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From Mon 5th Oct we will be open for browsing in person between 10:00am and midday, Mon-Fri. This service is subject to the following:
Only 1 adult or 1 adult and 1 child will be admitted at a time so waiting downstairs may be required.
Face coverings must be worn unless you are exempt.
Hand sanitizing on entry is required and social distancing adhered to at all times.
Wheelchair access is available but please telephone prior to your visit – 01765 680204.
Please hand returned books to the volunteer greeting you at the main door
North Yorkshire is heading for change in how Local Government is structures. The current County and District Council structures are set to be changed in order to create a single tier structure with an elected mayor and potentially reduced bureaucracy and a economic benefits.
NYCC and the leaders of the District Councils do not agree about how this should work. NYCC proposes one single unified authority and information about their proposals can be found here. Apologies for the quality of the document, we’ve had to reduce the quality to enable circulation.
The Districts proposed a split into two authorities, their explanation can be found here.
Both invite feedback and engagement from businesses and the public. Contact them directly or if you prefer, you can feed opinions back via MCO.
Masham Community Library “Select & Collect” style lending starts from 3 August. You can access the forms to request books via the links below. Read more information about the new service here:
Download Word document to complete electronically here and then email the form to info@visitmasham.com
OR
View and print out a PDF version of the form here to complete by hand and drop off at the Community Office
The Community Office building is open to the public once again From 10am to 3pm weekdays and 10am till 1:30pm Saturdays. Public access is limited to certain parts of the building only. You will be asked to use hand sanitiser on entry; there will be screens on the counter and restrictions on handling leaflets and books. Social distancing rules mean we will be managing the flow of visitors and limiting the number of people allowed in at one time. Expect to be greeted at the door by one of our welcoming volunteers who will explain everything, but you may be asked to wait at busy times. We are open for:
• Tourist Information –info, advice & guidance for visitors
• Travel & transport information
• Printing, photocopying, laminating services
• Public access to a PC & Internet
• Advice on Harrogate & NYC Council Services
• Jigsaw library and second-hand book service
• Community Library “Click & Collect” service from 3 Aug
For anyone self-isolating, we can still help with shopping, collecting prescriptions or just someone to talk to – just give us a call.
In phase two of our plans, we’ll be opening Masham Community Library for “Click & Collect” style lending in August and Town Hall bookings and ticket sales will follow. We very much look forward to seeing you.
If you know anyone who is not digitally connected to local news, you can print a leaflet to give them here.
In normal times, Mashamshire Community Office provides a host of services from our small building in the old Police Station. From photocopying to shopping in the Blue Light Gallery, from Acorns Pre-School to the Community Library, from borrowing Jigsaws to PC access, and from Town Hall bookings to Tourism and ticket sales. The building has been closed to the public and we are working on plans to reopen, but ensuring the safety of staff, volunteers, locals and visitors across a range of activities is quite complex and we’re not going to rush it. Acorns is now partially open and we’ll be phasing in other activities over the coming weeks and months – we’ll keep you posted as we progress.
In the meantime, it might look like we’re closed, but we’ve been working hard from behind closed doors throughout the lockdown. All these services are still available:
Please call to access any of these services – 01765 680200, Monday-Friday, 10am till 3pm or email info@visitmasham.com.
The Community Office Manager Hayley Jackson goes on maternity leave next week. While shielding at home and limited to working 10 hours a week in evenings due to child care, Hayley has steered us through the developing crisis so far. Though all our usual functions stopped with the lockdown, Tosh and Sue have been at the end of a phone, 5 days a week, responding to calls from local people isolating at home, connecting them with volunteers to collect prescriptions, shopping and any other support needed. Meanwhile, regular MCO volunteers, Roger and John have kept the flow of news and information flowing out to the community via this email update and social media. Thanks and best wishes go to Hayley and we look forward to news…
Maternity Cover – Welcome to Sarah
Good news! We are delighted to welcome Sarah McCourt who will be covering Hayley’s maternity leave. Sarah joined the team on 25 May as MCO Manager. Many will already know Sarah as she has lived locally in Fearby for nearly 20 years and her 3 children, now 20, 18 and 17 years old, attended Masham and Kell Bank Primary Schools and have been involved in many local groups.
