Home care provider brings high standards to Harrogate district

This story is sponsored by Vermuyden Care.

One of the region’s foremost home care providers is now bringing its flexible, client-centred approach to the Harrogate district after opening a new base at Boroughbridge. 

Vermuyden Care already has an excellent reputation for its elderly and dementia services in its home area of Doncaster, and now aims to provide the same high standard of home care in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Boroughbridge, Ripon, Thirsk and Easingwold, from its new premises at Ornhams Hall. 

Director Gary Stapleton said: 

“The difference with Vermuyden is that we are endlessly flexible and willing to go to great lengths to accommodate clients’ wishes. 

“Clients can often feel they’re not very involved in their own care – they feel that things are being done to them, not for them – but we’ve never been like that. 

“For example, some home care companies won’t come out to clients before 8am, but a lot of people who are used to getting up early don’t want to suddenly start having a lie-in just to please their carer. Whatever time you want to get up, we’ll be there.

“Similarly, other companies won’t come out after 8pm, but we think that’s treating clients like children, making them go to bed early. However late you want to go to bed, we’ll be there too.

“At Vermuyden, we are totally flexible. Whatever it is you want, we can do.” 

Vermuyden – pronounced ‘Ver-moy-den’ – specialises in dementia care, but also works with clients with physical and learning disabilities, and offers mental health support. The company provides long-term home care services as well as short-term respite care, and aims to make sure people living in rural areas are not cut off from the help they need.

Vermuyden employs over 100 people, including 15 from its Boroughbridge office. It recruits locally and takes on permanent, experienced staff on high wages, ensuring it only employs the very best carers in the sector. This is important, said Gary, because employees need to be able to provide more than just personal care. He said: 

“The care is the easy part – it’s all the other stuff that’s harder to get right, and we put a huge amount of effort into making sure that we do. 

“We want clients to feel they’re getting the service they deserve.” 

If you’re interested in receiving the very best in personal home care – or you know someone who might be – call us on 01423 800674, or take a look at our website, www.vermuyden.co.uk. 

 

Ripley walk to raise funds to fight Parkinson’s this weekend

More than 140 walkers have already signed up to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK this Sunday but the charity is still urging people to join them for a sponsored walk around Ripley.

Walk for Parkinson’s is the charity’s national community fundraising series, and everyone is encouraged to get involved to get active, meet new people, and help fund life-changing research to find better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s. 

The Walk for Parkinson’s event will follow two paths around Ripley which walkers can choose from: a five-and-a-half mile route and a shorter, family-friendly, one-mile route which is fully accessible. All walkers will warm up and set off together as they start and finish at Ripley Star Club.

Photo showing a family of four celebrating after having taken part in a Walk for Parkinson's, a fundraising event organised by the charity Parkinson's UK.

One of the many families to have taken part in a Walk for Parkinson’s.

Jacquie McGuire, regional fundraiser for Yorkshire and Humber at Parkinson’s UK, said: 

“Parkinson’s is the fastest growing neurological condition in the world. In Yorkshire there are 12,280 people living with the condition. Every hour, two more people in the UK are diagnosed, meaning one in 37 people alive today will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in their lifetime. 

“There’s no cure for Parkinson’s. Yet. But if we walk together, we can make a difference to the lives of people with Parkinson’s. We can make breakthroughs. We can find a cure.  

“Whatever your age or fitness level, we’d love to see you at Ripley near Harrogate to Walk for Parkinson’s. Take the first step and sign up today.” 

Parkinson’s is the result of the brain cells that make dopamine starting to die. There are more than 40 symptoms, from tremors and pain to anxiety, and some are treatable, but the drugs can have serious side effects. The condition gets worse over time and there is no cure yet. Around 145,000 people in the UK have Parkinson’s.

Photo of a group of older people warming up before taking part in a Walk for Parkinson's.

Walkers warming up before taking part in a Walk for Parkinson’s.

It costs £12 to sign up to Walk for Parkinson’s (under-18s go free) and it is suggested that participants raise £50 in sponsorship. All walkers will receive a fundraising pack with tips and advice, sponsorship forms and an exclusive Walk for Parkinson’s t-shirt to wear on the day.  

As well as walkers, the charity is on the look-out for volunteers to help on the day. To find out more about Walk for Parkinson’s and to sign up to walk or volunteer visit the Parkinson’s UK website or email walk@parkinsons.org.uk. 

