This article is sponsored by North Yorkshire County Council. 

Some workers leave the care sector for jobs in retail, but Alex Slade has taken the opposite route and is riding high with a successful and satisfying career in North Yorkshire.

In addition to her work helping those who have been in hospital to live back in the community, Alex has a day each week studying for her Level Three qualification in Health and Social Care, which will help her career progress.

In the meantime, however, Alex, 29, enjoys her role with the County Council’s north Harrogate reablement team because of the positive impact she can have on people’s lives. She said:

“In this team you see people progress and sometimes they can go on to not need care.

“It is lovely to help people become independent again and I find it very rewarding.”

The job can involve, quite literally, getting people back on their feet after a fall, or learning to look after themselves again after a stay in hospital.

She had spent five years working as a one-to-one carer before moving to the re-ablement team, a switch which allowed her to get to know a wider spectrum of people.

It is a very different world from the early years of her career, working in a burger bar at 16 before moving on to shops.

Although Alex finds her main work rewarding, she has a broad sphere of responsibilities, including spending time as an Independence Co-ordinator, conducting assessments to work out the type of help – such as specialist equipment – clients may need.

She also acts as the team’s ‘champion’ for both medication and recycling – working with GPs and their patients to prevent unintended stockpiling of medicines, which could be harmful in some cases, while also encouraging people to recycle waste when her visits are taking place – helping them make a positive contribution to society despite the restrictions they may face.

Alex’s spread of responsibilities, coupled with working towards a higher qualification, reflect the career development encouraged by North Yorkshire’s senior staff. She said:

“My team manager always wants us to be our best-selves and encourages us to do more.”

Read More: 

• Join Team North Yorkshire – become a care professional and make a difference

This article is sponsored by Raworths Solicitors. 

Going through a divorce is a challenging time for everyone involved. Despite the best intentions at the outset to be civil, the mood can quickly become acrimonious and antagonistic, which makes the whole process unpleasant, drawn out – and more costly.

The family law team at Raworths has been working with families for decades, offering support and expertise to ensure the divorce process meets everyone’s objectives without unnecessary conflict or cost.

Solicitors Carmelita Ardren, head of the family law team and Ellie Foster, legal director, have guided many through the emotionally charged process of divorce. In an increasingly digital era they are encouraging those getting a divorce, or going through the process to consider their digital footprint and to…

Think before you click.

The use of social media to investigate an estranged spouse during divorce is increasing.

Carmelita said:

“Using social media posts to show the other person’s behaviour can rapidly increase the temperature in divorce proceedings, lead to acrimony, and make things very difficult.

“My rule would be to think really carefully about how what you post online could be interpreted by the other person – and others in your community.”

Ellie added:

“I’ve seen times where social media posts show that one person’s lifestyle is very different to the message they’re saying elsewhere, for example to their solicitor.

“Rather than being open and transparent, it just arouses suspicion from day one and immediately leads to mistrust.”

So what are some of the key areas to avoid when posting on social media during a divorce?

• New relationships. Especially if one person has moved on more quickly than the other, it can cause unnecessary distress.
• Anything that’s different to what you’re saying elsewhere. As Carmelita says, “If you’re claiming you can’t work because of ill health, don’t post about completing a half-marathon. It sounds obvious, but it happens.”
• Anything illegal. Publicising details of proceedings or arrangements, especially involving children, can be against the law.

Carmelita and Ellie stress that staying as civil as possible throughout the divorce is beneficial for everyone – especially where children are involved.

Ellie said:

“It’s so easy for comments posted on social media about your partner to get back to your children, through their own friends and parents. Think about the potential effect on them before you post.”

And as Carmelita points out, it’s not just about young children:

“You might be friends with your teen or adult children on social media. Think about your privacy settings and how details of new relationships or complaints about their other parent could raise questions or make children very uncomfortable.

“Also remember that you aren’t just in your children’s lives until they are 18; you’ll still have to come into contact with the other parent at weddings, christenings and other events beyond them turning 18.”

