Changes in Nidderdale

We give a warm welcome to the new Partnership Manager, Debbie Grassam, who joins us on 1 March. We also say a fond farewell to our previous manager, Katy Penn, who leaves us after eight happy years to relocate with her family.

Katy has seen many changes over those years that reinforce the place of Nidderdale and the surrounding area as a great place to live in, to work in or to visit.

She says: “I’ve been privileged to be involved with some brilliant projects and met some great people during my time here. One of the early highlights has to be my involvement with project managing the development of the Coldstones Cut, it’s such a fantastic place to go, in all weathers, I’m very pleased to have been part of its creation.”

Katy adds: “I’m also delighted with the success of the Nidderdale Plus Community Car - the volunteer drivers do a fantastic job and it’s a great service for those in the dale who struggle for transport. Local people are very resilient and proud but being able to offer an affordable, flexible transport service to support them in accessing local services is a great thing in a rural area.”

So it’s an exciting time for us as we enter our second season based at Station Square in Pateley Bridge.

We have much to celebrate following the establishment of the community office, which includes the library and tourism information, and the fantastic support we receive from our dedicated team of staff and volunteers. We are open to new ideas for the future and always on the lookout for new volunteers too.

Our new manager, Debbie, joins us with a wealth of experience of working in the voluntary and charity sector and she will help us to maintain our momentum as well as promoting our work so that we provide the best possible services.

Debbie says: “I am eager to start my new role with the Nidderdale Plus Partnership and am particularly keen to develop work with the more vulnerable members of the community. I look forward to meeting everyone involved and to working in partnership with other organisations that cover our area.”

There is no single right answer to how local services should be organised or how people get involved; it’s about what works best in the local area and that’s why we want to hear from you.

We hope to develop Nidderdale Plus even further as the home of community assistance, a place that people come to for information, advice and support; that could be as a local resident, as a visitor to the area or as someone interested in starting a business or working in the area.

We work closely with our local councils and also other local and voluntary organisations to maximise our efforts.

In last month’s column we said that we want to hear from local people as to where they think there are any gaps in local services that Nidderdale Plus could help to fill.

Now is the ideal time to get in touch and we will be delighted to hear from you so, please call into the community office at Nidderdale Plus, Station Square, King Street, Pateley Bridge, give us a ring on 01423 714953 or email [email protected]