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North Yorkshire Police urged to say sorry over LGBT+ ‘witch hunt’

The chief constable of North Yorkshire Police is being urged to apologise for her force’s past “witch-hunting of the LGBT+ community”. 

The call comes in a letter to North Yorkshire’s top officer, Lisa Winward, from the veteran gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. 

In the letter, Mr Tatchell, who is director of the human rights organisation the Peter Tatchell Foundation, acknowledges North Yorkshire Police’s “current supportive policies towards the LGBT+ community”, calling them “excellent progress”.

But he adds: 

“The North Yorkshire police force was very homophobic in past decades and went out of its way to target consenting, victimless behaviour that harmed no one. It wrecked the lives of many LGBT+ people.” 

The foundation is spearheading the #ApologiseNow campaign, urging all chief constables to say sorry for what it calls their “past anti-LGBT+ witch-hunts”.

In his letter, Mr Tatchell describes behaviours he says were frequently exhibited by the police:

“In the decades before the full decriminalisation of homosexuality in 2003 in England and Wales, your officers went out of their way to target and arrest gay and bisexual men for consenting, victimless behaviour. They were often excessive, harsh, vindictive and cruel.

“There was a de facto policy of sometimes releasing the names, addresses and workplaces of arrested men to the media, which led to public humiliation, ostracism, evictions, sackings and even violent attacks.

“In some cases, gay bars, clubs and even private birthday parties were raided. Same-sex couples were arrested for kissing, cuddling and holding hands in the street. Heterosexual couples engaged in similar behaviour were not. This was malicious homophobic policing and it wrecked lives.

“Upon conviction, these men were often jailed and beaten in prison. Others were hit with huge fines. Many lost their jobs, homes and marriages. Some were bashed by homophobic mobs, driven to mental breakdowns and attempted or committed suicide.

“With the stigma of a criminal conviction for a homosexual offence, a lot of the victims of police shaming had great difficulty in getting jobs and housing. Their lives were ruined by the police targeting consensual acts that harmed nobody.”

Mr Tatchell added:  

“I hope that a formal apology will be made to the LGBT+ community. It would help further improve LGBT+ trust and confidence in the police, which is what we all want.

“We do not expect an apology from the police for enforcing historic homophobic laws. What we are requesting is an apology for the often abusive and threatening way those laws were enforced – ways that would be deemed illegal and unacceptable today.

The Metropolitan Police has already apologised for its past behaviour, and backed it up with a new LGBT+ plan for London and the appointment of LGBT+ community liaison officers in every London borough. Similar apologies have also been made by the chief constables of Sussex and South Yorkshire, but West Midlands Police has said it will not apologise.

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The Chief Constable of Northumbria, Vanessa Jardine, is the lead on LGBT+ policy among UK chief constables and has written to all chief constables supporting calls for them to say sorry. The appeal is also endorsed by the National Police LGBT+ Network, which is made up of serving LGBT+ officers.

Asked about the force’s response to Mr Tatchell’s letter, a North Yorkshire Police spokesperson told the Stray Ferret: 

“North Yorkshire Police has committed itself to an array of inclusion and diversity initiatives of late, and much of that has been publicised. 

 “In relation to the [Peter Tatchell Foundation’s] press release, we’re aware of what other forces have done and are keeping it under consideration.” 

In 2000, North Yorkshire Police was one of the first forces in the UK to establish a helpline for lesbian and gay officers and civilian staff.

More recently, its Equality Objectives 2020-24 document lays out several aims affecting the LGBT+ community, including: increasing awareness and reporting of hate crime and providing victims with appropriate support; improving the treatment of victims of crime, especially those with protected characteristics; and increasing the representation rates of LGBT+ employees in senior police roles. 

Firefighters battling stubble blaze in ‘ongoing’ incident

Firefighters on the edge of the Harrogate district are battling a stubble blaze which is being fanned by high winds this afternoon.

The fire, at Moor Monkton, extends across a 300-metre front in a field close to some pylons.

On arriving at the scene and seeing the scale of the problem, crews from Acomb, on the edge of York, requested assistance from two further fire engines. They are currently using hose reels and beaters to bring the fire under control.

The incident was logged at 4.52pm and at 5.20pm was described by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue as “ongoing”.