If you’re going through a divorce and see something on social media that you think could help your case, the advice is to get advice.

As Ellie puts it,

“Don’t set out to dig things up on your ex, it’s generally not helpful. But if you do come across something you think is important, don’t share it with the entire community, talk through its relevance with your solicitor.”

Carmelita added:

“You might think it’s the lynchpin. While it might be key in disproving credibility, nine times out of ten it’s not. Diving straight in can complicate things and cause unnecessary conflict.”

The Raworths family law team put the client at the centre of their approach, offering support and guidance to help people move forwards. They can also assist you in accessing other services from counselling to financial advice. 

Contact Ellie, Carmelita and the Raworths family law team on their website. 

The Stray Gardener is written by Rudding Park’s Kitchen Gardener, Fiona Slight. Fiona has worked in horticulture for more than 30 years in the UK and abroad, and specialises in growing fruit and vegetables for fine dining. This month, Fiona explains how we can help wildlife in our gardens by building bug hotels. 

In recent years, the plight of insects in the natural world has come to the fore, and it has been recognised some horticultural techniques we have adopted over the years have a detrimental effect on them, such as pesticides that kill bees and other beneficial insects. Our obsession with having very neat and tidy garden means there are less hiding places for small creatures or our gardens are surrounded by impregnable fences or walls making it hard for animals like hedgehogs to move around. This doesn’t need to continue as we can all do small things to help wildlife return, while still enjoying our lovely gardens.

If you have fruit trees or vegetables it is very beneficial to have as many insects as possible in your garden. This helps with pollination to provide you with a bountiful crop to harvest, so it makes sense to help provide them with extra space to call home. Not only that, you can encourage lots of predatory insects and invertebrates such as lady birds, lacewings, frogs and toads into your garden to help control those pesky pests such as slugs, snails, aphids and caterpillars.

Bug hotels are a fantastic way to give all sorts of insects, invertebrates and small animals a home all year round, and for others a dry, safe and warm place to hibernate in winter.

The best bug hotels have lots of small spaces of different sizes and made from different types of materials. My favourite materials to use include: old bricks with holes in, bamboo canes that have been hollowed out, piles of leaves and pine cones, bits of bark, broken bits of terracotta pots or old terracotta pipes, rolled up pieces of cardboard, in fact anything natural or biodegradable that can provide places to hide will do.

The simplest type of bug hotel can be a pile of logs or sticks in the corner of your garden. If you want to try something a bit more decorative, they can be made from stacked up pallets, brick and stone, which then can have each layer and section filled with different types of material. You could even provide room for a hedgehog, toad or frog to hibernate in the bottom of it by raising the lower level up on bricks to make a nice dark, leafy hole for them.

Many insects prefer shady, dry and cool spots – although some insects, such as bees, prefer the sun. If possible, place your bug hotel so that it has a mix of both sunny and shady areas. This provides both dry and damp areas for the different types of creatures you want to encourage. If possible, place it in a quieter area of the garden to avoid too much disturbance as the bugs start to populate their new residence.

You can of course, buy some lovely ready-made bug hotels. But why not have a go at collecting up some of the materials during January when there is less to do in the garden. Most of them can be found around the garden already to make your own amazing hotel, for a lovely home ready for some very interesting and useful insects, animals and invertebrates to move into.

Happy building!

Fiona’s 5 Top Tips for January

1. Plan your vegetable crop successions for the coming season to get the most out of your growing area.
2. Check overwintering tubers such as dahlias, begonias and cannas for signs of rot and remove any if infected.
3. Ventilate your green house on mild sunny days to help avoid fungal infections.
4. Now’s the time to go and look at winter flowering shrubs and take note of any that you would like to add to your garden.
5. Ornamental grasses can now be cut back, but can be left until later in February to provide cover for wildlife if they are still looking good.

This article is sponsored by Ventur Luxury Travel. 

As the cold weather sets in, the temptation to escape is stronger than ever. So, if you’ve been longing for a dream holiday while curled up at home, now is the time to look ahead to the possibilities that 2022 holds.

