£22,000 fundraising campaign launched for Ripon Walled Garden

The charity that runs Ripon Walled Garden has launched a £22,000 fundraising campaign to buy new facilities for the disabled people it helps.

Ripon Community Link, which provides day support services for people with learning difficulties, operates from two sites in the city area — St Wilfrid’s Bungalow and Ripon Walled Garden.

Many of the people it helps work at the walled garden. The fundraising campaign will help to finish and furnish a new building on the site which they will use.

The building, which includes four classrooms, a reception and toilets, has already been paid for by grants and donations.

Victoria Ashley, Ripon Community Link chief executive, said:

“The new building is the next phase of our improvements for the walled garden to benefit members, customers, staff and volunteers.

“The opening of the toilet block was a major step for us, and now we are setting our sights on this new building, specifically aimed at benefitting our members. Our aim is to have this new facility fully opened in autumn”

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A charity gold day at Rudding Park on August 19 is among the events planned to support the fundraising campaign.

To donate, click here.

Harrogate district charities receive £45,000 from Local Fund

Nineteen not-for-profit organisations in the Harrogate district have been awarded a total of £45,000 to help restart their activities after covid from The Local Fund for the Harrogate District.

The fund, which is a partnership between Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate and District Community Action and Two Ridings Community Foundation, was established in 2017 to provide grant funding to local voluntary organisations.

Successful applicants include Boroughbridge and District Community Care , which will use the grant to fund the running costs of providing a new minibus service to a farm shop and Nidderdale and Pateley Bridge Men’s Shed, which will spend the money on power tools.

This was the third round of funding from the Local Fund.

Jan Garrill, chief executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation, said:

“All the projects funded are working so hard to help local people safely reconnect, get active and be social again, whatever their circumstances.”

Sam Gibbs, chair of Harrogate Borough Council’s voluntary and community sector liaison group and a member of the Local Fund grants panel, said it had been an incredibly tough year for charities, adding:

“Now, more than ever, it is critical these charities receive vital funds to ensure they can restart their activities and continue supporting as many people as possible.”

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Full Circle Funerals contributed to the sum of funding awarded.

Those that received funding were:

Harrogate Clothes Bank to reduce services after losing premises

Harrogate Clothes Bank will be without a permanent home at the end of this week, meaning services will be cut.

The charity provides free clothing for local people in need but its lease on a unit at McCarthy’s Storage World on Ripon Road, Harrogate is coming to an end.

It means the organisation will no longer be able to offer in-person appointments or accept public donations. It will, however, provide home deliveries.

Mike Procter, the charity’s co-ordinator, said the charity was likely to move its stock to a number of temporary locations until it found a permanent solution.

The clothes bank has already called for new accommodation but with no success. It is in need of a 1,200 square foot unit at an affordable rent.

The space also needs to be in an easily accessible location, ideally on a main bus route.

A Harrogate Clothes Bank Facebook post today said:

“Changes are coming at the clothes bank: Saturday 31st July is our last day at McCarthy’s Storage World before we move into temporary premises. Please call in to see us between 10.30 and 12.30 if you need our service, it will be your last chance to visit in person for a few weeks.
“We are unable to accept donations at the moment.”

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The clothes bank, which is run entirely by volunteers, was set up in 2016. Families in financial difficulty in Harrogate can get in touch on Facebook and inform the charity of its needs.

Mr Procter previously told the Stray Ferret:

“There are many reasons why people may need our help, it could be due to long-term financial issues or a crisis situation causing critical need such as escaping an abusive relationship.

“We will continue to help as many people as we can.”

Scotton girls run 24 hours to raise funds after vandals strike

A junior football team from Scotton that was targeted by vandals has completed a 24 hour fun run to raise money for repairs.

Vandals damaged the goals used by Scotton Scorchers under 14s girls team during lockdown.

This prompted the team to raise money towards creating safe storage for the goalposts and upgrading the clubhouse kitchen.

So at 2pm on Saturday the players set off, helped by coaches and parents, on the run in an attempt to raise £1,000.

At least two people were running at all times during the challenge, which was successfully completed yesterday.

The team beat its £1,000 target — at the time of publication the fundraiser is at £1,255. You can click or tap here to donate to the gofundme page.

Tinker the horse, an unlikely team mascot who wears the Scotton Scorchers’ number 10 shirt, even helped by guiding the runners home.

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It will cost more than £5,000 to complete the works so the club has more fundraising events planned.

Wayne Latimer, the under-14s girls coach, told the Stray Ferret:

“It has been a difficult year for the team but they have come back and not only have the under-14 girls team won their league but so have the under-16 girls team.

“I am sure quite a few of them will still be resting up in bed today but I am incredibly proud of all of the girls who took part in the 24-hour fun run.

