COUN Vivienne Knaggs, Ryedale’s champion for older people, continues her series of features highlighting the crucial role played by the community stalwarts of the Queen’s generation.

NEXT STEPS in Norton is a voluntary organisation established some eight years ago to help people with mental health problems and other disabilities.

It is truly inspirational, being run by a team of totally dedicated volunteers under the guidance of the centre manager Mike Dixon.

Anyone is free to drop in and see for themselves the truly amazing work and support being offered.

Chairman Di Keal said: “Normally a team of up to a dozen people are engaged in helping at any one time, but there is a constant stream of people offering to help.”

One volunteer, in particular, is more than worthy of mention – Joy Storrs-Fox. Now in her 90s, she has been a volunteer since 2002 and is vice-chairman.

She told me, with great modesty, that she doesn’t do half what she used to do, but others say she is always around and participating and a great encouragement to everyone.

Currently she has gathered together a group of home knitters in the area to produce knitted squares which are sewn together to make warm blankets for one of her favourite charities, Children in Distress. Most of the blankets and some knitted jerseys are sent to Romania, where many children in hospices are suffering from Aids and severe forms of Autism.

Joy still finds time to sing in the choir at her church which she enjoys hugely.

Mike Dixon was keen to tell me about all the on-going activities. In particular, the Community Cafe provides meals and snacks which are praised by all who visit.

Emphasis is placed on providing a healthy diet. Local butchers and greengrocers supply meat, fruit and vegetables, but further produce is also grown on an allotment. All this is supported by a Healthy Living group and a walking group with swimming visits and massage and aromatherapy sessions. The purpose of this accent on healthy lifestyles is to ensure optimum physical health and also prevent illness by making people aware of the benefits of good nutrition and exercise.

Other activities at the centre are wide-ranging with various art and craft groups, quizzes, after-hour visits to the cinema and mini-bus outings.

A Grand Memory cafe, staffed by qualified people, helps those with dementia. Similarly, an In Touch volunteer supports blind and partiallysighted people.

Mike said the whole purpose of the centre is to take away the stigma of disability and give people confidence.

But it is a home from home for carers, visitors and volunteers as well, with people just dropping in but then staying to lend a hand. “Everybody can help somebody” is part of Mike’s philosophy.

On Wednesday mornings there is a drop-in session at the Quaker Meeting House in Kirkbymoorside and a similar event on Saturdays in Pickering. Soon, a further facility will be available in Helmsley.

It’s good to know there are people like these around giving so generously of their time to provide such vital help.

For further information phone 01653 690854.