Whether you’re longing for a luxury island escape or an unforgettable adventure, the expert advisors at Harrogate’s Ventur Luxury Travel explain the top travel trends they’re seeing this year, with their hand-picked destinations to deliver a holiday that’s more memorable than ever.

Europe tops the travel charts

Lesante Blu – Zakynthos, Greece

As many of us count down to a beach retreat, it’s no surprise that Europe, with its close proximity and beautiful sun-drenched beaches, is set to be one of the most popular destinations for 2022.

And proving the most in-demand country by far amongst Harrogate travellers is Greece. In part due to its consistent travel guidelines, holidays in Greece account for a third of all of Ventur Luxury Travel’s 2022 bookings to date, compared to just 2.5% in 2019. Combined with the increase in demand for luxury experiences, beautiful beaches and sunset vistas, it’s easy to see why it’s become the European getaway of choice.

Destination hotspot: Deep dive into the Greek Islands

Maximising the opportunity to travel, island-hopping is a fun and memorable way to experience the unspoiled Greek islands and soak up lots of different places in just one trip – from golden beaches to vibrant cities. And it’s easier than you might think due to the high frequency of inter-island ferries year-round and leisurely cruise-style ferries during the summer months. Whether it’s the pure luxury of Santorini and Mykonos, or the untouched exclusivity of Sifnos or Paros, Ventur Luxury Travel can help build an itinerary that ticks every box.

Long-haul upgrades for a holiday with the wow-factor

Constance Halaveli – Maldives

As confidence has returned, we’ve seen more people booking a holiday with the wow factor. As a result, people are spending more on luxury upgrades, longer holidays, and more expensive destinations, all of which make long-haul destinations and winter sun more popular than ever.

Remote barefoot island experiences also feel very safe. By their exclusive nature, people aren’t in with the masses, which is why destinations like the Maldives, Barbados, and Antigua have been so popular.

Destination hotspot: Discover your own slice of heaven in the Maldives

A picture-perfect slice of heaven, the Maldives is a diver’s paradise, making it ideal for couples and families alike. Pick from 200 islands accessible by boat or seaplane and discover why the Maldives is crowned the queen of exclusive island escapes.

For the best diving opportunities, choose an island with its own house reef. Each island is unique so talk to Ventur Luxury Travel’s experts to find the best to suit your exact requirements.

Making up for lost time with bucket-list adventures

Chitwa Chitwa – Kruger National Park, South Africa

If we’ve learned anything it’s that time is precious and with this in mind Ventur Luxury Travel is seeing more clients looking to make meaningful memories this year, explaining the soaring popularity of unique bucket-list experiences. From swimming with turtles to trekking in the jungle, people are looking for a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ trip.

Destination hotspot: South Africa

When it comes to adventure, South Africa has it all. Start your trip in vibrant Cape Town, hiking spectacular Table Mountain and soaking up the gorgeous scenery and culture. Wine lovers mustn’t miss an excursion to the stunning Cape winelands; Ventur Luxury Travel recommends Franschhoek due to its quaint village setting, beautiful boutiques and famous wine tram, ready to take you on a unique wine tasting tour!

But when in South Africa, an unforgettable safari is a bucket-list must. Get up close and personal with the ‘big five’ in the famous Kruger National Park, and make these lifelong memories from the comfort of your ultra luxury accommodation. Choose wisely, and you can even have a night to remember sleeping under the stars in the treetops! Not ready to come home after all that? Seychelles is not too far away…

To find out more about the destinations featured, or to book an appointment with Ventur Luxury Travel visit ventur.luxury, speak with an expert on 01423 872 516 or email enquiries@ventur.luxury

This article is sponsored by Yorkshire Water

The Priority Services Register by Yorkshire Water helps customers who might be significantly impacted if they can’t access water for a short period of time, or people who need to tailor their interactions with the company.

Yorkshire Water customers can sign up for a variety of kinds of extra help.

