Cats Protection is set to open a new shop in Harrogate.

The store, which will operate under the charity’s boutique retail arm called Cattitude, will be located at 8 Oxford Street.

The shop, which will sell fashion items and accessories, is seeking volunteers.

Sarah Jordan, retail operations manager at the charity, said: 

“We have been hoping to open a store in Harrogate for many years and we’re delighted to finally be able to make this happen.

“The final touches are being put together as we speak and we hope to be able to announce an opening date very soon. In the meantime, anyone looking for new, exciting retail positions is invited to get in touch.”

Cats Protection helps an average of 157,000 cats and kittens a year through its national network, which includes around 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres. 

Its retail arm helps to raise funds to ensure as many cats as possible can go on to live happy lives.

For more information about volunteering at the charity, visit the Cats Protection website.

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The Stray Ferret is launching a charity calendar to showcase this years’ Photo of the Week entries. Now, we need your help to decide the summer images.

From Studley Deer Park to flowing rivers, Photo of The Week showcases the natural beauty offered in the Harrogate district every Sunday.

See the contenders below and vote for your favourites on our competition page! The winning photos will be included in the summer months of the calendar.

A nine-year-old Harrogate boy is walking 200 miles, inspired by his dad who has Friedrich’s ataxia.

He aims to raise money for Ataxia UK, a charity that funds treatment and provides support for those with ataxia.

Ataxia is a term for a group of neurological disorders that affect balance, coordination and speech

His mum, Helen Gibson, explained the impact of his dad’s condition on Jack:

“Jack and his dad are very close but Jack sometimes struggles as his dad can’t do all of the things he would like him to because of his condition and tires easily.”

Jack attends young carers events in Harrogate. After smashing his original goal to walk 126 miles, he chose to increase his goal to 200 miles.

He has been walking at least three miles a day for four weeks to complete his goal. Some days he has walked as far as 8 miles.

Jack’s inspiration to walk was explained by his mum,

“He chose walking as he said it was something that was free and something that his dad can still do at the moment.”

Jack’s walks have been local, on the Stray or at Fountains Abbey. On holiday, he has completed his walks at Alton Towers or nearby National Trust locations.

He also walked the coast where his parents are originally from.

Both family and friends have joined Jack on his walks.

The family have a goal of £500 and have already raised £435.

If you are interested in donating to Jack’s fundraiser, there is a Just Giving page.

A year of more than 40 performances has seen a Harrogate ukulele group raise £4,500 for charity.  

The group is partnered with Saint Michael’s Hospice, and all donations and performance fees are given to the Harrogate-based charity. 

The Harrogate Spa Town Ukes was formed nearly 10 years ago by two members of the Bingley Ukulele club who wanted a group closer to home.  

Since then, it has gone from strength to strength.

Bob Mansfield, the group’s events coordinator, said:

“The club has increased steadily over the years with over 40 members now. Ages do vary, but it is fair to say that the majority are around, or over, retirement age. The gender mix is pretty well equal.” 

The group meets weekly on Wednesday evenings at Oatlands Social Club and includes many former guitarists.

Mr Mansfield said their sets are “not all George Formby classics”, instead being made up of vintage rock and pop music.  

The band has up to 20 players and regularly performs on Saturdays around Harrogate and the surrounding area. All performances are by volunteers with the aim of raising money for charity.   

When asked why they chose the ukulele over other instruments, Bob Mansfield referred to a comment made by one audience member, who said, “you can’t listen to the ukulele without smiling”.  

Further information about the group can be found on its website.

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A Harrogate woman is set to swim the equivalent distance of the English Channel for the 11th time in aid of charity.

Angie Russell, who lives in Bilton, will take on the challenge to raise money for Aspire.

The charity, which was founded in 1982, provides practical support those who have been paralysed by a spinal cord injury.

Angie was inspired to help after reading an article about how the organisation helped a man who broke his spine in a car accident.

She will take on the Aspire channel swim on September 18, which tasks participants with swimming 22 miles over the course of 12 weeks.

