Austin Mitchell and Ann Syrett present this series of programmes promoting voluntary and community service, focusing on people in the community who give up their own time to help others. The programme aims to provide a clear understanding of the nature and the extent of voluntary work that's done, or needs to be done in many areas of social need throughout the Yorkshire region. This episode addresses the purpose of Volunteer Centres. It includes a look at the work of York Community...

Austin Mitchell and Ann Syrett present this series of programmes promoting voluntary and community service, focusing on people in the community who give up their own time to help others. The programme aims to provide a clear understanding of the nature and the extent of voluntary work that's done, or needs to be done in many areas of social need throughout the Yorkshire region. This episode addresses the purpose of Volunteer Centres. It includes a look at the work of York Community Council plus studio interviews with David Patchett, Susan Jenkins , and David Brayshaw. Title: Yorkshire Television – Colour Production Photographs of urban street scenes and candid shots of individuals make up the opening for the programme. Title: A Matter for Concern Austin Mitchell opens the programme and outlines the issues covered in this week’s edition. Title: Austin Mitchell Austin talks about the establishment of voluntary service centres which may be found in many town and cities. The centres are known under a variety of names, a few are listed. Title: Council of Social Sciences, Councils of Voluntary Service, Volunteer Centres Austin introduces a report from York. An aerial view of buildings in York follows as Austin off camera reveals a featured topic of the programme, York Community Council operating from 10 Priory Street in York. Austin introduces the executive social director Mike Clemson. The programme shows the director at his desk. Title: Michael Clemson – Executive Social Director – York Community Council Michael says that the YCC is an independent voluntary organisation made of representatives of existing organisations. He says it really has two jobs to do, partly to support existing organisations in a whole field of social welfare, and partly to respond to needs when requested by referring to existing organisations or setting up something new. The programme shows a list headed ‘Community House’ displayed outside the office building showing the range of voluntary organisations operating at Priory Street. The programme shows an office where women work at typewriters, and another is speaking on the phone. Michael, off camera describes the work of the YCC administration office which works late into the evening and is a first contact and support facility for the building and voluntary organisations in York. One of the voluntary groups sharing the building is Youth Action York, their name is displayed on a board above a window. The film shows an office where there is a discussion taking place. Michael explains that Youth Action York has a director Judy White whose main job is to involve young people in community service activities. Title: Judy White – Youth Action Judy explains the purpose of the organisation which involves encouraging voluntary community service in young people aged 14 to 25, and she outlines the kind of work that a volunteer might undertake. Title: Playspace Two men sit in an office having a discussion. The film cuts back to Michale Clemson in his office. He explains that the Playspace group has a paid director, Brian Elmer. Michael explains that all the organisations follow the same pattern by having a voluntary management committee, but they employ one or more staff as a focal point for their activities. Playspace offers leisure time activities for school age children. Michael outlines the activities for the age group which is targeted to children after pre-school age but are still to young to attend a youth club. The programme moves to a woman answering the phone in the volunteer’s centre. Michael goes on the talk about this innovative service which has been open for 18 months. This was in response to 40 local organisations clamouring for volunteers. Michael describes the centre as a secretarial agency for volunteers which offers people a range of opportunities in the voluntary field and passes them on to other organisations. Title: Lesley Archer – Volunteer Centre Lesley Archer welcomes a woman into the volunteer centre and asks her how she found out about it. The woman holds up a leaflet called ‘Willing Hands Service’ which she picked up in a shop. Lesley asks the woman if she has any hobbies or personal interests and then asks her about skills and the time to attend that she might be able to offer. Michael Clemson in his office says that the scheme has benefitted several organisations in the YCC. The film cuts to a notice in a window giving information about the citizens advice bureau which is also in the YCC building. Michael goes on to describe off camera the work of the local citizens advice bureau as the programme shows two women have a discussion in the office. The programme goes back to Michael who says the bureau operates with a paid organiser with a team of 30 volunteers. A view follows of a woman at her desk next to a window. Title: Eileen Evans – Age Concern Eileen answers a telephone call. Michael explains a little of the history of Age Concern and their current work including that with volunteers. As regards publicity Michael goes on to say that each organisation undertakes its own publicity, a brief view of the YCC premises is followed by a return to Austin Mitchell in the studio. Austin interviews three guests from different voluntary service organisations. The first is David Patchett. Title: David Patchett – Organiser – Grimsby Voluntary Service Bureau David outlines how his organisation works by matching volunteers to the work available in the locality. The work maybe with other organisations or involve a volunteer working individually. Sometimes they may have to create a volunteer role if there’s a gap in provision for a particular need. Austin asks the second guest how her work differs in Batley. She says the service covers a small area in Batley, it does not serve the whole local authority. Title: Susan Jenkins – General Sec. Batley Council Voluntary Service She then expands on how people contact them and what the service can offer. Austin then talks to the third guest from Sheffield. Title: David Bradshaw – Community Dev. - Sheff. Council Soc. Service David talks of much of what he saw in the film of York is already being carried out in Sheffield. David gives a brief history of social services in Sheffield and its attitude towards voluntary help in the past. However now voluntary help is highly valued, especially he says with community work where volunteers can help make changes in their own communities, in other words, with council support communities can go some way to resolving local problems. All three guests need more volunteers but there are still barriers which will need to be worked through to ensure volunteers and professionals can work together. They are also conscious of gaps in provision which can often be helped using volunteers. Mention is made by David Bradshaw about new ways of working with those with a mental or physical disability by integration into mainstream society. The programme moves on to Ann Syrett. Title: Ann Syrett Ann talks briefly about the type of people the programme attracts, those with comparatively little time to those newly retired with time to fill, all are apparently interested in voluntary work. A letter from the Rotary Club of Roundhay in Leeds who having seen the first programme offered help. Ann also asks for letters from people who have volunteered after seeing the programme and would like to know how they are getting on. She also reads a letter from the Leeds branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society ask for volunteer help, especially drivers. Austin Mitchell closes the programmes but first gives out the address viewers can write to if they have any queries. Title: ‘Concern’ Yorkshire Television Television Centre Leeds LS3 1JS Credits: Presenters – Ann Syrett, Austin Mitchell Camera – Frank Pocklington, Peter Jackson Sound – Don Atkinson, Terry Ricketts Film Editor – Alwyn Jones Graphics - Brian Beardmore Research – Irene Cockroft Producer – Jim McCann Yorkshire Television Colour Production End Title - © Trident Television Ltd 1976