Vicky Carr, Author at The Stray Ferret

Knaresborough Christmas tree fundraiser expands after huge demand

A charity project organised by young farmers in Knaresborough has proved so popular, it has been expanded before it has even started.

Knaresborough Young Farmers Club planned to visit villages around the area next Saturday, January 7, to pick up trees in exchange for a £5 donation to mental health charity Mind.

Demand for the collection has already been so high that the collection has been extended to include Knaresborough and Harrogate by arrangement.

A tractor and trailer will be taken through each village, with club members on foot. They will call at each house where a tree has been left out to organise the donation to the Just Giving page or by bank transfer.

Households also have the option of taking their tree to Manse Lane in Knaresborough between 9am and 3.30pm for a £3 donation.

Club chairman Katy Addyman said:

“Our club is well known for our annual tractor run, but since that was set up we’ve had an increase in junior members aged 10 to 16 and they now create the vast majority of the club.

“We wanted to arrange something where all of our members can get involved in some way and help raise money for a great cause.

“This wouldn’t be possible without Andway Healthcare, who are allowing us to use their car park on Manse lane, and Travis Perkins for providing us with a chipper, and our very generous club leaders who have put the time and effort in behind the scenes.”

The villages on the collection route are: Brearton, Coneythorpe, Farnham, Ferrensby, Flaxby, Follifoot, Goldsborough, Kirkby Overblow, Kirk Deighton, Lingerfield, Little Ribston, Nidd, North Deighton, Ripley, Scotton, and Spofforth.

Anyone in Knaresborough or Harrogate who wants to arrange a collection can complete the online formor call Katy on 07443 650033.

No.11: Investigations reveal council payments – and a secret Twitter account

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look back at the significant news broken by the Stray Ferret as part of our commitment to hold those in control of public money to account.

Throughout 2022, the Stray Ferret has continued to report on stories affecting readers across the Harrogate district.

From revealing the latest planning applications for major developments to recording cases going through local courts, we have ensured matters of public record are shared with our readers.

Among our most-read stories this year was the live blog delivering the results from the elections to the new North Yorkshire Council. It was a significant day for the Harrogate district, with the Conservatives’ hold on power slipping in favour of the Liberal Democrats, who won 10 seats in the area to the Tories’ nine, along with one Green and an independent.

Across the county, the Conservatives’ majority slipped to just four, having previously secured 76% of the vote at the last county-wide election.

Investigations

Next year, Harrogate Borough Council will be no more as a new unitary authority comes into effect on April 1, but in its final days, it is still being held to account by our journalists.

This autumn, we revealed the results of a two-year investigation into the identity of the person behind an anonymous Twitter account.

As @ChippyGlory, parking enforcement manager Steve Rogers had been posting abusive, misogynistic and obscene messages. He targeted high-profile people, including the then-Prime Minister’s wife, Carrie Johnson, as well as local individuals.

Among his victims was Cllr Matthew Webber, who said he was offended by what Mr Rogers had posted about him and would be contacting the chief executive about the way the council had been brought into disrepute by the tweets.

Mr Rogers apologised, and resigned later that week, though not before another row began.

After Liberal Democrat leader Pat Marsh called publicly for Mr Rogers to be dismissed, Conservative council leader Richard Cooper sent an email to all councillors calling for an apology – from Cllr Webber, for following Twitter accounts which were insulting towards Cllr Cooper.

Cllr Cooper wrote:

“Clearly if, as you state, Mr Rogers’ actions on his Twitter account bring the council into disrepute then the same could apply to your actions in following accounts clearly and specifically designed to insult and degrade me.

“I hope you will considering apologising and stop following those accounts and any others that I haven’t spotted that seek to demean, ridicule and insult local politicians.”

The council leader also copied the email to Mr Rogers, “for transparency’s sake”, and to chief executive Wallace Sampson.

Cllr Richard Cooper and Wallace Sampson

Mr Sampson was then forced to issue an instruction to all councillors to remain silent on the issue. He told them:

“Any further public comment or communication regarding this matter must cease with immediate effect, as such actions could be prejudicial to ensuring a fair and transparent process as the investigation takes its course.”

Contracts

This year, the Stray Ferret also reported on major contracts awarded by both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

In January, a request under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that HBC had paid Bristol-based travel blogger Heather Cowper £700 plus VAT to promote its Christmas offerings.