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Harrogate bathroom retailer creates biggest showroom of its kind in the North

The story is sponsored by Inter Ceramica.

A Harrogate bathroom and tile business that started out in a tiny shop 30 years ago, has begun work on extending its premises, to a super four-floor showroom at Hornbeam Park, Harrogate.

Today Inter Ceramica is an international stockist offering the best and latest in continental bathrooms and tiles from its 6,000sq ft display area.

Rob Challis, Inter Ceramica’s founder, said: 

“Italy has long been known as a global leader in tile manufacturing.

“Their products are supreme, and we’re delighted to have exclusive relationships with top manufacturers. It’s taken 30 years to build, but it’s worth it to guarantee the quality, reliability and continuity of supply for our customers.”

It’s a measure of their popularity that more than 1,000 tons of bespoke tiles arrive at Inter Ceramica’s Hornbeam Park warehouse each year, along with daily deliveries of premium bathroom equipment from top manufacturers including Laufen, VitrA, Roca and Hans Grohe – all beautifully displayed in the stunning showroom. 

A popular and free design service

For customers it’s all about style, inspiration and affordability, says Rob, who’s backed by a highly talented design team. He added:

“Our design service is key to bringing all these elements together, to help customers achieve their perfect bathroom, ensuite or wet room.

“Some are surprised to learn our design service is free. True, there’s a lot of work involved in bringing people’s dreams to reality. But our tiles and bathroom equipment are of the highest quality, so we’ve got to match that with the quality of our design.”

It’s a tribute to the team and quality products that Inter Ceramica can boast thousands of return customers. One of many benefits in being in business for over 30 years is those satisfied customers who offer honest and valuable feedback.

Inter Ceramica has a large selection of tiles, shower heads and much more.

Inter Ceramica works with recommended installers, believing that it’s better and more cost-effective for the customer to deal directly with the installers, safe in the knowledge that Inter Ceramica is working alongside them at all times. 

Inevitably, a prime consideration for the customer is cost and with such a turbulent world economy you’d expect prices to have rocketed but Inter Ceramica has managed to maintain and even reduce prices.

To make customer’s dream even easier to reach, Inter Ceramica has developed a range of finance options including ‘buy now, pay later’ and an interest-bearing finance option for up to 10 years. 

Inter Ceramica is the sister company of Revo Kitchens, which is a German Kitchen superstore also based at Hornbeam Park.  

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You can check out Inter Ceramica’s range of fabulous bathrooms and tiles on their website. Alternatively, you can drop into Inter Ceramica’s showroom at Hornbeam Park in Harrogate. 

 

Knaresborough woman describes pelican recapture as ‘pure madness’

The Knaresborough resident who alerted Blackpool Zoo to the presence of its missing pelican at Hay-a-Park has described Wednesday as the “craziest day of her life”. 

Chantelle Wilfan spotted the Eastern white pelican on the lake at around 10.15am while taking her son, three-year-old Leo, for a walk.

Told by a birdwatcher it must be the one that had escaped earlier in the month, she called Blackpool Zoo, which immediately dispatched a posse of zookeepers to take the bird into custody. 

Chantelle, who watched the action unfold with Leo and her mother, Debbie Pedel, told the Stray Ferret: 

“The keepers arrived mid-afternoon and said they needed a boat. I suggested [Blenkhorn’s Boats on] Waterside and Ripon Sailing Club, but they were closed. So, we rang around people we knew and luckily, my cousin’s husband, Chris McMillan, had a canoe, so the keepers went round to collect it. 

“They spent some time trying to get close to the pelican, and one even fell out and had to start swimming, but after about 40 minutes we heard a shout from across the lake to say they’d got it, and we all gave a cheer. 

“It was an absolutely incredible experience being with the keepers and watching this incredible pelican. They’re the nicest, kindest men I’ve ever met. They were very calm and worked together as a team. They were absolutely there for that bird – they were so professional. 

“The whole thing – spotting the pelican, chasing round for a boat, and watching the keepers catch it – was pure madness. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. It has to have been the craziest day of my life.” 

As reported by the Stray Ferret yesterday, the pelican was scared by gulls and blown away by a gust of wind on August 4 – the day Storm Antoni blew in off the Atlantic. 

Photo taken by Knaresborough resident Chantelle Wilfan of the juvenile pelican that had escaped from Blackpool Zoo, and which she spotted at Hay-a-Park.

