A project to help young people overcome sleeping difficulties has been extended to cover the Harrogate district.
NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group initially commissioned The Sleep Charity to run pilot projects in Whitby, Scarborough and Ryedale.
The scheme has now been extended to families across North Yorkshire for 12 months, starting on April 1.
The free scheme uses behavioural therapy, sleep clinics and workshops rather than medication to aid sleep.
It also provides professional training to GP practice staff, health visitors and school nurses.
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Research by The Sleep Charity, The Sleep Council and Sleepstation found that since the pandemic began, 70% of children are going to bed significantly later than usual.
Vicki Dawson, chief executive of The Sleep Charity, which is based in Doncaster, said:
“Quality sleep is absolutely essential for a child’s growth and development.
“It helps children to concentrate on learning, allows them to react more quickly to situations, have a more developed memory and solve problems.
“Plus, it makes them less susceptible to colds and other minor ailments, less irritable and better behaved.”
Dr Charles Parker, NHS North Yorkshire CCG clinical chair, said:
“We know how debilitating, disruptive and distressing it can be for families when a child is struggling to sleep, and we see first-hand how it can lead to a number of physical and mental health issues which require treatment.
“It’s heartening to hear that The Sleep Charity’s work has already made a huge difference to many families in Whitby, Scarborough and Ryedale and I’m delighted these services are now available across North Yorkshire.”
Families participating in the project gain access to the Teen Sleep Hub, which contains links to twice-weekly live chats with professional sleep practitioners.
The service is available for people aged 12 months to 18 years.
For children and young people with a special education need or disability and/or education health care plan, the service is available from ages 12 months to 25 years.
Access to the scheme is available by self referral. Email support@thesleepcharity.org.uk for details.
Celebrating 100 years of The Rotary Club of Harrogate
This year marks 100 years of The Rotary Club of Harrogate. The organisation hit its centennial on January 8 and has multiple celebratory events planned this year.
Since 1921, The Rotary Club of Harrogate has raised money for hundreds of causes, from tackling environmental issues to providing affordable accommodation.
To celebrate, the club will be planting a Centenary Garden flower bed at Valley Gardens in the colours of its logo. Members say they will dress in 1921 style for its unveiling in June. A date is not yet confirmed due to covid.
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March 22 had been set as the date for a sold out centenary concert at the Royal Hall, Harrogate.
Lockdown restrictions meant this couldn’t go through, so Mervyn Darby, chair of the International Committee encouraged ticket holders to donate the refunded money to the Royal Hall to support it through the pandemic.
School Competition
The Rotarians are also running a competition with the 35 schools in Harrogate. This will be for 4-8 year olds and will involve a colouring competition and an essay about their favourite locations in Harrogate.
The winner’s school will be awarded £750, second place £500 and third place £250. This competition is hoped to begin in Autumn term.
The club also said that an additional sum of money will be gifted to schools across Harrogate to fund art and sports.
Chair of the Youth Services Committee, Malcolm Campbell, wants to encourage more young people to become a Rotarian with concerns that current membership tends to be the older community of Harrogate. Malcolm said:
“We are optimistic in working and growing with younger people and are always looking for new, younger members.
We should focus more on children, the 4-8 year olds now will be the students in 5 years, apprentices in 10 years and world changers in 20 years. We must put more effort in for them.
The Youth Services Committee has also been involved with projects to inspire children. With help from PC world, the club donated 10 laptops to Rossett Acre Primary School.
Hi-vis vests donated to volunteers at district’s vaccination centresYorkshire firm Clad Safety has donated 125 hi-vis vests to volunteers at local vaccination centres.
The jackets have gone to Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP) volunteers who are currently working at the Harrogate and Ripon centres.
HELP support those in the local area who are elderly, disabled or suffer from mental illness. Since the pandemic began, HELP volunteers have supported locals who are shielding or isolating on more than 6,000 occasions.
HELP volunteer Phil directs the traffic at the Ripon vaccination centre.
Clad Safety makes workwear and PPE and is Yorkshire based.
Neil Trevvett, Managing Director at CLAD Safety said they wanted to showed their support to the local charity.
“We have seen how HELP’s volunteers have been providing the local community with vital support including shopping, running errands and phone befriending over the pandemic. When they approached us for support to supply branded hi-vis vests for their volunteer marshals we were delighted to provide them with these items.”
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Frances Elliot, CEO of HELP’s parent charity, Harrogate and District Community Action, said:
More funds needed for Girlguiding centre at Birk Crag to open“One thing we have seen shine through over the past 12 months is how the local community has come together to support one another. This generous donation from CLAD Safety epitomises this amazing community spirit. We are extremely grateful to them for supporting our work.”
Restoration of the Birk Crag Centre for Girlguiding on the edge of Harrogate has been halted due to a lack of funds.