Gemma Rio, the head of the council’s tourism marketing body Destination Harrogate, defended the spend, saying:

“Social media advertising and the use of influencers to increase brand awareness looks like it will continue to be one of the most beneficial marketing tools.

“We’re keen to continue using it to showcase what the Harrogate district has to offer and stand out amongst competitor destinations.”

However, the project led to a further clash between councillors and the chief executive after Cllr Matthew Webber publicly criticised what he saw as an “appalling waste of money”. Mr Sampson said Cllr Webber’s comment had caused “a great deal of hurt” to council staff.

Harrogate Spring Water

After a two-year fight, the Stray Ferret finally obtained details of how much income Harrogate Borough Council receives from Harrogate Spring Water.

As well as its £13,000 ground rent per annum, the authority receives a percentage of annual turnover from the business – but it had refused to reveal how much this amounted to after requests from this website.

An appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office led to the authority being told to reconsider its decision – and the numbers were finally revealed.

Since 2017, HBC has received almost £500,000 from Harrogate Spring Water.

Harrogate Spring Water, Harlow Moor Road in Harrogate.

Meanwhile, a further request under the Freedom of Information Act showed that HBC had told the water company it would consider selling Rotary Wood – the piece of land controversially earmarked for expansion of the bottling plant.

And in October, we revealed that Harrogate Spring Water had been given permission to test water in a borehole at HBC’s Harlow Hill nursery, which is currently allocated for a new housing development.

The company said the results “weren’t what [it was] looking for” but it continued to try to understand the local groundwater in more detail.

The latest plans to expand the bottling plant were said to be being “finalised” in September but have not yet been submitted to the council.

In Ripon, an £85,000 contract looking at the renewal of the city centre was paused in August, more than a year after it was announced.

Bauman Lyons Architects had been commissioned in February 2021 to draw up plans to create a vision for the city, which would help it to win funding for infrastructure, planning and community projects.

However, the one-year deadline for the project was missed and, in August, HBC’s director of economy and culture Trevor Watson admitted he did not know when it would be finished. He said it was the council’s “intention” that it would conclude before HBC is abolished in April 2023.

Kex Gill

Meanwhile, at NYCC, a contract worth more than £50m was awarded to Irish firm John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Ltd for work on the rerouting of the A59 at Kex Gill.

The total amount allocated to the project now stands at £68.8m along with an £11m contingency for bad weather and ground conditions – but work has been delayed until early 2023 and is expected to take more than two years.

Also this year, a £5m contract was awarded to four national consultancy firms as part of the process of transferring to the new unitary authority.

KPMG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, PA Consulting Ltd and Capita Business Service Ltd were all contracted to support the reorganisation – but the move came under fire from both independents and Liberal Democrats, who questioned why the expertise of council officers could not be used.

In November, NYCC commissioned London-based Steer-ED to draw up a strategy for economic growth in North Yorkshire, with a contract worth almost £90,000.

An Oxfordshire company was awarded £200,000 to oversee a review of junctions relating to house building in the west of Harrogate. NYCC selected RPS Consulting Services Ltd to oversee the work, part of the West Harrogate Infrastructure Delivery Strategy, building on the West Harrogate Parameters Plan.

And finally, this year the Stray Ferret continued to monitor the long saga of Harrogate Convention Centre and plans for its refurbishment to the tune of £49m.

The proposal was first publicised more than two years ago but devolution, changes to government policies and shifting goalposts for potential sources of funding have all played a part in its slow progress.

A steering group, consisting of officials from both HBC and NYCC, has been set up to decide how the centre should be run in future and how to fund investment.

The Stray Ferret will continue to report on the way public money is spent across the Harrogate district in what is set to be a year of significant change.

No.10: Historic moments to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the way our communities market the death of the Queen and the ascension of King Charles III.

The announcement of the death of Her Majesty the Queen on Thursday, September 8 led to a series of historic events across the Harrogate district.

Among the first was a two-minute silence held by the Ripon hornblower following the setting of the watch at 9pm, less than three hours after the official announcement.

