Graham met the teams at Oldroyd’s Corner Yorkshire CIC and Beverley and Woodmansey Men in Sheds to hear about their work and discuss how to help community groups secure more funding.
During the visit on Friday 30 October, Graham heard how local organisations provide places for people to meet, learn skills and take part in community life.
Based behind Woodmansey Garden Centre, Oldroyd’s Corner has transformed a former commercial glasshouse into a one-acre community garden. The team described how more than 20 organisations use the site for activities, with some groups given space free of charge.
Graham also met members of Beverley and Woodmansey Men in Sheds, which operates at the site, and heard about the practical challenges facing community projects.
The Oldroyd’s Corner team outlined ambitions to develop workshops for start-up businesses and offer flexible training that people could fit around their jobs. They also explained the pressure of covering everyday costs while finding funding to keep activities running.
Jaydon Nolan from HEY Smile Foundation joined the discussion to explain how Smile helps local groups with advice, funding opportunities and connections with other organisations.
Smile’s Beverley and Holderness Collectives bring groups together to share knowledge and identify local priorities. The Beverley Collective has been running for more than a year, while the new Holderness Collective has held its first meeting.
Following the visit, Graham plans to meet Smile’s Chief Executive, Jamie Lewis MBE, to discuss how they can help more groups secure grants through stronger individual applications and joint bids.
Graham wants to establish a clearer picture of the grant funding reaching Beverley and Holderness, identify gaps and provide a starting point for measuring progress in attracting more support.
Local community organisations with projects that need funding, or experience of difficulties securing grants, are encouraged to contact Graham’s office.
Graham said:
“At Oldroyd’s Corner and Men in Sheds, I met people putting their time and skills into projects that bring our community together. I want to help them secure the funding they need to keep going and do more.
“I plan to meet Jamie at HEY Smile Foundation to discuss how we can help groups strengthen their applications and develop joint bids where working together would achieve more.
“We need a clear picture of how much grant funding is reaching Beverley and Holderness, where the gaps are and what we can do to improve that.
“I will keep visiting local projects and listening to the people running them so we focus our efforts on the support they need.”
