On Saturday 25th April, Sheriff Hutton Village Hall was packed with 150 people visiting a new style of exhibition bringing together Social Care agencies. 50 specialists or volunteers manned stalls, so people could receive advice in a “one-stop” shop. Agencies across North Yorkshire and especially Southern Ryedale and South Hambleton exhibited their services to allow older people to stay in their own homes longer in safety and comfort.
Advisors in social care, telecare, security, adaptions, benefits, social housing, pensions and health care were on hand to discuss the current and future needs of carers and their relations. All the stands reported they were surprised at the turnout and level of enquiries and from it came the request to mount similar events in other parts of North Yorkshire.
The 20 stewards and caterers from the Forest of Galtres churches provided complimentary light refreshments throughout the day and fielded the many questions about which agencies should be approached for their specific needs. The Vicar of the organising benefice, Rev Chris Ellis spoke later of his satisfaction that a simple request for help by some of his parishioners had developed over the last few months to a realisation that there needed to be joined-up thinking by some of the agencies to cover gaps in social care.
The Rt Revd John Thomson, Bishop of Selby, speaking after visiting every stand and speaking to many visitors with special needs, expressed his gratitude to the parish and said he would be passing on the success of the venture to fellow members of senior staff.
Councillor Eric Hope of Ryedale District Council, himself manning the Safer Ryedale stand, was delighted with the turnout of exhibitors and visitors and hoped other community organisations would work together to provide similar events in social care.
Roy Thompson, Churchwarden of Sheriff Hutton Church, and one of the organisers, felt the exhibition had provided answers to many of the questions which are raised with his pastoral visitors and showed the strength of the voluntary section in delivery social care. He highlighted the requests for help with housing, benefits and transport services to hospitals in rural areas and thanked Easingwold Lions for their “Message in a Bottle” initiative which provides simple information in a plastic stored in a patient’s fridge and accessible to paramedics in the event of them being called out.