Tributes quickly came in from dignitaries around North Yorkshire, including the Lord Lieutenant, Jo Ropner, who said:

“I had the privilege of meeting Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace when I was appointed as Lord Lieutenant in 2018, and I know from personal experience that every engagement was conducted with grace and genuine interest, that every person felt the spark from meeting not only their monarch, but a truly remarkable woman whose commitment to her role will be remembered for generations to come.”

The following morning, official arrangements began to be put in place to mark the death of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.

Church bells tolled for an hour at noon, while flags at public venues, including Ripon Town Hall, Knaresborough House and the Royal Hall in Harrogate, were flown at half mast.

Many churches opened books of condolence for people to sign, and invited people to visit and pray. Flowers were laid on the grass by the war memorial in Harrogate.

A number of events were cancelled over the following days as a mark of respect. Sporting fixtures around the country were called off, including Harrogate Town’s match against Carlisle.

Both Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council cancelled all meetings for the week following the Queen’s death.

On Sunday, September 11, a ceremony was held by the war memorial in Harrogate. It saw the Mayor of the Borough of Harrogate read the proclamation of the new King.

A similar ceremony was held in Ripon, where Deputy Lord Lieutenant Richard Compton was on duty to read the proclamation.

Over the following days, in unprecedented circumstances, some businesses altered their opening hours and some major events had to be changed too.

Nidderdale Show was forced to move from its traditional Monday slot when the Queen’s funeral was announced for the same date. However, it later said the weekend show had proved a success and future events would be held on a Sunday.

The funeral on Monday, September 19 saw several businesses close for the day, including Bettys tea rooms, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, and RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

Many supermarkets closed all day, or opened from 5pm onwards. Bin collections were suspended for the bank holiday and council-run leisure centres were closed.

The funeral was shown on big screens at Ripon Cathedral and the Royal Hall in Harrogate, as well as some pubs.

No.8: Businesses opened and closed in 2022

In this article, which is part of a series on the 12 stories in the Harrogate district that shaped 2022, we look at the business which have opened and closed this past year.

It has been a year of change on the business scene across the Harrogate district.

Some long-standing brands closed their doors for the final time, while many new businesses arrived, and others changed hands.

Among the most high-profile arrivals was Leon, which opened its first Harrogate district branch in June. After disputes over signage in the run-up to opening, the chain restaurant hit the headlines again when, the day before it opened, its offer of free food in exchange for feedback from customers added to the queues of traffic on Wetherby Road.

Other hospitality brands arriving in Harrogate for the first time included Cosy Club, Giggling Squid and Pret. Meanwhile, the independent scene was also enhanced with the likes of the Sunshine Bakery in Boroughbridge and Husk Beer Emporium’s move to a bar in Harrogate.

Manager Erin Seelig at Cortado on Leeds Road.

Leeds Road in Harrogate proved a top spot for coffee shops, with Cortado and Folk both arriving this year, while Kings Road remained a popular place for independents as Lilypad and Pink Door opened.

There were also numerous arrivals in retail, largely from national chains: Jules B and Oliver Bonas both opened in central Harrogate, while Hotel Chocolat expanded to a larger premises.

Lidl was the major new name when it came to supermarkets, with its new Harrogate store opening in October to add to its existing Knaresborough branch. Tesco also opened its Killinghall convenience store, while Sainsbury’s Local began trading on Cambridge Street in Harrogate.

There were a few close calls too: vegan restaurant Vertigo announced last year it would open in the bottom of the Everyman cinema building, but after months without any progress, confirmed in March it had gone out of business.

Tomahawk Steakhouse, meanwhile, said it planned to open in the former Solita Food Hall on Station Parade, but in its last update this autumn said it was still awaiting access to the venue:

“At the moment Tomahawk are tied up with legalities that have unfortunately been completely out of our control.

“We were all prepared and ready to go, but with liquidators from the previous owners comes a lot of red tape. We have had to sit on the sidelines whilst it gets thrashed out between the relevant parties.

“It is a shame because we would love to get going with everything and get open, but it’s completely out of our hands.”

A number of businesses reopened under new ownership this year, including some with new names. Among them was one of Harrogate’s oldest brands, Fattorini, which changed hands at the beginning of the year.

Gino D’Acampo’s My Restaurant in Harrogate became Piccolino, another brand in the same group, while the Royal Baths Chinese Restaurant opened for the first time since the end of 2020, unveiling newly refurbished premises.