This is a challenging time for Sarah to be taking over – it’s rather tricky to hand over normal operations when nothing normal is happening! Thankfully, Sarah’s prior knowledge and connections in Masham will be a great help and she is supported by Tosh and the rest of the volunteers and Trustees. Sarah will be working four days a week and as guidance for leisure and tourism sectors emerges, she will be guiding the Community Office through the process of planning for reopening and a whole new version of “normal”. We look forward to opening our doors again so everyone can call in and say hello.
It’s Volunteers Week 2020 this week – an annual celebration and chance to say “thank you” for the contribution made by volunteers right across the UK. There was never a time to be more grateful and appreciate the value of volunteering than during this COVID-19 crisis.
Throughout the year, Mashamshire Community Office and Community Library depend on the experience and time, generously given, by its team of nearly 30 volunteers. But since the lockdown, an unprecedented number of volunteers have been needed to support folk who were self-isolating or shielded at home. The shout-out for Mashamshire volunteers in March didn’t disappoint – we now have 50-70 wonderful volunteers helping us out. Although our building is closed to the public, there has been lots to do…
With only 30 paid staff hours per week, this would not have been possible without our volunteers. We estimate that during lockdown, our Mashamshire volunteers are contributing at least 248 free voluntary hours each week! Amazing – thank you.
Of course, this isn’t the first time that Masham’s Volunteers have stepped up in a crisis either…. Over 200 year ago, word went out that Napoleon had invaded, and the Masham Volunteers rallied behind Captain William Danby of Swinton Park and marched out to meet the foreign invader. They got as far as Thirsk before they discovered that the beacons had been lit by mistake. It had all been a false alarm! Sadly, we can’t say the same for the current crisis!
How to get involved – now and for the future
All the efforts of Mashamshire volunteers so far have been appreciated and will still be very much needed as the recovery phase develops and beyond. As our community and our businesses begin to work out the new normal and how to repair the damage done by the crisis, Mashamshire Community Office will be there to help. If you would like to get involved by volunteering your time and experience now or longer term, please do get in touch –
Phone 01765 680200 or email info@visitmasham.com.
Read the latest news about Mashamshire Community Office and how we’re adapting to the changing needs of our community during these strange times. Click here to download the bulletin.
MASHAMSHIRE COMMUNITY OFFICE HELP
The Community Office has a list of over 70 volunteers in and around Masham who are available to help with shopping, prescription collection and any other issues. If you are self isolating and unable to go out for food or prescriptions for whatever reason, we can find a volunteer who can help you. If you are isolated at home and just want to feel a bit connected over the phone, we can find someone to chat to.
Please call 01765 680200 if you need help. We are open Mon-Fri, 10AM till 3PM
OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
Groups of volunteers are coming together in many of Masham’s surrounding villages too. If you are initiating some activity to help in the current crisis, please let us know – email: info@visitmasham.com.
Here is a list summarising other community action and support. Click here to view.
More useful information is also listed on our Covid-19 Local Info Page here.
VOLUNTEERING CLARIFICATION
Our Masham Community Office crisis volunteers are local folk who have offered to help collecting prescriptions, shopping etc for ANYONE who is self isolating in our community. This might be because they, or a member of their household, has symptoms of Covid-19, or they may be isolating because their health makes them vulnerable, or they over 70 and Boris has told them to stay indoors!
The NHS Volunteers are coordinated centrally by them with their focus exclusively on helping people whom the NHS has specifically identified as being vulnerable due to their health conditions – these people are “medically shielded”.
Of course there will be many volunteers who have volunteered for both the NHS and other organisations, but the Community Office volunteers are accessed and coordinated locally and are available to help anyone in the local community who is in need of support.
Our aim is to keep our small rural community, which has so much to offer, alive, active and vibrant for all those who live and visit here. Click here to find out about our services or call in and see us any time. Click here for more information about advertising with us.
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Little Market Place, Masham, HG4 4DY / Tel: 01765 680200
