Some villages and communities in the North York Moors have their own volunteering groups which organise and carry out tasks in their local area.
The National Park Authority can help support such groups, helping to provide training, advice and signposting to grants and other resources.
Volunteering in the North York Moors doesn't have to mean volunteering with the National Park Authority. If you live in, work in or are connected to a community in the National Park, it may be that they have their own local volunteering group.
There are many advantages for villages that are able to arrange their own volunteering groups, from being able to decide their own local priorities, to improved health and well-being for those who take part. Through our Community News page, the National Park Authority can also share positive stories and updates from community groups, and help with the recruitment of new members.
Community volunteering groups also benefit the National Park through actions such as:
- Raising the profile of the National Park through awards such as 'in bloom' competitions
- Improving biodiversity and habitat connectivity across the National Park
- Contribute to our work with iNaturalist/iRecord with their photos to identify plant and animal species
- Keeping an eye on monuments in their village and reporting any issues to us
Community volunteering groups in the North York Moors
The North York Moors National Park Authority currently has connections with the following community groups:
| Community group | More information |
|---|---|
| Helmsley Green Team and Helmsley litter pickers (HeLP) | With National Park headquarters based in Helmsley, our staff are encouraged to take part in the regular litter picks around the town. The National Park also shares opportunities to get involved with the Green Team's work on their own channels. |
| Lastingham parish meeting group | Regular litter picks around the village. The National Park provided some litter pickers and hi-vis vests. |
| Revival North Yorkshire | Supports older and vulnerable people in Danby, Castleton, Lealholm, Glaisdale, Staithes, Sleights and surrounding moor and coastal villages. The fabulous volunteers involved with our Virtual Walks programme have worked with Revival for some time, and Danby Lodge National Park Centre also recently invited young visitors to design and write a postcard to be delivered to Revival's service users. |
| St Mary's Church, Farndale | Volunteers from the church got in touch with the National Park Authority to ask for support with managing the grounds. Our Globals volunteer group then helped keep the area maintained and also established a wildflower meadow. Our Conservation team also did a wildflower survey on the site. |
| Thornton le Dale Community Hub | A local community group but also a partner organisation |
| Ugglebarnby Residents Group | Regular litter picks around the village. The National Park provided some litter pickers and hi-vis vests. |
How to connect your community group with the North York Moors National Park
Whether your community group is a constitutional organisation, (for example, a ‘friends of’ group with a written constitution, including members such as a Chair, Treasurer and Secretary), or a non-constitutional group (such as a photography or other shared interest club) there are benefits to connecting with the North York Moors National Park Authority.
The National Park's Volunteering Team can support these groups by:
- Providing advice regarding how best to maintain or improve wildlife habitats in their area
- Signposting new members to them where appropriate
- Sharing best practice in volunteering
- Raising their profile by sharing positive news stories
- Providing information and advice with regards to accessing grants and funding
- Offering community volunteers the chance to get involved with occasional 'super tasks' across the National Park
To find out more, please contact volunteers@northyorkmoors.org.uk
Community group or partner organisation?
Larger constitutional organisations or businesses may be interested in becoming an official partner of the National Park. In addition to the benefits above, partner organisations can access:
- Training opportunities for their own staff, volunteers or members, including training Task Day Leaders
- Access to hand tools/equipment and training on using such equipment
- Opportunities to run joint tasks – our National Park volunteers and/or Task Day Leaders can help with larger tasks at your own site
To see a list of our current partners and for more information, please visit our partner organisation page.