Elsewhere, Jespers Bar and Kitchen opened in the former Hustle and Co premises on Station Parade, and HG1 Grill and World Bar took over the former Bistrot Pierre site on Cheltenham Parade, which had been occupied by Samsons for just a few months at the beginning of the year.

Ruebery Flowers in Knaresborough became River and Rose under new owner Kirsty Wilson, while The Old Deanery in Ripon reopened following a refurbishment by Chris Layton and Rebecca Hill, who took over following its closure in late 2020.

The former Millstones restaurant on the A59 near Menwith Hill became the Outside Inn, while the Old Spring Well was relaunched as the Curious Cow.

Expansion

There were also successes for many established businesses across the district.

The Secret Bakery expanded from its Harrogate outlet to a second branch in Knaresborough, while bookshop Imagined Things moved to new premises on Montpellier Hill.

Prologue, Starling and Cold Bath Brewing Company in Harrogate all expanded their operations, as did Ripon’s Caffe Nero.

And it wasn’t just in retail and hospitality where new businesses arrived: Ebru Evrim opened its yoga studio on Harrogate’s James Street, while new gyms Coach and Lift added to the fitness scene in Harrogate.

This year has also seen some losses across the district, including long-standing businesses.

Catch – which had taken over and rebranded the former Graveley’s fish and chip restaurant on Cheltenam Parade – ceased trading in October.

Ripon’s Bambudda closed in July, following the closure of the Black a Moor Inn at Bridge Hewick in March.

Other hospitality businesses lost this year included Gron and Cafe M. Among the shops lost were the Refilling Station, Orvis and Sofa Workshop. Cocktail bar 63rd+1st was lost less than a year after opening on Harrogate’s Albert Street.

There was sadness among many young families as Brimham Rocks Activity Farm announced it would no longer be welcoming visitors to its barns and fields from September, though it continued to offer a mobile petting farm, reindeer hire and other activities elsewhere. Dozens of parents expressed their sadness on social media after the news was announced.

Finally, some prominent premises that used to be home to big brands still stood empty in 2022.

The former Debenhams building, which closed its doors for the last time in January 2021, had been earmarked for demolition, but plans to replace it with “high quality” apartments were withdrawn in May this year.

And the former Slug and Lettuce premises on Montpellier Hill has stood empty all year after closing in spring 2021. Plans were submitted in September this year to convert it into retail premises and apartments.

It is no doubt a challenging time in retail and hospitality, and 2023 will certainly bring more changes.

Having already reported on plans lodged to deliver new bars, restaurants and shops, the Stray Ferret will bring you all the news about new arrivals and departures throughout the year.

Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal: Match funding brings total to more than £30,000

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is for Resurrected Bites in Harrogate and Knaresborough. Today, the final day of our appeal, we look at its success and the difference your donations will make to this vital organisation.

The fundraising page remains open. Please give generously to support local people who are struggling this Christmas. They need your help.

The last four weeks have seen an incredible £25,000 donated to the Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal.

The campaign has been supported by Techbuyer, which generously offered to match fund up to £5,000 of donations from the public and other businesses.

With their contribution now added, the total raised through the appeal is more than £30,000. Helen Blakey from Techbuyer said:

“Techbuyer have been involved with Resurrected Bites in various capacities over the last couple of years donating IT hardware and providing monetary donations.

“As champions of the circular economy, we think it is important that every resource is properly used – especially when precious food can help sustain someone in need. That’s why we chose to work with Resurrected Bites as their values really resonate with ours.

“We are amazed at the generosity of local people and businesses that have helped increase the total. It is reassuring to know that, with the success of this appeal, many more people can enjoy as merry a Christmas as possible.”

Thank you to everyone who has given any amount, large or small, to our appeal. Every penny will go directly to Resurrected Bites and will make an enormous difference to local people.

Thanks to your generosity, Resurrected Bites goes into 2023 with a more certain future.

Not only can it continue to support the customers who rely on its community groceries and enjoy its pay-as-you-feel cafe, it can welcome more people through the doors.

Times are hard for many and, with the cost of living set to rise further next year, it is likely more people will find themselves struggling to pay their bills and put food on the table.

Some of the stories we have heard have shown just how easily people can fall into a situation where their incomes do not cover all their outgoings.

