A Harrogate family is preparing to climb Africa’s highest mountain in aid of a local charity.
Richard Pughe, who is a partner at Begbies Traynor Group, will take on the 19,340 ft climb next February alongside his wife Nikki Sutcliffe, his son and stepson, as well as his friend.
The family visited Artizan Café in Harrogate, which employs and supports 23 people with various disabilities, and was inspired by its “fantastic work”.
They then chose to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for Artizan International.
Mr Pughe said:
“The passion and joy with which both the trainees and trainers work is incredible.
“They’re making a tremendous difference to people’s lives, both here in Harrogate with their café and creative workshop and through projects in Ecuador and Peru.
“We were looking to take on a fundraising challenge to mark a few different significant birthdays that are happening next year in our family, and we were so impressed by Artizan International that we wanted to help them.”
The family is training for the eight-day expedition across the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, as well as hiking in the French Alps this summer.
They hope to raise at least £1,500 for the charity.
Mr Pughe added:
“Without doubt, coping with the altitude and low oxygen levels will be the most challenging aspect of the climb.
“We are doing as many high-level walks as we can and all trying to increase our fitness in preparation for February’s trip.
“We want to raise as much money as possible for Artizan International and it would be brilliant if our expedition inspires people to sponsor us.”
The charity was launched in Harrogate in 2013 after founder, Susie Hart MBE, set up a social centre in Tanzania to support and employ local people with disabilities.
Ms Hart also said:
“We’re tremendously grateful to Richard, Nikki and family for choosing to support our work with differently-abled people locally and overseas in this way and the funds they raise will make a huge difference.
“We’ll be able to provide training and support that’s literally life-changing, for many more people with disabilities, thanks to their support. We’ll be cheering them on, all the way.”
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Local disability charities work together on mosaic project
Two Harrogate based disability charities have worked together to create a mosaic that will displayed at a new training centre.
Artizan International and Harrogate Skills 4 Living (HS4L) both work to provide care and support to disabled people.
The mosaic was made by disabled artists from Artizan, a Harrogate-based charity that runs arts and crafts workshops and provides training to disabled people.
The ceramic-tile piece has been given to HS4L for it to display outside its new training centre.
HS4L bought the training centre in early April and has been using the space to run education programmes and internships for young people with learning disabilities.
Hadyn Moorby-Davies, HS4L’s chief executive said:
“It’s wonderful to collaborate and work with people who share the same vision, values and aspirations as we do – to help disabled individuals overcome the barriers they face and lead fulfilled lives”
“The beautiful mosaic will look stunning on the bare brick walls of our new training centre.”
Mr Moorby-Davies added that the theme of the mosaic, ‘Many Hands’ encompassed the charities’ ethos of “supporting each other to achieve the best possible outcomes for all.”
Artizan has become a local specialist in mosaics and in 2022 created the giant Harrogate letters displayed on the side of the Boots building in the town centre.
Liz Cluderay, Artizan’s UK director said:
“We have been delighted to create this beautiful mosaic for our friends at HS4L for them to display in their fantastic new training centre – North Barn.
“Working together on projects as organisations serving the needs of our disabled community will help us to reach more people that will benefit from our services.”
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School creates new mosaics with help from Harrogate charity
Four new mosaics have been installed outside a school in Harrogate thanks to a partnership with a local charity.
Artizan‘s members have created the mosaics to highlight Oatlands Junior School‘s values of equality and diversity, curiosity, and safety.
They have been placed around the school, with a fourth mosaic outside the arts studio designed to inspire imagination, creativity and exploration.
The four artworks were created children from the school and members of Artizan together, which benefitted both groups.
Hannah Alderson, the school’s art and design technology lead, said:
“This incredible project gave differently able mosaic artists the opportunity to become the trainer; showing children how to mosaic, which of course is a powerful situation for them both to experience.
“[It was] empowering for members of Artizan and a transformation of attitude for the children, seeing people with disabilities in a different light as confident and creative skilled artists.”
For more information about how Artizan can work with local schools, email Liz Cluderay.
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