Eight organisations in the Harrogate district have benefitted from a share of £94,000 worth of grants provided by the Freemasons.
Freemasonry is a male only, fraternal organisation that traces its origins back to the local guilds of stonemasons.
A total of 40 grants have been distributed to organisations across Yorkshire, with many charitable organisations, including youth clubs, food banks, community groups and schools.
Those Harrogate District organisations benefiting from the latest round of grant giving were:
- Artizan Café and Creative Space, Harrogate, £5,000
- Henshaw’s Society for Blind People, £3,395,
- Harrogate Hospital Radio, Harrogate, £3,000, for broadcasting software
- Coppice Valley Primary School, Harrogate, £2,748, for outdoor playground equipment
- Ripon’s Men’s Shed, Ripon, £2,000, for woodworking equipment
- Girlguiding Birk Crag Centre, Harrogate, £2,000, for shop storage, display units, seating and furniture
- Supporting Older People, Harrogate and Knaresborough, £1,586, for warm comfort packs
- Ripon YMCA, Ripon, £1,000, for branded clothing for staff and youth leaders
- Staveley Sports Association, Staveley, Knaresborough, £1,000, for football goal posts, nets and equipment
James H Newman, OBE, The Provincial Grand Master of The Province of Yorkshire West Riding, said:
“With these grants we are able to financially support 40 organisations, which are each integral to the local area in their own way, is something I am very proud of.
“Each year, we donate some £200,000 from this specific fund to good causes around the Province, with the money coming directly from our members, keen to help support the community they live and work in.
“These grants were a superb way to end 2022, and the money each of these 40 recipients is receiving will help them continue the work they do in their own individual communities.”
Based on the old West Riding, the Province has around 5,000 members and reaches from Sheffield in the South to Ripon in the North, Goole in the East to Bentham in the West.
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Harlow Hill ‘men’s shed’ gets to work repairing Pinewoods sign
Members of Harlow Hill’s new ‘men’s shed’ have been busy repairing a damaged display board in the Pinewoods.
The men’s shed was set up in February for men in the Harlow Hill area to boost mental health and tackle loneliness in the area.
Many of their members have woodwork skills so the charity Pinewoods Conservation Group asked if they could help out repair a display board that helps visitors navigate the 96-acre woodland.
For their first job, men’s shed members have spent time over the last few weekends replacing rotten timbers and putting the board back in place.
Men’s sheds are part of a wider organisation of ‘sheds’ that began in Australia. Their goal is to create a space for older men to come together to create and build while making friends. Women are welcome, too.
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John Hart, who set up Harlow Hill men’s shed said:
“Our members know the Pinewoods well and were pleased to be able to help the Pinewoods Conservation Group. This was our first official job the group had carried out and are very pleased with the result. We know like many charities funding can be challenging so we hope there are more opportunities for us to support local groups”.
Neil Hind, chair of The Pinewoods Conservation Group said:
Harlow Hill men’s shed aims to boost mental health“We heard that the group was up and running so were delighted that they agreed to help us. Originally, we thought a whole new display board maybe required but with some ingenuity from the group they were able to repair the board in situ saving us considerable funds. The display board should now be operational for a good number of years to come.”
A men’s shed is being set up for Harlow Hill to boost mental health and tackle loneliness in the area.
Men’s sheds are part of a wider organisation of ‘sheds’ that began in Australia. Their goal is to create a space for older men to come together to create and build while making friends. Women are welcome, too.
Sheds have been created over the past couple of years in Harrogate, Ripon and Pateley Bridge.
Harlow Hill’s men’s shed is being set up by local resident John Hart. He told the Stray Ferret he hopes the space will help men become more active whilst sharing how they feel.
He said:
“What has become apparent since covid is with men in particular and mental health issues, we don’t talk much about until we commit suicide.
“We need to do something to try and prevent it.”
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Men’s sheds have traditionally focused on developing practical skills, such as woodwork or toolmaking.
Mr Hart said the Harlow Hill men’s shed could also offer a variety of activities, from art or rambling to computer literacy.
He is the chairman of the Harlow Hill Community Centre, also known as the Green Hut, which will be utilised as the ‘shed’.
However, Mr Hart is also on the lookout for potential workshops, barns or buildings that could be used too.
He encouraged anyone living locally to give the men’s shed a try:
“Tell your dad, uncle or the bloke down the pub, let’s have a go.”
Mr Hart expects the Harlow Hill men’s shed to begin on Tuesday afternoons from later this month. Anyone with questions or who is interested in joining can contact him: johnrhart@live.co.uk
Ripon Men’s Shed opens door to new friendshipsRipon Men’s Shed opened its doors this week, bringing an enormous collaborative effort to fruition.
Following a June 2019 meeting at Community House in Allhallowgate to gauge interest in the project, the charity’s trustees – Andrew Makey, Caroline Bentham, Ed Moore and Tony Johnson – made great strides, in spite of the intervening limitations brought by covid.
The Men’s Shed movement, which addresses issues of loneliness and social isolation, has a specific focus on the older male population, but women are welcome too.
Getting to know the drill – Catherine Limbert joins in woodworking activities with fellow members
There are also Sheds in Harrogate, Starbeck and Pateley Bridge, offering weekly activities ranging from joinery to the restoration of bicycles.
Mr Makey, who is responsible for publicity for Ripon Men’s Shed, told the Stray Ferret:
“Our initial focus is on woodworking, but there are opportunities to look at other areas as well, such as computers.
“The activities, which the members will decide upon themselves, provide a focus and we hope that through their attendance, they will get to know each other and enjoy the social interaction.”
For John Hayson, a retired master plumber living in Boroughbridge, the Men’s Shed will be something to look forward to.
He said:
“I’ve been in hospital recently and after I was discharged, I was bedridden for a few weeks.
“That left me feeling hopeless, particularly as I have a disabled wife that I am caring for.
“I heard about the men’s shed and thought that attending it would be a way of rebuilding my confidence and making friends, by being with like-minded people for a few hours a week, while my wife is looked after by some lovely neighbours we have.”
Catherine Limbert is currently the only female member, but is not phased by being in an all-male environment.
Catherine Limbert — looking forward to learning new skills and making friends at the Men’s Shed
The NHS nurse said:
“I’m happy to speak with anybody and to learn from the expertise they have in areas that I’ve never tried before, such as using an electric drill.
“I have a couple of free days a week and this is a great way of getting out of the house, learning DIY skills and meeting new people.”
While the social aspect of the shed is good for members, it is also beneficial for the people involved in delivering the sessions.
The Ripon Men’s Shed premises, to the rear of the New Life Church in Water Skellgate
Barry Sutton, who was formerly secretary of Selkirk Community Shed, has brought the knowledge he gained in Scotland back to his native country.
The retired forester and now community volunteer, said:
“I believe it’s important for people to stay as active as possible, use their skills and have a sense of purpose.
“Being involved in an organisation like this is a win-win situation for all involved.”
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With a chair lift provided from monies secured by Ripon’s North Yorkshire county councillors Stuart Martin and Mike Chambers, the Tuesday sessions between 10am and 4pm are being made as accessible as possible.
Anybody wishing to become a member, or get involved in other ways, such as making a donation or providing practical assistance with provision of tools that can be used in woodworking sessions, can find out more on the Ripon Men’s Shed Facebook page.