New Beginnings is a charity based in the Harrogate district offering support to female survivors of domestic abuse.

Its founder Lindsay Oliver has experienced domestic abuse first hand and recognised a gap for women after the initial support from crisis care services ends.

Lindsay fled 220 miles with her baby boy in June 2018 from the perpetrator after a two-year abusive relationship.

Once women are settled in new houses and often new areas the crisis care teams withdraw, Lindsay noticed they were then left feeling alone and confused.

Lindsay said:

“I didn’t have anyone that understood.

“New Beginnings is all about giving these women a network of people who get it. This week in the WhatsApp group someone asked ‘Have you experienced this?’ and we were able to help.”

The charity offers a number of different workshops for its clients and their children.

New Beginnings was set up in February 2020, with the help of Harrogate Borough Council officer Mel Milner, to offer women one-to-one peer support and to be part of a community of women who had similar experiences.

Over the years, New Beginnings has built relationships with local businesses and the food bank to offer their clients all the necessary support. The charity also works with therapists to offer workshops and coaching sessions for the women.

It currently supports 16 women, who have 34 children between them. The women are also offered help with family court processes and dealing with social services.

Lindsay added:

“For some, the abuse is still happening. Some of our clients’ children still see their other parent so they’re seeing their perpetrator week in, week out, and that is why they need ongoing support.”

Read more:

• The charity had to increase its services over lockdown to meet demand.
• IDAS, local abuse helpline, says lockdown has raised concerns over domestic abuse. 

Lindsay is passionate about education and works with her clients and their children to demonstrate what a healthy relationship looks like. The relationship she fled from wasn’t her first abusive relationship – she had experienced abuse in other relationships too.

Lindsay understands about changing a women’s mindset on what a relationship should look like, and her own experiences encourage her to work one-to-one with women to ensure they don’t fall into another negative relationship.

She said:

“It all starts with our kids, and if we can educate our own generation at the same time, then it’s even better.

“It’s important they all understand what a healthy relationship is – this is something we’re really determined about.”

With further funding the charity hopes to expand and grow its team.

The charity is currently looking for premises which can offer office space and a dry storage area to keep goods ready for clients who come with emergency needs.

It is also hoping to grow its team. It currently works with three therapists and four volunteers but hopes to bring on more paid members of staff in order to expand to other areas in the district.

To support the charity you can visit its GoFundMe page here.

Where to go for further support

If you are in a physical or emotionally abusive relationship, click here to contact IDAS.

If you’re out of an abusive relationship but need further support you can self-refer to the New Beginnings charity. Email enquiries@newbeginningspeersupport.com or find them on Facebook here.

This is the first in the Stray Ferret’s ‘Charity Corner’ series. In this monthly feature we want to highlight the stories behind some of our small, local charities to raise their profiles. Get in touch with us if you know of a small charity in the Harrogate district working hard to fundraise for a worthy cause. 

Bilton Conservation Group is one of a number of volunteer groups that will be planting crocuses on West Park Stray over the coming days.

Five volunteers from the group began planting 5000 bulbs this afternoon.

The team were enthusiastic to take part in the council’s project to plant 60,000 crocuses across West Park Stray.

Other organisations will take over planting as it continues over the weekend and into next week.

Bilton Conservation Group has been involved in several similar projects with the council. Normally a project like this would include 20-30 volunteers from the group but due to covid restrictions they could only invite five.

Keith Wilkinson MBE, Secretary of Bilton Conservation Group, said:

“This is our contribution to the town effort. It’ll look fantastic at Easter. This is what we do in Nidd Gorge principally with the trees and footpaths but this is something different and you’ll see the benefit.

“We’re putting 5000 bulbs in two hours. It’ll be a great benefit there’s been a lot of adverse publicity with this part of the Stray with the problems with the flooding after the cycling event. But we’ve been having a lot of positive comments as people walk by. They just start to be seen in February.”