The juvenile pelican ended up 65 miles away from its home in Blackpool. Photo: Chantelle Wilfan.

Blackpool Zoo paid tribute to Chantelle and her family in a statement issued following the rescue: 

“Particular thanks goes to a wonderful family in Knaresborough who saw keepers trying to reach the pelican in the lake on Wednesday and brought a kayak for them to use – without their kind gesture and support, the rescue would not have been possible.” 

The statement added: 

“It was extremely important for us to rescue this pelican and return it to its flock as they are very social birds and, as a non-native species, it needed to be back with its own kind. 

“The pelican is now in our animal hospital, where it has been given a full health check, had its wings clipped and will be quarantined before being returned to the flock in the near future.

“We look forward to seeing it out and about on pelican lake with the rest of its family soon, and we are sure that, now it is a local celebrity, lots of people will want to come and see it!”

The Eastern white pelican, also known as the great white pelican, is native to southeastern Europe, Asia and Africa. 

Dalmatian pelicans once thrived in the wetlands of what is now East Yorkshire, Norfolk and Somerset, but were driven to extinction about 2,000 years ago.

Ukrainian twin sisters in Harrogate excel in A levels

Twin sisters at Harrogate Ladies’ College are celebrating top A level grades today – from their home in Ukraine.

Diana and Sofiia Shypovych, from Cherkasy in Central Ukraine, achieved A*A*A* and A*A*A respectively.

The sisters arrived at Harrogate Ladies’ College to study as boarding pupils in September 2021. But just a few months later, Russia invaded Ukraine and the girls found themselves unable to return home to their parents.

Sofiia said she was delighted with her results:

“I am so happy about my results – and I am so grateful to my school for supporting me through the last two years. It was difficult being away from my family, but school actively promotes inclusion, diversity and being yourself. That really helped me.”

Diana added:

“University will be our next exciting chapter. Despite everything that has been happening in Ukraine, school has given me and my sister the confidence to mature into independent adults through the opportunities, challenges and freedoms it has offered. Living at school showed us the importance of contributing to the community and respecting our shared responsibilities.”

Following the invasion of their country, both sisters ran campaigns in Harrogate to fundraise for Ukrainians and helped Ukrainian families on the Homes for Ukraine scheme to settle into the community. They were also voted by their fellow pupils and teachers to be prefects at the school during their time in the sixth form.

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Sylvia Brett, principal of Harrogate Ladies’ College, paid tribute to the sisters’ hard-working ethos and commitment to school life against the backdrop of war in their home country. She said:

“We’re incredibly proud of all of our pupils, but Sofiia and Diana deserve special recognition for the circumstances under which they’ve been studying for the last two years. Being here at the time of the outbreak of the war and knowing their family and friends were facing real dangers, was extraordinarily hard for the girls but they never lost focus on their studies or their optimism for the future.

“They are truly remarkable young women who always looked out for others in school and organised events such as the Ukraine Cultural Day to help us all understand and support their country.”

The sisters chose to return to Ukraine after finishing their exams this summer to await their results with their family and friends, despite ongoing security concerns. Cherkasy lies 200km south-east of Kyiv and the region is still frequently subjected to missile attack by Russia.

Speaking from Ukraine, the girls’ mother, Iana Shypovych, said she was thrilled by their results:

“When our then 16-year old daughters left Ukraine to study in Harrogate we were a little worried about how they would adapt to living so far away from home, but our concerns never came true. When the war broke out we were truly grateful that they were safe and being cared for. They were so warmly welcomed and supported by the school staff and the people of Harrogate.”

Harrogate Ladies’ College achieved 41% A*-A grades across the board – a 17% increase on the comparable figures from 2019.

Union criticises Harrogate hospital for spending £1.2m on management consultants

One of Britain’s biggest trade unions has weighed in on Harrogate hospital’s decision to spend £1.2 million on hiring management consultants to develop a “culture of continuous improvement”. 

Unite the Union, which has more than 1.2 million members in the UK and Ireland, said “paying consultants to produce a report that will gather dust on a shelf” was “not a good use of taxpayers’ money” and urged Harrogate & District NHS Foundation Trust to urgently review the decision. 

The trust signed a contract with KPMG and Catalysis in March, which will run for 18 months to September 2024. 