Take Ickle Mills, mum to a young son, who found her maternity pay was nowhere near what she had expected. Despite her partner’s steady job and good income, the family suddenly struggled to afford food after the added expense of a baby. She said:

“All of a sudden, we were hundreds of pounds down a month on what I would have earned.

“We were at the point of incurring a lot of debt. Thanks to Resurrected Bites, we didn’t. It was the only thing that kept us from having to fall into quite bad debt.”

Resurrected Bites enabled the couple to buy milk and other supplies for their son, as well as putting food on the table for themselves. As he moved onto solid food, Ickle found she had access to produce she might otherwise not have been able to buy, giving him a varied, healthy diet – all while reducing the amount of food going to landfill.

Then there was Justin Hardcastle, for whom a series of bereavements led to a mental health crisis – and Resurrected Bites was among the organisations that stepped in to help, alongside housing charity Lifeline. Now volunteering in its grocery and cafe, he told us:

“I love coming here. It gives me a purpose. Everyone is so friendly and I feel like I’m giving something back.

“It’s heart-warming and beneficial for me, just to be part of a team and know I’m appreciated…

“I feel like I contribute – I give as much as I can. Thinking about where I was, if it wasn’t for Resurrected Bites, Lifeline and my network of friends, I don’t know where I would be now.”

Justin Hardcastle, left, and Lara Rundle

For single mum of four Lara Rundle, the problems began when her youngest child went away to university.

A small pay rise from the NHS meant she was no longer entitled to benefits, leaving her £90 a month worse off – and health problems for her and one of her children further impacted on her finances.

Speaking to her GP practice about the challenges she faced, Lara was referred to Resurrected Bites. She told the Stray Ferret:

“You feel you are paying something, so it’s not a hand-out. It’s fresh fruit and vegetables. They’re the kind of things I can’t afford to buy.

“If I go to the supermarket, the only thing I have to buy is cheese and butter, sometimes meat. There’s stuff there I could never have afforded to buy even if I wasn’t in this situation.”

The impact on her mental health has been significant, taking away the pressures she was feeling. She said:

“It has made such a massive difference. I know I don’t have to worry.

“If you have an extra fiver you put it on your account so you don’t have to worry about paying next time.

“I just can’t thank them enough. They’re angels. The service is a life-saver.”

Resurrected Bites also has plans to extend its service and reach more people in new communities.

In early spring, founder Michelle Hayes hopes to open its third pay-as-you-feel cafe, this time at Killinghall Methodist Church.

Like the others at Gracious Street Methodist Church in Knaresborough and Harrogate’s West Park United Reformed Church, it will use food that would otherwise go to waste. Ingredients collected from supermarkets and other commercial outlets will be turned into delicious, filling hot meals.

A roast beef dinner at Resurrected Bites’ pay-as-you-feel cafe in Knaresborough

They’re sold on a pay-as-you-feel basis: if anyone can’t otherwise afford to eat out, they can contribute whatever they are able for their meal. The cafes are also open to those who can afford to give more, as cafe manager Ian Booth told the Stray Ferret:

“Often, people don’t come because they think it’s just for people who are struggling. We’re absolutely dependent on people who can afford to give generously.

“At the same time, it’s great when people come who can’t afford to, knowing that someone who is struggling has had a good hot meal.”

As Ian begins to look towards retirement, Resurrected Bites is recruiting cafe managers for both the new Killinghall cafe and the West Park cafe. Ian knows just what a privilege the roles will offer:

“I always think one of the best things about my job is the people I work with.

“We’re totally reliant on volunteers. The sort of people that volunteer are nice people, kind and caring, thinking of others.

“I just feel so blessed to have so many nice people to work with.”

To find out more about Resurrected Bites and the paid and voluntary roles it has available, visit its Facebook page.

While the Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal has officially ended, the donation page will remain open over the Christmas period.

Click here to contribute now. Thank you.

Cyclists light up Harrogate streets to raise funds in memory of founder

Fifteen cyclists took to the streets of Harrogate in festive style in memory of one of the group’s founders.

Members of Bertie Bikers toured the streets of Harrogate, calling into pubs to collect donations for the British Heart Foundation.