This is one of several groups who volunteered to help plant the 60,000 crocuses.

Read more:

• The Harrogate Green Party is continuing to campaign to improve the biodiversity of the Stray. 
• The West Park Stray drainage system has been defended after heavy rain caused flooding onto the walkway. 

The council has said it received a huge number of responses to its call for volunteers.

West Park Stray was damaged by the UCI World Championships a year ago to the dismay of many residents. It has gone under extensive landscaping work since then and the council is hoping the crocuses will create an impressive display for next Spring.

The competition to find Britain’s best Christmas tree, which will then stand outside Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Downing Street home, is to be held in Harrogate this month.

It is the first time the town has been chosen to stage the event, which also includes a category to find a champion wreath to hang on the PM’s door at number 10.

The competition will take place at the Great Yorkshire Showground on October 28.

It is run by the British Christmas Tree Growers Association, which is now managed by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society.

The association, which is a trade group for people who grow specialist Christmas trees, has 320 members nationally.

Yorkshire TV stars Amanda Owen, shepherdess on Channel 5’s Our Yorkshire Farm, and Peter Wright, from Channel 5’s The Yorkshire Vet, will join the judging panel.

Because of covid, growers will send their tress to the ground but will be unable to attend in person.

Heather Parry, managing agent for the BCTGA, who is also the managing director of Yorkshire Event Centre, said:

“We are very much looking forward to seeing the best in the business being crowned, right here on the Great Yorkshire Showground. The champion tree winner will head to 10 Downing Street to provide that iconic Christmas tree for this year.”

Peter Wright said:

“There’s nothing like the scent of a real Christmas tree to really launch you into the festive spirit and I am really looking forward to seeing some of the best in Britain at the Showground.”

Read more:

• From Santa’s grottos to winter wonderland walks, events across the Harrogate district are seeing record levels of demand for the festive season. 
• Our survey revealed a third of Harrogate residents will do their Christmas shopping in the town. 

Many growers in the competition have changed their business to suit covid measures by, for instance, introducing online sales and allowing customers to pick their own tree with social distancing measures.

Christmas tree orders are reported to have already exceeded early orders from 2019.

A private members’ club in Harrogate closed this week due to a positive case of coronavirus and will reopen on Wednesday next week.

Oatlands Mount Social Club, which was established in 1918, informed members on Facebook.

Its post said:

“Unfortunately we have had a positive covid test result for a prominent member of the club. Although we have been advised not to close our doors by Public Health England, we have decided to close the club to protect our members and employees.

“Public Health England feel that all covid safety procedures have been put in place by the club so they are not going to track and trace members at this moment in time.”

Read more:

• Hampsthwaite coffee Shop will close for a week to throughly clean following a covid scare.
• Porco Rosso Italian restaurant in Harrogate has closed after three years in the town. 

Sirius the snake was adopted yesterday after a plea to give him a home appeared on the Stray Pets Rescue Club.

The six-foot boa constrictor had been living at the Knaresborough Exotic Rescue Centre for eight months.

Now, thanks to the Stray Ferret’s new monthly rescue club, it has new owners.

Caroline Malcolm and Terry Brohee now have 35 animals, ranging from snakes to dogs, at their Markington home, which they jokingly describe as a zoo.

The couple are passionate about rescuing animals and offering them a caring home.

Caroline said:

“Having already rescued a boa before and seeing how much the right care and environment can change a snake’s manner, we decided pretty much instantly after seeing Sirius online that we wanted to offer him a home and give him the chance to be loved as a member of a family.”

Sirius is Caroline and Terry’s 35th animal.

Sirius will now live in a large enclosure with the correct amount of darkness and heat.

During their trip to the centre, on Knaresborough High Street, the couple also took home another boa called Hermione and three young rats.

Caroline added:

“We are hoping his confidence around humans will be improved by regular interaction and his true nature will come through.