“They have absolutely smashed the target of £1,000 and it will make a big difference for the club.”

Anyone who would like to join the team can find out more information on the club website. Or send an email to the club secretary Mike Collier.

Harrogate and Knaresborough to get community grocery shops

Resurrected Bites is set to reopen its cafes for the first time in more than a year and launch what it calls community grocery shops.

The volunteer group, which specialises in turning food destined for the bin into nutritious meals, has delivered food to more than 15,000 people during coronavirus.

Michelle Hayes, the founder of Resurrected Bites, is proud of what her team has achieved but she feels that now is the right time to re-open its cafes.

While the group is well-known for turning food into meals, it is now preparing to launch its own shops at Harrogate’s New Park Primary Academy and at a yet-to-be-finalised location in central Knaresborough.

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The shops are intended to help anyone struggling to buy food. For between £3 and £5, people who sign up as members of the shop will be able to pick up a large amount of fresh and frozen food.

If the shops, which will be opening around September to October, go well then Ms Hayes has plans to open a third in the Fairfax area of Harrogate. She told the Stray Ferret:

“Community groceries are different from food banks because people pay a small amount rather than relying on vouchers.

“Anyone who needs it can pay a small amount for quite a lot of food. That small costs also gives people dignity.”

To get the projects off the ground, the group has started a fundraising campaign with a target of £2,000. Click or tap here to donate.

Resurrected Bites’ cafes are expected to return in the second week of September.

The cafe at Gracious Street in Knaresborough will be open on Tuesday and Friday from 10am to 2pm. The group has also moved the Wednesday cafe in Harrogate from St Mark’s Church to West Park United Reformed Church.

Charity Corner: Two clothes charities provide lifeline for Harrogate families

Two charities in Harrogate are working hand in hand to provide people and struggling families with free clothing.

The Harrogate Clothes Bank and The Village provide clothes to a vast range of people in need of their help.

The clothes bank was set up in July 2016 to cover for an unmet social support needs in Harrogate. It started by providing free clothes, bedding, toys and baby equipment to the refugees and asylum seekers arriving into the district.

In 2018 it was expanded to anyone on a low income. Then in 2020, to avoid duplicating what other charities were doing, all its baby toys were donated to Harrogate and Knaresborough Toy Library and baby clothing to The Village.

In 2015, Jess Price set up The Village (previously called Baby Basics) to offer clothing bundles for children up to six. It also puts together starter bundles for new mums and provides nappies, push chairs and other larger items.

The Village and the clothes bank now work together to make sure families in need are cared for.

The charities support those fleeing domestic abuse, asylum seekers or if they are on a low income. People are often referred to the charities by local organisations but can also get in touch directly if they are in need of clothing.

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Both charities say, although it may not be apparent in Harrogate, there is a great demand for services like their’s.

Mike Proctor, co-ordinator of Harrogate Clothes Bank said:

“There are many charity shops in Harrogate offering clothes at low prices, but for some people any cost is unaffordable. This might be due to long-term financial problems or a situation of sudden crisis and critical need when a large number of items are needed suddenly. For example when fleeing domestic violence. On average our service users take 15 to 20 items per visit.”

Since the start of the pandemic the number of families accessing the clothes bank has dropped but Mr Proctor expects levels rise to those similar to pre-pandemic in the coming months.

For Ms Price self referrals to The Village have increased over the pandemic. She said:

“There is definitely a need in and around Harrogate. We’ve seen an increase in self referrals since covid hit. People we give things too often go through redundancy, separation, fleeting domestic abuse, emotional trauma. We cater for many refugee families in the area.”

Free, revamped nature trail set to open at Harrogate’s Horticap

Harrogate charity Horticap’s newly revamped nature trail, which is free to visit, will open on Monday.

Horticap, which is based at Bluecoat Wood Nurseries, provides adults with learning and other disabilities training in horticulture, allied crafts and rural skills.

A £5,000 donation enabled it to invest in in making its nature trail more accessible to all.

Full of hidden nooks and places to explore, the new nature trail has been built with a focus on green energy and sustainability.

It includes educational signs telling visitors about the local landscape and the animals living within it.

The aim is to encourage people to look more closely at what is around them.

The trail also has large, communal areas to allow people to just sit and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

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The charity has also just finished renovating its Hopkins cafe and shop.

The charity was able to use money left by a previous student, Peter Hopkins, to renovate the cafe to bring in extra income and offer students work experience.

Harrogate charity seeking hosts for domestic abuse victims

Do you have a spare room in Harrogate that could host victims of domestic abuse?

The domestic abuse charity IDAS says too often people leaving an abusive relationship are unable to access emergency accommodation to help them plan for their future.

It runs a project called Safe Havens where hosts receive specialist training and provide accommodation for people who are escaping dangerous situations. They are also supported by a dedicated domestic abuse worker.