Girlguiding North Yorkshire West began rebuilding the centre in 2018 thanks to grants and crowdfunding.
The group raised £1.1 million for the exterior of the building, which was completed last year.
The Birk Crag Centre for Girlguiding in Harrogate.
Now, county commissioner for Girlguiding North Yorkshire West, Jean Tennant, hopes to raise a further £400,000 to complete the interior.
The guides have applied for more grants but many grantmakers have diverted funds to organisations affected by covid.
Girlguiding fundraising activity has also been affected by covid. Jean said:
“Covid has hit charity work hard, we can’t do bake sales or active fundraising.
“Most grants are given to covid relief charities, which is more than understandable but we do need more money to finish this project.”
The new centre will include a residential area for girl guides and community groups, including cyclists, church goers and orienteering groups.
The building will also provide an activity arena with a capacity of 120 people and a large commercial kitchen.
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The guides will be able to meet at temporary centres from March 29 but there is no date for the opening of the restored Birk Crag Centre until funds are found to fit out the interior.
Jean said Girlguiding North Yorkshire West was grateful for the funding it has received from organisations, such as the Bramall Foundation, the Rotary Club of Harrogate and everyone who had helped to fundraise.
Crowdfunding on its JustGiving page continues.
Stump Cross increases fundraising target to £65,000
Stump Cross Caverns near Pateley Bridge has set a new fundraising target as it prepares to re-open on May 17.
Lisa Bowerman and Nicholas Markham, who own the limestone caves, set an original crowdfunding target of £50,000.
But this has been raised to £65,000 after the public rallied to save the attraction, which has been open to visitors since 1863.
The total currently stands at almost £61,000.
The extra money will enable the site’s 3D virtual tour to be upgraded, which the couple hope will engage schools and improve inclusivity:
Lisa said:
“It’s all about education. The 3D tour will allow children to interact from their classrooms and learn about something new.
“You have to adapt and evolve to survive in this new world and this technology is not restrictive, even people who can’t physically go in caves can now see them, so it’s inclusive.”
Enjoy a taste of the 3D Virtual Tour of the caves thanks to @apollothreed – we are only 7 days away from the end of our crowdfunder and your chance to #savethecave and win our #campervan https://t.co/9leEu32Fm5#virtualtour pic.twitter.com/L9xMhe26Wy
— Stump Cross Caverns (@stumpcrosscaves) March 23, 2021
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Lisa and Nicholas were denied money from the covid Culture Recovery Fund and said they have lost almost £400,000 since the beginning of the pandemic.
If the fundraising campaign hadn’t been so successful, the caves wouldn’t have been able to reopen.
Lisa hopes the new £65,000 target will be reached but said the last push has “definitely been tougher, we seem to have lost momentum”.
The couple’s beloved camper van has been put in a prize draw for anybody who donates £10 to the cause.
Lisa added:
“I am so grateful and so thankful for everyone that’s helped. Nearly 4,000 people have donated, which is unbelievable. Mentally, it’s been very hard but I’m feeling positive about the final week of fundraising.”
Harrogate district pauses for National Day of Reflection
People and organisations across the Harrogate district paused at noon today for the National Day of Reflection.
The day, organised by end of life charity Marie Curie, gave people in the UK the chance to remember the 126,000 covid-related deaths, which include more than 1,100 in North Yorkshire.
Staff at Harrogate District Hospital and Ripon Community Hospital were offered the opportunity to observe a minute’s silence.
Staff at Harrogate District Hospital.
Hospital staff working from home were able to take part online in an event led by chaplains.
The Harrogate Bus Company, owned by Transdev, remembered staff lost during the pandemic, when buses have continued to operate despite risks.
Today at 12noon we’re joining in the 1 minute silence for the #DayOfReflection to support @mariecurieuk.
Your driver will pull over if it is safe – please join us if you are on board.
We're remembering colleagues in the Transdev family who we sadly lost over the past year ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ptvzTxt7cy
— The Harrogate Bus Company (@harrogatebus) March 23, 2021
At a press briefing today Nick Moxon, a resident at Disability Action Yorkshire‘s home on Claro Road in Harrogate and chair of a care home visiting task group set up by North Yorkshire County Council last year, paid tribute to care workers’ efforts during the pandemic.
Speaking at North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, which leads the county’s response to covid, he said:
“Staff members don’t ask to work throughout the pandemic, they have to come to work and they have managed to just adapt to the situation.
“Thank you to care staff and North Yorkshire County Council for the care and support over the past year.”
Harrogate women cycle 2,000 miles for teenager’s surgery
Four women from the Harrogate district are cycling a total of 2,000 miles in a month to fundraise for a teenager’s life-changing surgery.