“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we will continue to rescue creatures of all shapes and sizes!”

Read more:

• Over lockdown the reptile centre saw an increase in animals being handed to them as owners struggled to take care of them. 
• Founder of Harrogate Cat Rescue is urging owners to neuter their cats. 

Pateley Bridge is to offer some covid-safe outdoor theatre this month by staging Halloween ghost walks.

Actors from Pateley Bridge Dramatic Society will guide the audience through the Nidderdale town while telling haunted tales.

The walks will take place on October 30 and 31. Starting times will be staggered from 6pm to 8pm.

To comply with coronavirus regulations, each walk will be limited to five people.

Ruth Dodsworth, president of the society, which usually performs at the town’s Playhouse theatre, said:

“We have a proud history of innovation at the Playhouse and wanted to keep theatre alive in the safest way possible, while offering an original and dramatic experience.

“Ghost walks over Halloween weekend seemed a perfect way to do that.”

Complying with social distancing is difficult at the Playhouse, which will remain closed until at least the end of the year.

Tickets can be booked from Friday, October 23 here.

Read more:

• Harrogate Theatre has received another grant to help recover its losses from lockdown. 
• Knaresborough’s Frazer theatre has said social distancing has made it too difficult to reopen. 

A mental health support group in Knaresborough is raising awareness of the support it offers during the gap people face while waiting for therapy.

Project Bob, based at Gracious Street Methodist Church, runs weekly meetings and a 24/7 WhatsApp group offering support to people who are struggling.

The group’s founder, Chris Rawson, insists it isn’t a counselling service but instead calls it a “community”.

The volunteers are Christians but it isn’t a religious group: some members are suffering with current or past mental health issues.

Mr Rawson is aware more people are suffering lockdown anxieties and face widening delays in waiting to access professional help.

He has therefore invited people to reach out if they feel in need a boost.

The group is particularly keen to help those who have struggled to cope during lockdown. Credit www.radarfilm.co.uk

He said:

“The gap between getting the help is getting wider. We wanted to set something up to support working age adults. It’s not an official service, its a community of support to anyone that needs it.

“Over lockdown we met over Zoom, which is difficult because a lot of people come to talk to us about their home. People lost their jobs or are wary of getting ill or feel stuck at home – these are the anxieties we can help with.”

Read more:

• Harrogate Mind is expanding services due to an increased demand.
• Harrogate Samaritans is calling for people to reach out to family and friends following months of isolation .

The group offers a safe space for people to talk openly about their anxieties.

Mr Rawson added:

“We want to raise awareness that we’re there and have the space to help.”

Project Bob is suitable for people suffering with mild depression, anxiety and compulsive thoughts and behaviours.

The name is derived from St Robert of Knaresborough who was said to help vulnerable people.

To contact the group, click here.

A Harrogate shoplifter who was caught in possession of a meat cleaver has been jailed for 11 months.

Colin Bradley, 33, of Hargrove Road, had been carrying the lethal weapon at Asda in Harrogate where he stole two bottles of Jack Daniel’s whisky, York Crown Court heard today.

The fresh-produce manager stopped Bradley as he was leaving the store with the whisky bottles. Bradley was at first co-operative, said prosecutor Martin Bosomworth.

But when the male employee noticed more items in his jacket and pockets and asked him if he had stolen anything else, Bradley became aggressive and a “stand-off” ensued.

Mr Bosomworth told the court:

“(Bradley) put his hand in his pockets (where the blade was) and said, ‘Do you want it then?’”

“The (named manager) formed the impression that the defendant had some kind of knife.”

Fearing for his safety, the manager got out of Bradley’s way and let him leave the store.

Shortly after, police stopped Bradley and asked him if he was carrying a weapon. He pulled out a meat cleaver and handed it over.

Numerous thefts

Bradley, who was drunk and possibly high on drugs, was arrested and brought in for questioning. He refused to answer police questions about the incident on March 3.

