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We need to buy the building to continue supporting our rural community.
You can help.
We’re on our way to raising the £215,000 needed to purchase the building thanks to our fantastic network of volunteers, dedicated trustees and staff…but WE NEED YOUR HELP!
The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner has decided to co-locate fire and police estate requirements in Masham which means Mashamshire Community Office have the exciting opportunity to purchase the building from where we have operated for the past 20 years at 7 Little Market Place, Masham.
We need to buy the building so that we can continue the work we’ve done successfully in our rural community; supporting more than 80 community groups, 100 businesses, responding to over 10,000 visitor enquiries and 1000 resident enquiries each year.
Often when people don’t know where to turn, we are there to support them. We’re the glue that strengthens our community, keeping everyone connected.
“Thanks for everything you do to keep our community connected and safe. You all do a wonderful job and it is really appreciated. People feel less isolated because of your care. Thank you so much.”
The jigsaw below represents how much we’ve raised to date, each piece is equivalent to £1,054. Help us finish the jigsaw so we can buy the building and keep supporting our community from the heart of Masham.
Make a financial contribution:
Whether it’s a one off donation or you’d like to commit to regular giving, we welcome all donations big and small.
We accept donations in person over the counter, on the phone (tel: 01765 680200) or online via JustGiving – just click the Make a Donation button below.
Fundraise for us:
Why not set yourself a personal challenge and ask for sponsorship? Climb a mountain, organise a cake sale or organise a karaoke party with friends – what ever it is, have fun doing it! Our JustGiving has a handy section on fundraising for us. If you have a JustGiving account, click Fundraise for MCO below to get started.
Support us for free when you shop at Amazon:
Choose “Mashamshire Community Office” as your chosen charity to support when you shop online at www.smile.amazon.co.uk and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to us at no cost to you.
For other online shopping, do it via Easyfundraising and support us for free:
Join via www.easyfundraising.org.uk/support-a-good-cause/ and choose to support “Mashamshire Community Office”. Once you make a purchase, the retailer partners will make a small donation to MCO.
Support us as a volunteer
Many hands make light work. If you’re keen to get involved, please drop us a line at info@visitmasham.com, we’d love to hear from you!
Buy tickets to our events and take part in our 100 club and competitions
We’re planning a host of events which you can buy tickets to attend and help make them a sell out!
An Evening by the Riverside: www.visitmasham.com/events/event/an-evening-by-the-riverside/
Artison Workshop: www.visitmasham.com/events/event/artison-workshop/
Jervaulx Hall Open Garden: www.visitmasham.com/events/event/jervaulx-hall-open-gardens/
Thank you to our many wonderful volunteers, to our individual donors, sponsors and to all our supporters who have committed to help us reach our fundraising target so far! The generosity and confidence you have demonstrated means we’re one step closer to being able to support our community long into the future.
Did you know that Giles Edwards are kindly donating 10% of their normal fee from the sale of any properties that people instruct them to sell in Masham between 1st July 2022-31st August 2023? So if you’re thinking of selling your property, give them a call and you could be helping Mashamshire Community Office at the same time!
To read more about the relocation of the police, visit: www.visitmasham.com/mashamshire-community-office-police-building
Venue: Jervaulx Hall, Jervaulx, Ripon, HG4 4PH
Date: Tuesday 20th June 2023
Time: Entry from 3pm-7pm
Tickets: £5 entry (tickets available from MCO or buy now online)
Jervaulx Hall are opening their private garden to the public for this special evening solstice event. The eight acre garden is adjacent to Jervaulx Abbey and includes Abbey Mill ruins with views of River Ure. Mixed borders and beds, croquet lawn, parterre, glasshouse and exquisite sculptures. A small vegetable garden and fernery. Magnificent older trees and woodland areas with choice trees and shrubs planted in recent years, include magnolia, acer, sorbus and betula.
Catering will be available to purchase on site with wine and soft drinks available from Corks and Cases and Haregill Lodge will be providing delicious “afternoon tea boxes” to include a sandwich, sausage roll and cake as well as hot drinks.
Transport to and from Masham will be available through Mashamshire Community Office for an additional fee of £5 (return) to cover costs. Booking is essential. Enquire directly if interested.
Call into Mashamshire Community Office for tickets or more information, tel 01765 680200.
Funds raised to go towards the purchase of Mashamshire Community Office.
It has almost been a year since Mashamshire Community Office (MCO) held their initial public meeting back in June 2022 to share the news that they had been given the opportunity to purchase the Old Police House in Masham, a place the charity had been based for over 20 years. £215,000 was the figure were set to raise, and the weight lay heavy with the team at MCO, all of whom are incredibly passionate about the difference the charity makes in their local community however to date they’ve raised £182,698.69 and are aiming to complete the purchase in August 2023.