KPMG is one of the world’s largest multinational professional services companies, and Catalysis is a Wisconsin-based not-for-profit organisation that works to help healthcare bodies become more efficient. 

Unite’s national officer for health, Colenzo Jarrett Thorpe, told the Stray Ferret:  

“The board of Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust needs an urgent review of this decision since it is not a good use of taxpayers’ money. Consultants are called in to tell the organisation what they already know or what they want to hear, without having the foresight to have the discussion with key stakeholders such as staff and trade unions and patient groups first. 

“The £1.2 million would be better spent cutting agency spend, improving flexible working for all employees, and reducing the vacancy rates across the trust, rather than paying consultants to produce a report that will gather dust on a shelf and will not impact anyone.” 

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The trust has said its continuous improvement programme, called HDFT Impact, will ultimately involve all 5,000-plus employees, who will be encouraged to share knowledge with each other and come up with ways to improve the way the Trust delivers its services. 

Mr Jarrett-Thorpe said: 

“If the trust wanted to involve all employees, why doesn’t it improve and strengthen access and facilities to trade union representatives in the trust? Trade unions representatives can help retention of NHS staff, staff morale, improve safety at work, increase staff engagement, productivity and learning opportunities.” 

The trust argues its continuous improvement agenda has brought about positive change over the last decade. KPMG and Catalysis are also reported to have helped other hospital trusts save hundreds of thousands of pounds in efficiencies, increase surgeries, reduce patient falls, and improve care outcomes. 

In a statement issued earlier this month, the trust said: 

“Continuous improvement is not a new concept at HDFT. It has been integral in helping us to develop our services and bring improvements for patients and colleagues for a long time – we have been using a lean quality improvement approach for over 10 years. We know this approach works and we’ve seen the improvements it can bring for patients and colleagues.” 

Woman treated for shock after crash near Ripon

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has been in action twice in our area today, once for a road traffic accident and once to rescue an injured women.

At just after 8am, crews from Ripon and Harrogate were called to a two-car road collision on Studley Road in Ripon.

One car had driven into the back of the other, and one of the drivers, who were both women aged about 20, was treated by fire crew for shock before an ambulance arrived at the scene.

Later in the day, at 2.46pm, police asked Harrogate fire crew to gain entry to a locked premises on Stanhope Drive, off Knaresborough Road in Harrogate, as they had concerns for the occupant.

Firefighters broke into the building using a lock-extractor and found that the occupant had fallen and suffered a broken arm.

The fire crew administered oxygen therapy and left the unnamed 64-year-old woman in the care of the police, awaiting an ambulance.

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Hollywood star’s son to unveil plaque to famous father in Harrogate

A Hollywood star with strong connections to Harrogate is to be commemorated with a plaque next month. 

Michael Rennie was once a household name, and in 1946 became the highest-paid filmstar in Britain.

He acted with such Hollywood greats as Orson Welles, Richard Burton, Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Marlon Brando and Bette Davis. His most famous role was perhaps the lead in the 1951 sci-fi blockbuster The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Rennie was born in 1909 in Idle, near Bradford, and schooled in Cambridgeshire, but his family home was on Otley Road in Harrogate, where he died in 1971. His headstone can be seen at Harlow Hill Cemetery. 

The brown plaque, which has been created by Harrogate Civic Society, will be unveiled at 1 Otley Road – the Rennie family’s former home – by Rennie’s son, David, on Saturday, September 9, at 11am. Well-wishers are welcome.

David Rennie, a high court judge whose godmother was Elizabeth Taylor, told the Stray Ferret: 

“This plaque means a lot to me, because I didn’t know my father as well as I would have liked. I really got to know him – the way he moved, the sound of his voice – by watching his films.

“When I was growing up, it wasn’t unusual to meet people who knew of him and his roles, especially after he played Harry Lime in the TV series of The Third Man, and I always got the feeling that he was very much liked and admired. 

“When he wasn’t in Hollywood, London or Geneva, he came to Yorkshire. I’m confident that although he had this glamorous life, the fact that he always kept on coming back to the family home in Harrogate meant that the connection mattered to him, and I wanted to mark that.” 

Harrogate Civic Society is currently considering creating plaques for two other local figures of note: Charles Taylor, who founded Taylor’s Tea; and Claude Verity, who worked from a studio in Harrogate and is believed to have been the first person to add a soundtrack to film.

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