Pauline (not her real name), a survivor of domestic abuse, said:

“If I had known what help was out there when I was trying to leave, things would have turned out very differently for me. I was young and very scared of my then husband. My family not only did not recognise the abuse but wanted me to stay with my husband. It was only when he went on to remarry his second wife, who left him for the same reasons, that people began to realise what he was.

“I wish I could have taken my daughter and run, even just for a few days to get my head straight, but I had nowhere safe to go and he’d threaten me with awful things if I tried. I know now that IDAS would have helped, and I could have avoided 8 years of pain. Being offered a safe place, for a short time might have made all the difference to me and I’m sure it will make all the difference to people who are trapped with abusers now.”

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Anna Dinsdale, Local Area Manager IDAS, added:

“Escaping an abusive partner or family member is rarely straight forward, it takes tremendous bravery and courage. The IDAS Safe Havens hosted, emergency accomodation project aims to provide people with the option of short-term respite and relief in addition to our refuge accomodation.

“Safe Havens hosts will play a key role in assisting their guests by making them feel safe and welcome in their home, giving them time to consider their next steps.”

The charity is running a series of information sessions for members of the public who are interested in becoming hosts. For more information, please email Mel.Milner@idas.org.uk

Harrogate group to finally swim English Channel after cancellations

Team ‘SwimyourChannelswim’ is ready to complete its charity relay across the English Channel after three cancellations due to covid and bad weather.

Friends Andrea Stark and Jacqui Hargrave decided to do the relay for charity but needed two more team members. They convinced Jonty Warneken and Richard Powell to join.

Each swimmer has chosen a separate charity to donate support.

Jacqui Hargrave is donating to Saint Michael’s Hospice, Andrea Stark is donating to the Samaritans, Richard Powell has chosen Combat Stress as his charity and Jonty Warneken is donating to Open Country.

After each cancellation a team is required to complete a qualifying exam in 16 degree waters for 2 hours. The team is determined, however, and has re-qualified for the relay after every cancellation.

English Channel relay swim

The team gets ready in Whitby.

Swimming the English Channel requires great stamina, it can take the team 12 to 14 hours to complete the relay.

According to the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation, keeping away from shipping lanes and strong waves can add hours and miles to the relay with the longest recorded time being 29 hours.

Other dangers of swimming across the English Channel include sewerage, changes in weather, strong waves, jellyfish stings and hypothermia.

Jacqui said “my biggest worry is seeing a shadow in the water and being like, ‘what is that!'”

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English Channel relay swim

Jonty preparing for the English Channel

Team leader Andrea Stark said how the team came together:

“Jacqui and I committed ourselves to taking on the Channel Challenge before we got any older and bits of us start falling off. We managed to persuade Jonty and Richard to make up a team – it’s now or never!”

Jonty Warneken said why he is donating to Open Country:

Daring abseil at Harrogate hotel raises £16,000 for cat charity

Around 70 volunteers took on a daring abseil down Harrogate’s Crowne Plaza Hotel today to raise money for Yorkshire Cat Rescue.

The event, which was delayed because of coronavirus, took place today between 10am and 4.30pm.

So far the abseil has raised more than £16,000 for the charity, which will use the money to rescue more cats, food, vet bills and shelter.

With so many people taking part and restrictions still in place, the fearless participants were spaced apart in groups of three.

It was a rather damp start to the morning but with little wind, the event could still go ahead.

Jo Beverley, one of the event organisers, told the Stray Ferret:

“It’s huge, that amount of money. Obviously with coronavirus we have been really hit hard in terms of getting cats out to new homes and fundraising.

“So it has been really, really difficult. This just means that we can help more. The more money we have coming in, the more cats we can help.

“This event has been a long time coming. We have had delays after delays but we are here and we are doing it, this is fabulous.”

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This isn’t the first daring exploit run by the charity; last year it held a ‘firewalk’ in Skipton where participants walked over burning coals.

Yorkshire Cat Rescue has been taking in unwanted cats and kittens and giving them homes for nearly 20 years. As an independent charity, it relies on fundraising to keep going.

Charlie Lovatt, who was dressed as Spiderman and the first to take on the challenge, told the Stray Ferret:

“If you are going to go down a building, you need to do it in style. It just felt necessary, I bought the Spiderman outfit for the occasion.

“It was alright, I have abseiled before. But it was quite high and it went really quick.”

Dan Howard, who has hosted pub quizzes for Yorkshire Cat Rescue over the last year was also roped in for the abseil. He told the Stray Ferret:

“It was really fun. The hardest thing was getting over the edge. Once you feel the rope has you it feels a bit more comfortable and you can have more fun with it.

“I started getting involved with the charity in the first lockdown. Through the quizzes alone we raised about £5,000.”