Thank you to everyone who joined us at our AGM event on Thursday 11th October at The Hub @ St John’s, Knaresborough.  

We were welcomed by HARCVS Chair, Jackie Snape, and delighted that the Mayor of Knaresborough, Cllr Phil Ireland; the Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Cllr Chris Skaife; the Mayor of Boroughbridge, Cllr Geoff Haldenby and the Chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, Cllr Robert Windass attended the event.

Jackie reviewed the year for HARCVS, highlighting both achievements and challenges in what had been a year of adjustment. Throughout the year, HARCVS had remained committed to being visible in the local community, delivering key information services, supporting the local sector to recruit volunteers and providing a high quality service to older and vulnerable people, through the Harrogate Easier Living project (HELP). Jackie likes a good quote and Confucius summed it up this year: ‘Learning without refection is a waste, reflection without learning is dangerous’.

Our HARCVS Impact Report gives examples of how we have made a positive difference in Harrogate District over the last year. 

Four trustees were elected to our Board of Trustees. We were pleased to welcome David Ashton-Jones (Disability Action Yorkshire); Ian Bergel (Washburn Heritage Centre); Tim Mallett (Tockwith Community Hub); Andrew Marson (PCC of Bilton St John and St Luke).

We said a fond farewell and thank you to Jackie Snape for her support, hard work, advice, expertise, friendship and kindness over the last 10 years, as a trustee and Chair of our Board. We also thanked Lindsay Mitchell and Stuart Gregory who both stepped down from the Board at the AGM and John Groves and Pat Jones who had served on the Board during the year.

Karen Weaver, Chief Executive, and Frances Elliot, Head of Practical Support Services, gave a presentation ‘Are we on the Right Track?  

Karen shared the HARCVS Plan on a Page and what HARCVS considered to be the key needs of the local voluntary sector:

• Volunteers – all types, including trustees
• Money – not just for projects or new things
• Peer support – via easy (local) access to training, hosted meetings & events
• Visibility & a voice – the sector matters!
• Signposting to tailored/specific support
• Understanding (“a helpful chat”)

Members and partners present were asked to help determine if HARCVS was on the right track by answering three questions:

• What is HARCVS doing now that helps you?
• What is HARCVS doing at the moment which hinders you?
• What should HARCVS be doing in three years’ time (2021?)

Feedback will help to focus the questions in our HARCVS Member Survey and shape our future work.