• If you have sight problems or are deaf or hard of hearing, you can receive your bill in large print, braille or audio
• You can sign up for advanced notice of planned works; Yorkshire Water can even arrange a personal visit if there’s something big happening
• If you’re more reliant on a continued water supply (for example if you’re a new parent or have home dialysis), you might be offered a priority water supply connection or get bottled water delivered straight to your door if Yorkshire Water needs to interrupt your supply
• You can set up a security password so you’ll always know it’s a genuine Yorkshire Water employee if you’re concerned about unwanted callers
• If you’d like someone else to manage your account, you can nominate someone on your behalf
• Assistance with reading your meter, such as if you’re struggling to bend down or access your meter

Ash Roberts, customer vulnerability manager at Yorkshire Water, said:

“We offer our priority services as a way of providing a little extra help to our customers that need it most.

“As well as alternate bill formats, help reading your meter and the ability to set up a password so that you know it’s always us calling, customers on our priority services register also get extra assistance during a temporary interruption to their water supply, as we’ll deliver bottled water straight to your door.”

If you or a family member or friend would benefit from joining the register, it’s free and fast to sign up.

Fill in this online form, or call 0800 1 38 78 78 to sign up on the phone.

Property Gold is a monthly column written by independent property consultant, Alex Goldstein. With more than 17 years’ experience, Alex helps his clients to buy and sell residential property in some of the most desirable locations in Yorkshire and beyond.

Only Fools and Horses – the ultimate British sitcom following the trials and tribulations of Del Boy and his brother Rodney on their mission to get rich. However, when it comes to PLC new homes, it would seem that the large-scale developers are the ones beating the Trotters at the sales game.

I am continually staggered by the number of people who are queuing up to buy one of these homes, in a case of Boycie one-upmanship. Yet are the buying public’s memories so short like Trigger’s, that they forget the dreadful events in 2017 at Grenfell Tower where 72 people died?

What then unfolded was the cladding scandal, which has entrapped thousands of people and is still ongoing with no clear end in sight. It has also just come to light, that successive governments concealed the extent of fire safety risks to buildings going back to 1997. So why would a buyer think it a sensible choice of home or investment, if governments are also hiding information from you?

One then overlays countless misdemeanours which have been picked up in the press about the PLC developers, ranging from the controversial sale of freeholds to equity funds, escalating ground rents, to lack of insulation and pressurised selling tactics. Only the other day did London Fire Brigade warn an inquiry that developers were ‘gaming the system’ by deliberately designing blocks to be just shy of the threshold where more intensive fire safety systems were required.

Read More:

• Property Gold: How to be an attractive buyer
• Property Gold: Why is the Yorkshire property market so strong?

On the ground, these developments are often edge of town schemes with negligible associated infrastructure. When was the last time you saw a new GP surgery or school being built, or upgraded roads get underway? More interestingly, these schemes are actually making central town living even more expensive. Afterall, who wishes to use their car to get into a town they already live in? They therefore help underpin more centrally located homes, making it more difficult for younger generations to move up the ladder and are eroding the very integrity of our towns.

If you wish to buy a new build home, purchase from a small to mid-sized developer who has their name above the door and who acknowledges that building regulation standards are the basic requirement and not the pinnacle.

Our new homes system is broken and in light of recent news, arguably rotten to the core. My concern is that we have had decades of going down the wrong path, that we are never going to be able to find our way back out again.

The bottom line is, if you are thinking of buying a PLC new build – Only Fools would do so, you plonker Rodney!

If you have any comments or questions for Alex, please feel free to contact him at alex@alexgoldstein.co.uk

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of animals in and around the Harrogate district, searching for their forever family home. This month, Poppy, Jake, Stanley and Doughnut are hoping they’ll have met someone to love them before Christmas.

Poppy

Age: 7 years old

Poppy’s story: Poppy has been living at Miss Mollie’s Rescue for around 5 years. Since being rescued from Romania, she was incredibly nervous, but was comfortable living in a house with the other dogs. She is currently unhappy in boarding kennels, and in desperate need of a foster carer.