The event was held in memory of group founder Andy Sample, who died unexpectedly earlier this year after suffering a heart attack.

Co-founder Mark Madeley said:

“He was larger than life, a real character who liked a beer and liked a laugh.

“He used to come away if we went on trips. We hadn’t seem him for a while because of covid and things, but we thought he was OK.

“We were all incredibly shocked.”

Mr Sample, who was a grandfather and worked at Bettys and Taylors, helped to set up the group almost two decades ago. As a customer of Prospect Building Supplies in Starbeck, he met employees Mark Gilbert and Gary Johnson.

Mr Madeley, who is Mr Gilbert’s brother-in-law, said the trio began discussing ways of keeping fit as they headed into their 40s, and a cycling group was set up by all four of them.

It has met every Thursday since to tour parts of Harrogate and Knaresborough, often ending at Bertie’s on Knaresborough Road. More friends and colleagues have been added to the numbers over the years.

Read more:

The annual Christmas ride began a few years ago, complete with costumes and decorated bikes, but has never been used to raise money – until now.

More than £750 has been raised already, with donations still rolling in, and Mr Madeley said the group is planning to use the Christmas ride as a fundraiser every year from now on:

“We had loads of cars parping their horns, people walking were waving and cheering, and even cars with windows winding down and the children waving at our Santas.

“We’ve talked about doing it for charity for a number of years. This year, it spurred us into action and in future we’re going to nominate a local charity to support each year.”

To donate to the British Heart Foundation in Mr Sample’s memory, click here. To find out more about Bertie Bikers, click here to email Mr Madeley.

Toys donated in Knaresborough reach Ukraine in time for Christmas

Toys donated by people in the Harrogate district have been distributed to children in Ukraine in time for Christmas.

Knaresborough man Bob Frendt drove a lorry filled with £30,000 of toys across Europe to ensure children in the war-torn country did not go without this festive period.

Now, he has received photos and videos of some of his toys being handed to youngsters for the country’s independence day, with more to be opened for Christmas too.

He said:

“It’s heartbreaking and it’s wonderful. What can you say? Those kids would have nothing if we hadn’t taken those toys over.”

Bob appealed through the Stray Ferret for help to collect toys in the summer, and said he was overwhelmed by the support he received.

It included individual donations, as well as one anonymous businessman who offered to pay to fill the lorry with toys.

Mr Frendt set off in early November with the delivery, accompanied by his wife, Maureen, and they took the lorry over the border into Ukraine.

It was his sixth trip to eastern Europe since the Russian invasion in February. The previous visits had seen him take medical equipment to help treat Ukrainians injured in the war.

Despite being retired as a lorry driver, Mr Frendt intends to complete the trip again next year and has already begun collecting goods to take with him.

He has several hundred surgical gowns collected from another organisation that did not need them, and last week bought a mobility scooter for a soldier who has lost both of his legs.

Bob and Maureen Frendt

Having bought much of it out of his own pocket, Mr Frendt is now hoping to get more support to enable him to fill his lorry again by March. He said:

“I’ve got a big bill coming for the truck – it needs new discs and pads on the front. The quote I’ve had is £630, then then MOT is £151. That’s a bill for at least £800 in February.

“I saw a picture of the guy who had lost his legs on an ordinary chair. He was desperate for a mobility scooter, so I thought, ‘right, I’ll get one’.

“My winter fuel payment has come in handy for that, but I’m dreading the gas bill. I’m going to worry about it as and when, but it leaves me with less to buy things to take with me.”

Mr Frendt is planning to organise a fundraising disco for Valentine’s Day in the hope of raising money to buy more equipment, and funding the £2,500, six-day trip to Ukraine.

Anyone who would like to donate or help him can click here to send him an email.

Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal: Making Christmas special for struggling families

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is for Resurrected Bites in Harrogate and Knaresborough. Today, Vicky finds out what its team and supporters have been doing to ensure its customers can have a happy Christmas, even in difficult circumstances.

Our appeal runs for two more days. Please give generously to support local people who are struggling this Christmas. They need your help.

The festive season may be upon us, but demand for help from Resurrected Bites has never been higher.

Sophia Clark, who runs the organisation’s community grocery in New Park, said:

“We’ve had a really busy two weeks. It’s going to be busy up to Christmas.