He was released on bail pending further enquiries.

During this time, local shops and supermarkets provided CCTV evidence showing the convicted thief had targeted other stores since the beginning of February.

In one incident on February 10 he stole four packs of Stella Artois, food items and ready meals from the Co-op store on Knaresborough Road. He returned to the same shop later in the day to steal a multi-pack of tuna and a pack of Foster’s lager.

After being released on bail, he stole four cases of Jack Daniel’s and two packs of lager from the Co-op store on King Edward Drive on May 5.

Just over two weeks later, he targeted Sainsbury’s supermarket in Knaresborough where he stole cases of San Miguel beer. He returned to the store in June when he stole chicken breasts and pasta sauce.

Knuckle duster

Bradley was sentenced today after pleading guilty to possessing a bladed article in public and seven counts of theft.

The court heard he had 10 previous convictions for offences including possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence in 2014. His other convictions included carrying a knuckle duster, serious violence and drug offences.

Defence barrister Ashleigh Metcalfe said that Bradley had been binge-drinking and homeless during his four-month thieving spree.

Since the meat-cleaver incident, he had been trying to curb his drinking and drug-taking, which had been exacerbated by family bereavements.

But judge Simon Hickey said carrying a meat cleaver in public was such a serious offence that it had to be immediate custody.

The judge added that Bradley’s previous conviction for possessing a blade or offensive weapon meant he was liable to a minimum jail term as a “second-striker”.

Jailing Bradley for 11 months, Mr Hickey added:

“Anybody who carries a meat cleaver (must expect) an immediate custodial sentence, even though one was never taken out (of the defendant’s pocket).”

Bradley will serve half of the sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.

A coffee shop in Hampsthwaite will reopen this weekend after being forced to close due to covid.

Sophie’s Coffee Shop and Bistro closed on Sunday after a relative of a member of staff tested positive for the virus.

But the shop announced on its Facebook page yesterday that all staff concerned had tested negative.

It added that although the results were negative, it had decided to hire a professional deep cleaning team to deep clean the entire inside and outside of the building.

The clean will also include a new marquee, which has been purchased to allow more space for customers. The cafe had to halve its capacity to follow social distancing rules and said the marquee would allow it to seat more customers safely.

Sophie Jacob, owner of the shop, said:

“We’re excited to reopen, we have taken all the necessary precautions. On Wednesday a cleaning company will come and spray the marquee and inside to disinfect the premises. We chose to do this.

“This week we’re setting up the new marquee. We had people waiting in their cars sometimes to come in so we wanted to set this up to have more space.”

The team is hopeful that its measures will ensure customers feel confident to return this weekend.

The final stage of a management buyout of a Harrogate medical supplies company has been completed.

Beaucare Medical, which employs 68 staff, supplies medical, nursing and hygiene equipment, including PPE, to the care sector.

Managing director Heather Mawrey and commercial finance director Joe Storr, have now bought the remaining shares in the business from original owner Jonathan Brown.

The pair bought into the business in 2017 when Mr Brown sold his controlling stake. They have now bought his remaining 45% of shares.

The company, which began life in 1992 in Mr Brown’s garage, now has an annual turnover of almost £12 million.

Ms Mawrey, who has worked for the company for 15 years, said:

“We’ve enjoyed a busy period in the three years since Joe and I initially bought into the business.

“We’re extremely grateful to Jonathan for his continued input, which has created a seamless handover, and we’re delighted to complete the final stage of this management buyout.”

Read more:

• Harrogate BID is hoping it can bring businesses together to benefit them all. 
• An increase in new businesses in Knaresborough has lead to a business boost. 

The company, which was advised on the buyout by Harrogate law firm LCF Law, has experienced a surge in demand for PPE and other medical supplies during the pandemic.

The buyout was funded by the Santander Santander Corporate & Commercial, which funded the initial £3 million buyout in 2017.