Hayley Jackson, MCO Manager says,
“Over the past 20 years MCO has diversified and adapted our offering to support the community in times of need such as through COVID. This past year we’ve been on a journey to promote our services and actively share and shout about what we do and the difference we make. Our footprint across Mashamshire reaches far and wide and the impact our small organisation has on many local people has come washing back over us in waves of support for which we are overwhelmingly grateful. Volunteers and staff have gone above and beyond, our fundraising team have outdone themselves with the variety of activities on offer this year from 100 clubs to cow pat competitions (there is now a swear jar on the desk in the office for anyone that even mentions the words cow pat!) The business community have been amazing in so many ways from in-kind gestures to running events in aid of MCO and making considerable financial donations. Individuals have come forward to make donations, offer help and share stories of how MCO have helped them in the past.
Going through the process of fundraising for the Community Office building over this past year has brought people together in such an amazing way. Our community have driven this fundraising effort, people feel pride and ownership over this building, they value what our charity does here in Masham and what a central role we play in supporting our rural community. We knew it was important, but we’ve been able to see just how much it’s at the heart of the community and how much people care. The people of Masham see it as their building, and it’s really important to them that we retain it for the future.”
Once the traditional 19th century stone building is purchased, plans are afoot to invest in making it a more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable space for all to enjoy.
The team have some great fundraising events coming up and a live online auction with some fantastic experiences to bid for so there’s still time to get involved to help get them over the line ready for the purchase in August.
Live online auction: https://app.galabid.com/mcoforever
Fundraising activities: www.visitmasham.com/events/category/mco-forever-fundraising/
Ways to donate: www.visitmasham.com/want-to-support-your-community/
Special thanks to our supporters: www.visitmasham.com/our-supporters
What people say about us
“[MCO] Provides a vehicle to retain MASHAM as a caring community not just a group of houses as most towns and villages”
“As a retired and disabled individual volunteering gives me purpose, gets me out of the house, enables interaction with others and makes me feel useful.”
“We moved to Masham 1 year ago and the first place we visited was the MCO, we have been able to access all manor of activities and help obtained by the MCO and the regular information it sends out.”
“Excellent hub for the community to feel involved with each other, the community and I feel that MCO is vital for the elderly and the vulnerable.”
“It’s a community hub which can mobilise help when needed eg all the various ways help was given during Covid. It is somewhere where people can come for companionship, help, advice and a friendly face.”
“There is always someone there, who can be approached, and if they don’t know the answer they will find it out”
We are raising money to purchase the building from where we have operated from for over 20 years as a small independent charity supporting our rural community here in the heart of Masham and we need your help! We have some FANTASTIC experiences on offer thanks to generous donations from businesses locally and we invite you to bid on these via our online auction…
Thank you to our many incredible supporters that are helping us get over the finish line – we’re aiming to complete the purchase of 7 Little Market Place by the summer of 2023. Show your support, treat and indulge yourself or someone you love to one of these brilliant experiences and make the most of what’s on offer in and around Masham and the district.
Helen Benson, who is a volunteer for the farming charity, FCN, is aiming to complete her 500 plus mile challenge in just nine days. Her route, from Mart to Mart will take in the Moors and Dales, Wolds and Plains of Yorkshire. The marts are to include: Leyburn, Pateley Bridge, Darlington, Ruswarp, Malton, York, Hull, Selby, Holmfirth, Otley, Skipton, Bentham, Hawes, Northallerton and Thirsk.
Along the way, she hopes to be joined by others in the local farming community – partly to keep her company and partly to raise money for FCN – a charity that offers essential support to farmers and their families in times of difficulty and The Sepsis Trust which (UKST) exists to fight this life-threatening condition, stop preventable deaths and support those affected by sepsis.
This tractor run is in memory of 26 year old Yorkshire born and bred Hannah Brown, who passed away so suddenly of Sepsis. She was a Mother, Daughter, Fiancée, and Friend to literally thousands of farmers and their families up and down the country.
“Masham Community Office provides so many facilities for Masham and district residents and businesses – too many to mention. We are extremely fortunate and I am personally indebted to be hosted on the website during my Mart to Mart Tractor Run. Thank you very much Masham Community Office and don’t forget everyone, we need to keep this marvellous service going. Helen”
If you’d like to help Mashamshire Community Office in their quest to purchase the Police building (to ensure the future of the services they offer) you can support them here.
For more details and to view her progress, click here.
Best of luck Helen from MCO!
We are delighted to announce the Cow Pat Prize winner as local resident Ms Kathryn Driver, owner of ticket number 3090 taking home the full £2,000 prize money! The cow responsible for delivering the first plop was Storm Pooper.
At home recovering from COVID Ms Driver said she was shocked, “I can’t believe it! It’s amazing, thank you so much. My mum got the ticket for me and I feel so guilty. I’m going to use the money to pay for a holiday and take my mum away”.