“We’re getting a lot of new people in – two just this morning.

“On Tuesday, I had a woman in pieces. She had three children on her own and had gone to do her food shopping. Her direct debit had changed for her gas and electric and they’d left her overdrawn.”

Along with the volunteers at New Park, Sophia was able to fill the woman’s freezer to see her through the festive period and ensure her children wouldn’t go hungry.

She later received a message thanking her for what she had done, concluding: “God bless you, you are a diamond and a special one at that.”

Sadly, the woman was just one of many who have been forced to call on Resurrected Bites for the first time this month alone.

Sophia said:

“We’re seeing lots of things like that at the moment – people in absolute dire straits.

“We’ve had a lot of pensioners in. One lady had gone to deliver a Christmas card to a friend and found her shaking and freezing. She couldn’t afford the heating.”

Sophia said some of the stories she hears are heart-breaking. Along with volunteer Karen Martin, who also speaks to people arriving at the community grocery to ensure it can meet their needs, Sophia said she often cries in the office behind closed doors once the visitor has left, before getting back to work.

But the very tough side of the job is balanced by the heart-warming elements.

Sophia knows she is making a difference at a time of crisis for many people – messages like the one from the mum whose bill had left her overdrawn provide some comfort amid all the challenges.

There is also fantastic generosity towards Resurrected Bites and its customers, especially at this time of year.

When I visited the New Park community grocery last week, there was a small Santa’s grotto in the corner, with a volunteer ensuring children could meet Father Christmas even if their parents couldn’t afford to buy tickets for a commercial event.

The shelves had been stacked that morning with toys and chocolates for those who wouldn’t be able to afford treats. Although they had been snapped up quickly, more were still coming in and being laid out for other customers.

Resurrected Bites founder Michelle Hayes said:

“A few people have expressed concern about not being able to buy presents for their families this year.

“The last thing we want is people taking out loans. So we’ve been able to give out presents to make sure they have something to unwrap on Christmas Day.”

Businesses and individuals have been generous with selection boxes, tubs of sweets and other small luxuries for Resurrected Bites to distribute to its customers.

There have also been deliveries of blankets, warm jumpers and festive decorations.

The Christmas tree in Santa’s grotto at New Park came from the festival at St Thomas the Apostle Church in Killinghall, donated by Mole Country Stores near Ripley. After being on display at the community grocery, the firm asked that it be given to a family who wouldn’t otherwise have a Christmas tree.

The amount of food and other treats available is a dramatic improvement from earlier this year, when demand was outstripping the volume of waste food arriving from supermarkets.

Sophia said the kind of generosity in evidence in the run-up to Christmas – and knowing how much difference she and the volunteers could make to people – is what has kept her going in challenging times.

“I look at those people and the feedback I get. That’s what I do this for: I get to help people and make a change.

“I had message after message last night from people asking if they could come down [to shop]. I’m just so grateful we’ve got the food to give them.

“A couple of months ago, it was so low, but now at least I know nobody has to go without for Christmas.”

Nobody in the Harrogate district should go hungry this Christmas.

It costs £300 to run the community grocery for one day. Please help to keep it open for everyone who relies on it.

Click here to contribute now.

Dozens to enjoy free Christmas dinner thanks to Knaresborough volunteers

A former firefighter will serve Christmas dinner to as many as 100 locals from across the Harrogate district.

Bruce Reid has been working with a team of volunteers to coordinate the Knaresborough Christmas Day Dinner, ensuring nobody has to feel lonely.

From peeling sprouts to organising gifts for children, they are spending this week putting on the event, with Mr Reid set to be busy in the kitchen at the Masonic Lodge in Knaresborough for most of Christmas Day.

After years spent working shifts on Christmas Day, following his retirement he said he has no interest in sitting quietly at home while he could be helping others:

“I haven’t had a Christmas Day off in all those years and now I’ve got the option to have it off, but it doesn’t appeal to me, not doing something on Christmas Day.

“My kids have long grown up and are perfectly happy with their own families. As a dad, i’m not needed.

“My wife is more than happy. She’s just used to me doing stuff like this. She’ll be with her mum and grandkids on Christmas Day morning.

“We’ll get back together later on and we have our Christmas Day on Boxing Day.

“I get so much pleasure out of doing this, I would be more miserable if I didn’t do it.”

