Strengthening Support: Seasonal Health Conference in North Yorkshire

For the last five years, North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre (NYCALC) have run the Seasonal Health Conference in partnership with their local council, with the latest event taking place on 4th October 2024.

The conference brought together staff and volunteers from health services, local authorities, food banks, advice organisations, other charities, and funders to work together more effectively this winter and beyond, aiming to support their most disadvantaged communities. It was a vital opportunity for planning partnership working, learning about opportunities for further training and support, and assessing what is working in the area and what still needs to be done.

One of the focus points of last year’s conference was the work being done by NYCALC and partner agencies through the POMOC project, reaching different Eastern European communities in Scarborough and Ryedale. This project provided information and advice in different languages, set up social groups, and collaborated with charities and statutory services to make them more accessible to people with various cultural differences.

The involvement of individuals from those communities led to closer collaboration between the energy teams and the POMOC project, resulting in specific energy sessions and outreach for the Eastern and Central European communities. This led to a significant increase in energy engagement and fuel voucher receipts for clients from these communities. It also resulted in the employment of more staff and volunteers from these communities.

The National Lottery was present at the conference, and is now working with the local authority to try and extend the project across North Yorkshire.

At present, in the area of Colburn, NYCALC are seeing a lot of suicides involving serving veterans and soldiers, many of whom are struggling with debt, amongst other issues. They are working with a partnership of charities and agencies, including Mind, community organisations, veterans’ hubs, and Network Rail, to provide a two-tier service when someone is identified as being at risk by an agency or service in this area.

They’re providing immediate hardship relief, followed by long-term debt and benefits support.

Carol Shreeve, CEO of North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre, said:

“It isn’t easy making the different branches work together, but we have seen how the benefits for individuals and communities are more than worth it.

“The amazing thing about this year’s seasonal health conference was that, even though we were meeting under the shadow of challenging circumstances and financial pressures on our communities and organisations, there was a real sense of hope for the future and of finding new ways to partner together to reach those most in need.”

“For the future, the security of funding, partnership working, and allowing vulnerable communities to lead will be key. With these principles in mind, we can bravely face the winter together.

“We are grateful for the support from funders like the British Gas Energy Trust, which provides security and the reassurance as we support our clients and community.”

To find money and energy advice local to you, please click here.