Easingwold and District Community Care Association – adapted from a piece by Robert Thomas ...

It was in 1986 that a group of people active in the community felt that there were social needs in the locality that were not being met.

The founder members met with what was then North Yorkshire Forum for Volunteer Organisations, to look to become part of the network of Community Care Associations. With a grant from NYCC, the group was formalised into a community care association with a committee chaired by Margaret Watkinson. They set out a constitution, registered with the Charity Commission, and set up a bank account.

The first development officer was appointed for 16 hours a week and space was rented in the parish room annexe in Tanpit Lane with a filing cabinet just fitting into the broom cupboard, and EDCCA was up and running.

Feeling its way, initially a newsletter was printed and circulated in the town and surrounding villages to spread the word.

Next, a volunteer driver scheme was set up, and amazingly twelve people signed up to drive clients to hospital appointments.

Outgrowing the library, EDCCA moved to an office in the Galtres Centre, and then outgrew that to move into office space at the County Council buildings in Manor Road, what is now Spring Hill Court. When that closed, EDCCA moved to The Police House on Church Hill where it remains today.

To read the rest of this history of the Easingwold District Community Care Association, go along to your nearest stockist and buy a copy of the paper.

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