Support for the community
There are lots of services on offer to help Ryedale residents during the COVID-19 lockdown.
It’s great to see community groups, volunteers, businesses and local people pulling together during these challenging and isolating times. Ryedale is a great example of everyone working together, for the good of the community.
To help you know what support is available to you, we’ve collated a helpful list of services and activities provided. As you can understand, this is a work in progress and we'll do our best to add relevant information when we can.
If you would like to add anything else to the list, please get in touch with us.
Don't forget, if you have no immediate network of support - don’t worry. You can call the contact centre on 01609 780 780. They will put you in touch with your local Community Support Organisation, who can help. The Ryedale Community Support Organisation is a central resource for residents, partners, organisations and networks across the Ryedale District.
The RSCO can help you in these ways:
- Support for individuals - for those in greatest need with no network of family/friends to help, the RSCO can organise food and medication collection and support you with regular telephone befriending and welfare checks
- Information, advice and support for Local Network/Group partners
- Information, advice and support for the induction, management and deployment of volunteers
- Signposting to the appropriate national, regional and local helplines/organisations for specialist support
- Access point for the NYCC Covid-19 Support Fund (available to individuals experiencing financial hardship as a result of the Coronavirus)
We have further information about keeping yourself and others safe here, which also covers self isolating and social distancing, taking care with people coming into your home and domestic abuse.
Hidden Disabilities
We've produced a handy guide to help businesses and citizens know what to do to support those with a hidden disability. As shops, hospitality and leisure services reopen with new COVID-19 safety measures in place, the guide and the Hidden Disability Sunflower Scheme we've signed up to will help those get the support they need. Download your guide here.
We've pulled together a list of businesses who are offering a delivery or collection service during these difficult times. Click here to see the full list.
Emergency contraception is classed as a priority service and free provision is now available remotely with local collection. The nearest participating pharmacy can be contacted directly or residents can call YorSexualHealth on 01904 721111. There are no 'walk-in' clinics.
Smoking
GP practices are still providing a 12-week package of telephone support with a specialist advisor and facilitating access to stop smoking medications through local pharmacies and GPs. To find out details of local GP practices offering the service please contact the Living Well Smokefree service on: 01609 797272.
These are for use by NHS and emergency services staff and key workers.
Station Hotel, Pickering has four en-suite rooms that are being offered to any NHS/emergency services staff, or key workers who are brought into Ryedale.
Rains Holidays has offered cottages for NHS workers or from line staff in Allerston.
Wentworth Arms, Old Malton has five en-suite rooms offered to health care workers.
Sands Farm Cottages, Wilton have 7 holiday cottages for use at a reduced price to NHS workers.
For a full list of businesses open visit here.
For a full list of shops open in Helmsley click here.
Marshalls in Kirkbymoorside have converted their production facilities to produce critical equipment for the NHS.
Feversham Hotel, Helmsley is closed at the moment, but cooked meals for staff at York Hospital.
McMillan’s of Malton are happy to provide delivery services for local businesses where needed.
There are free 3D printed free visors available to frontline workers.
Malton delivers is offering help for businesses in Malton and Norton to promote their delivery options. It has a great tool for residents to see who is delivering to your door.
Zetechtics is prepared to manufacture simple non-medical grade face masks to offer basic protection. To find out more about this, email or
If you are a resident or representing a community or voluntary group in Ryedale, please look at this PDF booklet, which details the grants available, or information sources to support your activities or your organisation. These are particularly relevant to activities due to the Covid-19 response. This booklet is a guide to grants and support for community groups, arts organisations and sports clubs, outside of the government support streams.
Rural Service Network has pulled together funding available mainly for rural community groups, but some businesses as well. Click here for more information.
THANK YOU TO ALL OUR VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY GROUPS AND TO VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT RYEDALE FOR ALL THE CONTINUED ACTIVITY.
If you want to do a workout during the lockdown, then there are lots of sessions on offer.
Everyone Active has free classed on their Facebook and YouTube channel.
They’re also running a £9.99 monthly online membership, which includes:
- Les Mills on Demand – classes including BODYPUMP, COMBAT, BALANCE and ATTACK
- NEOU – Dance, HIIT, Sculpt and Stretch your way fit with thousands of classes to choose from. There’s live streamed sessions as well as recorded
- 8FIT fitness platform – Meditate, meal plan and do yoga to maintain good all-round wellbeing at this time
- On Demand Workouts, powered by Gympass Plus – 500 new workouts including Zumba, STRONG by Zumba, BOXX Method, GAIAM yoga and even GOLF for anyone missing the golf course!
They also have lots of tops tips and at-home workouts
More free workouts on offer from local outlets:
Body and Soul, Malton. Free daily workouts
Panther Fitness, in Hutton Le Hole have daily workouts via Zoom.
Sarah Louise Ashworth School of Dance, Kirkbymoorside has ballet, dance and Zumba classes online.
Gemma Richardson, Personal Trainer based in Kirkbymoorside is offering daily fitness classes via Zoom.
Yoga:
Adventures for the Soul has lunchtime and evening yoga sessions available for free to NHS staff and Carers.