Special thanks to all our sponsors, to Mason for the cows and all our staff and volunteers that have worked tirelessly to make this such a successful event raising £5,000 in aid of MCO purchasing the old police house.
Hayley Jackson, Mashamshire Community Office manager has said:
‘Who would have thought cow pats would bring the community together like this.’
‘Going through the process of fundraising for the Community Office building over this past year has brought people together in such an amazing way. Our community have driven this fundraising effort, people feel pride and ownership over this building, they value what our charity does here in Masham and what a central role we play in supporting our rural community. We knew it was important, but we’ve been able to see just how much it’s at the heart of the community and how much people care. The people of Masham see it as their building, and it’s really important to them that we retain it for the future.’
Find out more about our upcoming fundraisers
As Masham gets geared up for a summer of staycations and unlocking our gorgeous town, Saturdays are likely to be a busy day at Mashamshire Community Office…and we need help.
We get a lot done for remarkably little at Mashamshire Community Office, thanks to the time and energy of volunteers. We are here to look after the needs of our lovely community, the businesses in Masham and the surrounding area and tourists and visitors too. We’re a hub of activity every day but Saturday’s are one of our busiest days and likely to get busier. Volunteers are essential to enable us to open and carry out this vital role for our town.
Our usual opening hours are 10AM till 3PM. Our Service Delivery Officer is on hand at all times on a Saturday, but he can’t manage all of this activity alone. We need a volunteer helper on hand to support him. The day is split between two shifts – 10AM till 12.30PM and 12.30PM till 3.00PM. If you have a couple of hours to spare on a Saturday (especially the afternoon shift), and would like to be involved and help us support Masham, please get in touch with the office, on 01765 680200 or email info@visitmasham.com.
Our busy office buzzes every day with…
Saturday 6th May – Monday 8th May 2023
Celebrate the long weekend in the beautiful countryside of Masham where our community have a jam packed programme full of activities for all to enjoy!
From street parties at Swinton Estate, afternoon tea at St Mary’s church, evening concerts and cow pat competitions, parades of floats, fancy dress and fireworks – there’s something for everyone!
Download a programme here or pop into Mashamshire Community Office and pick up a copy.
Masham’s annual weekend event to raise money for local charities including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, will take place once again on Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October 2023 as we welcomed visitors from far and wide to celebrate all things sheepy, and what a weekend it will be!
Masham Sheep fair is sponsored by local businesses and run by volunteers. This famous weekend event takes place in one of the finest Market Squares in England, raising much money for charity by filling the town with sheepy fun and entertainment all weekend. Events include an action packed programme on both Saturday and Sunday, with a Sheep Show, Sheep Racing, Craft Market, Bishop Blaize Procession, Fleece Stalls, Wool Competition, Sheepdog Demonstrations, Hand Bell Ringers, Morris Dancers, Art Exhibition and Tours of Theakstons & Black Sheep Breweries, as well as the Old Time Children’s Fair.
Photos of Sheep Fair weekends here.
All proceeds go to Yorkshire charities
For more information:
01262 490388 / 01765 688417 / 07850 048258
https://www.mashamsheepfair.com
susan@burtonagnes.com
Masham Market Square and locations around town
We always say, no day is ever the same at Mashamshire Community Office (MCO) and this blustery autumnal Wednesday was certainly no exception as one of our local residents carefully made her way through our front doors in need of help. She had been on her way to the Wednesday Welcome group when her mobility scooter gave out, running out of battery in the middle of the pavement! Although not very mobile, she had managed to get to us looking for help. Beth, our Service Delivery Coordinator quickly retrieved the abandoned scooter from across the road with one of our willing volunteers and pushed it back to the office. Worried she wouldn’t make it to her group, another one of our incredibly helpful volunteers offered to give the lady a lift around the corner to the Methodist Chapel and arranged with someone from the Wednesday Welcome group to take her home when it finished.
In the meantime, we contacted Ben, a trusted local builder who came with his trailer and loaded the scooter up and delivered it back to the lady’s house (all free of charge!) who, as if it had been meticulously planned, arrived at the very same time with the Wednesday Welcome volunteer. The team managed to push the scooter back into the lady’s shed making sure it was set to be fully charged ready for the next adventure…hopefully making it to the final destination with enough charge next time! Needless to say, the individual involved was incredibly grateful.
People often ask what we do at MCO and it’s sometimes hard to articulate because what we do is so varied but in a nutshell, we’re the trusted neighbour that’s here to help and it doesn’t matter what you come to us about – we will try to help and if we can’t , we will likely know someone that can!
We aim is to keep our small rural community active and vibrant for all who live and visit here. Click here for more info, or call in. Click here if you'd like advertise here. Join our mailing list to keep in touch via email. We will not share your information - view our Privacy Policy here.
Little Market Place, Masham, HG4 4DY / Tel: 01765 680200
