in the old Technical College in Clifford Street.

Separate from the long-standing Community Minibus scheme run by the Community Council, a new Community Transport Scheme began in October 1981, operating as a car-sharing scheme with volunteers using their own cars.  The scheme was “designed to transport the elderly, handicapped and other people with special needs that makes public transport unsuitable, and for whom statutory transport facilities are not available.”

The Community Council were early in the field of preparation for the arrival of BBC local radio in 1983, and convened a series of meetings of representatives of voluntary organisations to consider the implications and commence planning.

No further progress was made “in discussions with the Church over the future of the [Priory Street] Centre.”

Two part-time organisers were appointed in advance of the opening of the Children’s House and, as well as operating three evenings a week in temporary premises occupied themselves in raising money and equipment for the newly refurbished building.  Between 25-30 children attend each evening, some collected directly from school.

The Volunteer Centre report noted that, despite the increase in numbers of people attending,  “possibly the greatest difficulty… is one of financial viability.   It would therefore appear essential to secure stable, regular funding in order that this Centre can continue.”

The 1981 Report of the Barclay Committee into Social Work made strong recommendations for a greater ‘community orientation’ within social work practice.  The Community Council’s Student Unit continued to offer such opportunities during the year, taking 12 students on placement.   Students for example, were involved in research and action to develop services for the visually handicapped, which resulted in the opening of a new Information and Advice Centre at 82 Bootham.  Another piece of work sponsored by the Community Relations Council and involving students was an investigation into the health needs of gypsy families in the York area, which again raised questions about provision of permanent caravan sites.

1982-3  The Community Council continued to juggle with the changing face of Government Schemes for unemployed people.  The Annual Report noted that the Community Youth Programme “is now making a successful transition into the New Training Initiative…” and the Community Enterprise Programme “closed in February 1983 as a result of its replacement by Government of a new scheme called the Community Programme.”    As the Manager recorded, “the Executive Committee felt that in the interests of local unemployed people it should attempt to run a successful programme, and therefore submitted an application…which will eventually employ 118 people and have a budget approaching £400,000 per annum.”  The application was successful, and the scheme began in February 1983 based at St. Stephen’s Road in Acomb.

The report of the Volunteer Centre demonstrated concerns about “the specific needs of unemployed volunteers…” and hoped for an extra worker through the Community Programme to improve work in the fields of training and publicity.

An organisation which had been a household name in York disappeared from the scene as Youth Action its doors closed after some 12 years of community activity.

 Temporary office accommodation was made available to the newly appointed BBC Radio York staff, and the Community Council obtained funds “to employ a part-time consultant who organised a day conference for voluntary organisations to discuss the implications of Radio York …”

The Priory Street Sports and Community Centre continued to be successful, stimulating the City Council to accept the need for further Centres around the City and leading to the appointment of a Director of Leisure Services.  In this respect, the Annual Report notes that the City Council wished ‘to acquire the ownership of the Priory Street Centre site…”  The Manager reported  “record individual members joining…” continuing that “the immediate future of the Centre has been secured with the purchase of the site by York City Council and the guarantee of a long term lease at a pepper corn rent.  The management structure…” however, remained the same.

The Fuller Life Action Group was asked to co-ordinate a pilot scheme looking into the possibility of “setting up a sheltered workshop environment for a small number of mentally handicapped people… using five greenhouses at West Bank Park Acomb…”

The North Yorkshire Resource Unit, in being since 1973, reached “a watershed in the formal acceptance by the County Council of the need to develop a partnership with the voluntary sector and its subsequent allocation of an additional £3