Mia Wright, 14, who has scoliosis, which causes a severe curvature and rotation of the spine, was diagnosed when she was eight years old. She underwent surgery in Turkey in September, recovering well enough to go back to school last week.
Susie Little, Mia’s godmother, set up a GoFundMe page last month to raise £60,000 for the spinal surgery.
Ms Little decided to take on her latest fundraising challenge of cycling 500 miles after reading about a similar fundraising initiative in The Stray Ferret.
To meet her target, Ms Little will add an extra mile to the distance each day to correspond with the date. For example, on October 1 she cycled one mile, on October 2 she cycled two miles, continuing to October 31 when she will ride 31 miles in a day.
After hearing about her idea, friends Jude Humphrey and Emma Oates decided to get involved, shortly followed by Mia’s mother Jane. Together they’re aiming to raise £2,000 for the 2000 miles covered.
Currently completing their miles on exercise bikes at home, the four women hope to celebrate their final day of fundraising by cycling together.
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Speaking about what the surgery means to her, Ms Little said:
“I went to pick Jane and Mia up from the airport after the surgery. The difference in both of them was amazing, Mia could stand up straight for the first time, and she even cried last week when she put her jeans on after surgery for the first time because she was so happy.”
Total donations for Mia’s surgery currently stand at £44,600. You can donate to Mia’s cause here.
Harrogate venue to restart live music performancesA Harrogate venue is set to restart live music performances after lockdown forced an early curtain for its concerts in March.
The Wesley Centre, on Oxford Street, will be hosting three socially distanced concerts between now and early January.
Susan Tomes will be the first pianist to play as the season reopens on November 2, giving a recital of music by Scarlatti, Debussy, Janacek, Chabrier and Billy Mayerl.
Susan Tomes, the first pianist to play at the Wesley Centre since March.
Normally able to hold about 450 people, there are only 76 seats available for the socially distanced performances.
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Peter Hirschmann, who runs the Patrons scheme for the Wesley Centre, said:
“Our immediate reaction for ticket sales is that they’re going very rapidly, which is very reassuring. At first we didn’t know how many people would want to come, due to many of our supporters being elderly or vulnerable, so we’re starting out cautiously.
“Live music is back in Harrogate, which is what really matters. Our concert organiser, Andrew Hitchen, had a great response when he emailed supporters about the concerts starting again.”
Tickets can be purchased for £10 by telephoning Andrew Hitchen on 01423 883618 between 6pm and 8pm.
Thousands tune in to first ever online Harrogate Literature FestivalThousands tuned in to the first ever digital Harrogate Literature Festival this past weekend.
The festival was forced to be streamed online due to the coronavirus pandemic, but organisers say the event was still a success.
Viewers tuned in to the free programme of 17 events, with the digital delivery allowing book lovers from across the UK to engage with prominent writers, politicians and journalists.
Among those who gave talks were author Matt Haig, classicist Natalie Haynes and Labour MPs Jess Phillips and David Lammy.
Although the events moved online, Harrogate International Festivals, the arts charity behind the literature festival wanted to keep the community at the heart of the project.
Hundreds of stories were submitted to the 10 Word Story competition, and over hundred books were gifted in the Raworth’s Blind Date With a Book initiative.
As author talks began, literature came to life in Harrogate with a light installation in the form of a book. The story of Harrogate, 10 word stories and traditional tales were illuminated on its pages.
The story of Harrogate was illuminated on the book’s pages.
Sharon Canavar, chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, said:
“The light of human stories and the power of books certainly shone through, breaking down barriers of isolation and reaching new audiences, demonstrating the importance of festival in our cultural landscape.
“Ticket sales are normally a huge part of our income, but this year’s events were all free of charge. We thank those audience members who donated to our arts charity in lieu of tickets, helping us work towards bridging the financial gap, the first step to securing the future of Harrogate International Festivals.
“This was an extraordinary festival for an unpreceded year, and whilst we celebrate the success of the event – taking Harrogate to the world – in order for our arts charity to survive we need to be able to welcome the world to Harrogate. Whether that will be possible in 2021 we just don’t know.”
Traditional tales shone on Friday and Saturday night.
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Pumpkins take over Pannal for Halloween
The 1st Pannal Scout Group is organising a pumpkin parade this Halloween instead of traditional trick or treat activities.
The parade is the scouts’ way of encouraging people to celebrate Halloween in a socially distanced manner.
The group is encouraging Pannal residents to carve, draw or paint pumpkins and then display them in windows or gardens.
Pumpkin locations can then be shared on the scouts’ map, allowing families to follow the trail around the Pannal and Burn Bridge area every night of half term.
Winners for the scariest and funniest pumpkins, and the best dressed Halloween garden, will be announced. To be in with a chance, share your creation on the Pannal Scouts Facebook page.
The Scouts have shared some ideas to get your creative juices flowing below:
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