Those taking part can swim the distance in their own time and at a place of their choice, such as a local swimming pool.

Speaking ahead of the swim, Angie said:

“I love swimming because I love the water and the freedom it offers, the meditative state it brings and the relaxing and stress-relieving benefits, as well as general fitness and toning.  

“I enjoy the Aspire channel swim because it gives me the focus of swimming a certain distance within a certain time. 

“I have a busy life and it gives me an ‘excuse’ to take time for myself to go swimming and to help a good cause.”

The Aspire channel swim has so far seen 381 swimmers sign up and raised £6,144.

For more information on the challenge and to donate, visit the Aspire website here.

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A new community group has been set up with the aim of building more support for people in Knaresborough.

Life Aid Knaresborough was created by volunteers four weeks ago and has already attracted more than 200 members to its Facebook group.

Its aim is to organise events, raise money for charities, and bring the community together.

Stacey Worrall, who was one of the founders, told the Stray Ferret:

“There’s so many people in what some say is a rich town, but it’s not – the poverty at the moment is higher than ever.

“It would be nice to be able to have some funding in a pot where, if we hear of a family that’s struggling, to be able to help the people of Knaresborough out.”

While local support is the long-term aim, the first project the group is working on is raising money for a fire engine to send to Volodymyr in Ukraine.

The city has strong links with Knaresborough, after resident Bob Frendt made eight aid trips there over the course of 15 months after the war began last February.

Bob Frendt has delivered eight lorry loads of medical and other supplies to Ukraine

He built connections with local dignitaries and, on what he said was his final trip, was asked by the mayor to deliver a fire engine after its appliances were commandeered to help in the war effort.

While an official scheme has seen fire engines delivered to Ukraine from the UK, these have gone directly to Kyiv and have not benefitted outlying communities like Volodymyr, which is in western Ukraine.

Bob said:

“The problem is, for the towns to try and get an engine back, they have got to grease the wheels, they’ve got to give a backhander to someone.

“Volodymyr is such a poor place, they can’t afford to give a backhander, so they can’t get the fire engine back.

“When I was there, I met a woman whose husband was killed in the war. She lived in an apartment on the sixth floor of a building – and those buildings are poorly built to start with.

“We asked what would happen if the apartment block caught fire. Without thinking, she said, ‘we will die’.

“For her sake and her children, I have to get a fire engine to them.”

Mr Frendt hopes to raise enough money to deliver a second-hand fire appliance in October, and has already passed the £5,000 mark.

Life Aid has already begin helping his fundraising efforts, with several events planned for the summer.

Knaresborough Cricket Club will host live music on Friday, August 25. Entry will be free, with donations taken towards the fire engine fundraising.

The following day, venues around Knaresborough are taking part in a series of events designed to get the whole community involved.

There will be face painting and children’s games at the kiosk at Conyngham Hall, while the World’s End pub will have live music from a folk duo.

A disco will be held at Park Place Social Club, supported by Yorkshire Young Farmers, and other venues around the town will offer open mic nights.

Entry is free, but volunteers will be visiting all the venues to collect donations.

The organisers are also keen to hear from local businesses interested in sponsoring or supporting the events, or getting involved in the future.

Stacey added:

“We hope Knaresborough will be heaving with visitors and locals for the bank holiday.

“If it’s a success, we’re planning to carry on every year on the same day, raising money for different charities and helping locals in need.”

To find out more, join the Facebook group. To donate to Bob Frendt’s fire engine fundraiser, click here.

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Five decades of dedication will be on show in a village near Ripon this weekend as part of the national open gardens scheme.

David and Sally Walden have lived at Greencroft for 49 years, slowly transforming the one-acre garden and adding new features.

For the last 25 years, they have opened the gates to the garden on Pottery Lane as part of the National Garden Scheme, and will do so again this Sunday, from noon until 4pm.

Daughter Rachel Beadle told the Stray Ferret:

“When they bought the property it was just one field going right up to the back of a two-up, two-down house.

“My dad is a builder, now retired aged 80, and mum is the gardener, aged 79.