The Balance Rooms, Pickering has yoga classes on offer via Zoom
Getting outside
We've found out about a handy site that brings together current advice from government, councils and other outdoor organisations, so you can decide where to go and what to do outside. You can search by activity and location for suggestions and ideas about how to get outside safely. https://buff.ly/2Y2mFQ6
Dementia:
There's a helpful booklet here for dealing with dementia. It has tips for those living with dementia, or for people who care for someone with dementia and what to do during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Innovations in Dementia Community Interest Company (CIC) has produced four short videos to inform volunteers about supporting people with dementia throughout this difficult time.
Sports Clubs help to reopen
On 30 June at 8pm, North Yorkshire Sport have organised a webinar to help sports clubs reopen after COVID-19. The webinar will talk you through the process and go through a number of toolkits and resources that will soon be available from Sport England and Club Matters.
The webinar will feature a panel of Sport England, Bowls Development Alliance and Skipton Tennis Club staff, so you'll hear information, top tips and best practice from clubs who have already opened and what’s it’s actually like on the ground. For further information, or to register your place, please click on the North Yorkshire Sport websites on their Club Support Webinar pages.
There are lots of activities to choose from virtually for children in Ryedale.
The Ryedale Mumbler has links for singing, dancing, fitness, yoga and parties.
Ryedale Folk Museum: They have a range of ‘museum at home’ activity guides available on their website aimed at children and families:
Panther Fitness, Hutton Le Hole offers a Baby Fit Club.
Malton Museum: They have a virtual tour via their website and also some children’s activities available too:
Helmsley Arts Centre: They have a comedy and other live streaming events coming up this Sunday which will be live streamed via a link on their site. It is free but donations are encouraged and all proceeds will go to the supporting venues including Helmsley Arts Centre.
North Yorkshire County Council Adult Learning Services offers a range of family courses including arts and crafts ideas you can do at home with your children. If you fancy forming a band with instruments you make at home, there are family music classes too. Online classes are available from April through to May. Contact 01609 780780 or email
North Yorkshire Business Education Partnership are offering online careers and employability skills through a range of projects including the ‘Successful Futures’ programme. This is great for young adults considering their next steps in education, training and employment.
Rural Arts are offering free digital technology support to help you become more confident using your compuet, tablet or smartphone. Learn how to video call your loved ones, do your shopping online or attend a vitual workshop.
To sign up visit Rural Arts or contact the tutor Claire at or call 07828 975 335.
North Yorkshire Adult Learning are offering a whole range of courses including:
Knitting for Health and Relaxation, where you will learn basic knitting skills, such as casting on and off, garter and pearl stitches, completing a knitting task and learning the health benefits of knitting. It starts on 4 May to 25 May and takes place every Monday morning for four weeks, from 10:30 - 13:30 or you can take part from 7 May to 28 May, every Thursday afternoon for four weeks, from 13:00 - 16:00.
Pick the course that would suit you best, then call 01609 532536 or email: for more information and to book your place.
Thanks to Next Steps Mental Health Resource based in Norton for letting us know that Shakespeare’s Globe productions are available to watch for free during lockdown - click here
Khan Academy is a free resource for students, teachers, and parents; students can use our exercises, quizzes, and instructional videos to learn and master skills - click here
Kirkbymoorside History Group are seeking diarists who are willing to record their experiences of life during the restrictions. This an unprecedented event and we are hoping diaries completed today will form a valuable resource for future generations to see just how our lives have been affected. If you’re interested, please email
North Yorkshire County Council Adult Learning Service Level 1 – Preparing to work in schools, with first steps to working in an educational establishment or becoming a teaching assistant. Classes are on Skype from April to July. Contact 01609 780780 or email .
And if you enjoy a good singing session, then you can join in Every day at 11.00 am, the Musical Memories group will be singing a couple of songs and having a chat on a live streamed session. The sessions will only last about 10 minutes – so it’s a good opportunity to make a brew, settle down and tune in.
Click on either of the links below to join in:
https://www.pscp.tv/search?q=Musical+Memories
https://facebook.com/MMCIC
If you miss the daily live streaming sessions they will be available to watch for a while afterwards too.
Gardening is also a great activity to help you feel better through the lockdown. Castle Howard Garden Centre remains closed, but they are offering delivery up to 20 miles from Castle Howard. It is also offering click and collect with social distancing measures. Find out more https://www.castlehoward.co.uk/shopping-and-eating/shopping/garden-centre/ordering-service
It's understandable that stress and anxiety may be heightened at this time and there are organisations out there to help you.
North Yorkshire County Council Adult Learning Service is offering a range of online courses:
- Managing Anxiety & Stress at Home and Work
- Understanding Challenging Behaviours
Contact 01609 533409 or visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/adultlearning
Community Counselling, based in Malton are offering online and telephone counselling service and have lots of advice on their website https://www.community-counselling.org.uk/
Free counselling - the Dunamis Therapy Hub tutors and other counsellors are offering emotional support to the local community. This support will be in place until after the peak of the infection, as stated by the government. They are offering a listening ear to adult individuals.- click here
Headspace - Meditation There are a lot of unknowns in the world right now. To help support you through this time of crisis, they’re offering some meditations you can listen to any time - click here
Sudden is a charitable initiative for suddenly bereaved people and the people caring for them. Their mission is to ease the suffering of people bereaved by any kind of sudden death, including from Covid-19 - click here.
Details of these activities are provided for your information only. Such information, or links to the providers of the activities, should not be interpreted as approved by the Council and we have no control over such activities. The Council shall have no liability to the public for any loss, damage, or personal injury, illness, or death caused or suffered in connection with any participation in any of the activities.