Temperament: She is an affectionate dog once she gets to know you, and loves her home comforts, walks, and being around other dogs.

Ideal home: Poppy needs an owner with lots of patience who has experience with nervous dogs. She can live with cats and dogs in an adult home. Fostering Poppy means there is no need for an adoption donation, and Miss Mollie’s can help with any problems that may come up.

If you could help Poppy feel safe in a loving home, get in touch with Miss Mollie’s Rescue. 

Jake

Age: 7

Jake’s story: Jake has had a very unsettled life to date. He was originally handed over to Dogs Trust in 2015 when he was just one year old, due to his owners’ change of work commitments. He was rehomed in 2015 until 2019 when he was returned again after a change in personal circumstance for his owner.

Temperament: Jake is the sweetest and most loving boy. All his handlers adore him and can often be found in his kennel giving him extra cuddles. He is very happy when he is curled up on the sofa with a human friend.

Ideal home: His unsettled life has led to some anxieties, so Jake has been working on a special training programme which has worked brilliantly to build his confidence with new people. Jake needs an adult-only home with no children or visiting children and no other pets.

If you have room on your sofa for Jake, visit Dogs Trust Leeds.

Stanley & Doughnut

Age: 6 & 10

Stanley & Doughnut’s story: This loveable pair came to the RSPCA when their previous owner was moving and could not take them with her. Stanley (Jack Russell) and Doughnut (Beagle x) are very bonded to each other so will need adopters who will take them together.

Temperament: Both Stanley and Doughnut are such sociable boys who are eager to say hello to everyone who are willing to stop and see them. They love walks and human attention and will sit and get as much fuss and attention as they can possibly get. Stanley and Doughnut both love their food and snuggling up after a snack!

Ideal home: Stanley and Doughnut are suitable to live with other dogs, cats and children aged 6 years and over. They will need adopters who are happy to take them out for nice and interesting walks and adventures, but they can be left alone for short periods.

If Stanley and Doughnut could join your family, contact RSPCA York, Harrogate and District branch. 

Read More: 

• Stray Pets Rescue Club: Fraizer, Mavis and Foxy need your help
• Stray Pets Rescue Club: would you love Una, Albert or besties Zeb and Spike?

This article is sponsored by The Knox Harrogate

Tucked away on the outskirts of Bilton is The Knox, a stylish and welcoming pub.

Once a working dairy farm, it’s now a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, thanks to the stellar reputation it has built.

The kitchen serves a delicious locally sourced menu, alongside a broad selection of quality beers, ales, and international wines.

The Wednesday steak night is a particular customer-favourite; order two meals of sirloin pave steak with all the trimmings (including a homemade creamy peppercorn sauce), and you’ll receive a complimentary bottle of wine.

The traditional home-cooked Sunday lunch is spectacular. Choose from roast beef, roast turkey, or a vegan mushroom wellington, served with seasonal vegetables, roast and mashed potato, homemade Yorkshire pudding and gravy.

Alongside the traditional kitchen, The Knox has a dedicated pizza kitchen to create hand stretched, cooked-to-order Italian pizzas.

Beyond the food though, it’s the entertainment and events that really make The Knox stand out.

With two massive screens, The Knox is a fantastic place to watch major sports fixtures, while the monthly live music nights always bring a great vibe to the pub.

The Knox is available to hire for private functions, with access to the pizza kitchen and extensive beer garden (complete with barbecue facility). Full catering can be provided, and with a large, private car park there’s plenty of space for everyone to attend your birthday, wedding, or corporate celebrations.

Fill your Tuesday nights with the weekly Knox pub quiz to be in with a chance of winning one of many cash prizes. Hosted by local singer Micky Stockburn, the categories change each week but might include general knowledge, sports, music or a picture round. There’s a £1 entry fee which is added to the prize pot, with 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and second-to-last place winnings up for grabs – along with gongs for extra games like play your cards right.

Visit The Knox on Knox Lane, Harrogate, HG1 3AP, or find more details at theknoxharrogate.co.uk.