“They have built and gardened the whole thing over 49 years, adding bits on over the years. Mum spent many, many days mixing cement for dad!

“Dad has built every structure, wall and waterfall, from the log cabin to the the summer house. Mum still gardens the whole thing herself: there are no external gardeners.”

The annual open afternoon always raises money for charities chosen by the NGS. Over the years, Rachel said the couple have raised £35,000 for the likes of Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK and the Carers’ Trust.

Entry is £5 for adults, while children go free, and there will be tea and cakes available.

Rachel added:

“My sisters, brother and I are all super proud of them.”

A woman seriously injured in a tractor accident near Masham has become a fundraiser for the air ambulance charity that came to her rescue.

Michelle Raine suffered a broken pelvis and serious spinal injuries when a tractor she was a passenger in rolled down a hill in August 2017.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance provided her with critical emergency medical care, pain relief and airlifted her to Leeds General Infirmary.

Ms Raine underwent emergency surgery to stabilise her pelvis and during her two-week hospital stay she also battled pneumonia, which resulted in the collapse of her lungs.

She then spent two months in a wheelchair but eventually made a full recovery.

Ms Raine, whose rescue was broadcast on the TV programme Helicopter ER, has now become a community fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

She said:

“Their swift response and expert care during my accident were nothing short of miraculous.

“Now, as part of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance family, I cherish the opportunity to give back and make a positive impact on the lives of others, just like they did for me.”

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Ms Raine’s passion for the cause has been evident a long time already: one year after her accident she organised a fundraising ball that raised £15,000 for the charity.

Regional fundraising manager Linda Stead said:

“Michelle is an invaluable asset to our fundraising team. Her firsthand experience as an ex-patient allows her to connect with donors and supporters on a deeper level, inspiring them with her remarkable journey and gratitude.”

Johnsons of Whixley has secured a contract to supply five thousand plants to a five-star luxury spa hotel in County Durham.

The horticultural business supplied a range of shrubs and trees to Seaham Hall Hotel, for planting around its bungalow lodges, spa area and hotel terrace.

Johnsons of Whixley worked with garden designer Richard Porter of Garden Vision Ltd.

Founded over 100 years ago, Johnsons is a three-generation family business. Previous hotel projects include Grantley Hall in Ripon.

Seaham Hall Hotel was converted into a luxury hotel in 2012.

Johnsons’ marketing manager, Eleanor Richardson, said:

“We are thrilled to work with the Seaham Hall Hotel team as their ambitious development plans get underway, in collaboration with our customer Richard from Garden Vision Durham, who delivered the design, hard and soft landscaping of the project.”

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A team from Berwins solicitors in Harrogate spent yesterday cycling in the centre of town to raise money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

8 staff members of the legal firm- ranging from a director to team assistant- peddled in a fundraiser entitled “Go The Distance”.

The 85km static cycle was taken in stages by two team members at a time – cycling a theoretical journey from the YAA’s Air Support Unit at Nostell near Wakefield to the Berwins’ offices in Leeds, Harrogate and York before ending at RAF Topcliffe.

The air ambulance is Berwins’ chosen charity for 2023.

The Berwins team peddling away for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance

About 700 people took part in the Race for Life fundraising event in Harrogate on Sunday, generating £95,000 for cancer research.

The number appears to be sharply down on last year, when some 1,400 people pledged to take part.

Cancer Research UK organises Race for Life events across the country to fund scientists to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Participants on the Stray dodged the thunder storms to take part in 3k, 5k or 10k events.

Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK’s spokesperson in Harrogate, said numbers were down because there wasn’t a Pretty Muddy or Pretty Muddy Kids event this year.

She said the charity was “incredibly grateful to everyone who took part”, adding:

“The atmosphere at Race for Life Harrogate was hugely moving — full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter as people celebrated the lives of those dear to them who have survived cancer and remembered loved ones lost to the disease.

“Now we’re asking everyone who took part to return the money they’re raised as soon as possible.”

Race for Life has raised over £940m towards life-saving research since it began 30 years ago.  More than 10 million people have taken part.

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