Mr Reid – who was made an MBE in 2015 for services to the Firefighters Charity and the community – first put on a Christmas Day meal at Harrogate Fire Station before he retired. With nobody in the force stepping up to host it, he decided to continue in the community from 2020.

Last year, he and the organising committee served Christmas lunch to around 60 people, and there are already more than 70 signed up for this year’s service.

As well as being referred by social services, Harrogate Borough Council and community organisations like Resurrected Bites, people can contact the organisers directly.

Mr Reid said the meal is open to anyone who wants to join, as are the home deliveries of a hot Christmas dinner. He added:

“There might be people who have got somewhere to live and plenty of money, but are just on their own and lonely.

“It all started for me when my dad had dementia. My step-mum cared for him until the point he had to go into a care home.

“Although she had somebody with her, there was no stimulating conversation – it was quite lonely. How many people might be out there whose partner is ill or they still feel lonely even though they’re not alone?

“I wanted to do something that’s not just for people who are homeless but people who have got financial struggles and can’t afford to eat, people on their own who want someone to share Christmas with, or people who are looking after someone.

“The carers themselves might want some company so they can bring the person they’re caring for and join us.

“We offer people the option of coming into the hall and eating with us, but if they don’t want to do that, they have a young family or whatever, we deliver the food to them.”

So far, around 30 people have signed up to eat at the Masonic Lodge, and another 45 will receive their meals at home. Bruce expects there to be more than 80 in total by the time they stop taking requests on Friday – and he said he wouldn’t be surprised if that number reached 100.

There are volunteers wrapping gifts to send out to children, prepping veg for the meal, serving to visitors, driving hot food around to people’s homes, and clearing up at the end of the day.

To find out more about the meal, email the organising committee or call Bruce Reid on 07958 653084.

Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal smashes £20,000 target for Resurrected Bites

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is for Resurrected Bites in Harrogate and Knaresborough. Today, Vicky gives an update on the fundraising, with five days left of the appeal.

Please give generously to support local people who are struggling this Christmas. They need your help.

An incredible £22,000 has been raised for Resurrected Bites in less than four weeks thanks to the generosity of Stray Ferret readers.

As well as contributions from individuals across the district, many businesses have donated to the Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal.

Taking us over our £20,000 total this week was a fantastic £5,000 from Windsor Private Office Financial Planning, based in Harrogate.

Every penny from those donations goes directly to Resurrected Bites. Click here to see the latest total.

The Stray Ferret chose to support Resurrected Bites after it warned in autumn that it faced significant financial challenges in running its community groceries and pay-as-you-feel cafes, all using food that would otherwise go to landfill.

It costs £7,500 each month to keep the organisation going, and its income was falling short by £3,000 every month.

Michelle Hayes, founder of Resurrected Bites, said:

“A massive thank you to the Stray Ferret for running the appeal and to everybody who has donated.

“This money is going to give us security for about eight months, covering the shortfall we have. We’re in a much stronger position starting 2023 than we were a few months ago.”

We launched the appeal on November 29 to run for four weeks until Christmas. With an initially modest target of £5,000, we soon realised we were going to pass that in a matter of days.

We increased the target to £20,000 and your donations continued to roll in.

Knowing the challenges of the cost of living crisis and the extra strain on many household budgets these days, we have been overwhelmed by just how generous our readers have been in supporting Resurrected Bites.

It’s all down to the willingness of its members and volunteers to be open about the challenges facing them. From the young Ukrainian family working to build a new life in Knaresborough to the single mum and full-time NHS employee whose circumstances changed dramatically, they have illustrated how vital Resurrected Bites is to so many local people.

Their powerful stories have also highlighted how easily many of us could end up in the same situation.

It’s often said that many households are just one pay day away from being in serious financial trouble. If you were to lose your job, or find yourself unable to work, could you cover your bills and still put food on the table?

That situation is facing new people every day. Michelle said just this week, there have been more people coming through the doors of the community groceries, looking for support to get them through the toughest of circumstances.

She said:

“It has been heartbreaking this week, with people who haven’t heard of us before getting in touch very late in the day saying they have nothing for Christmas, no presents for the kids.

“The situation is certainly not improving.”

Resurrected Bites is there to support people with dignity, providing affordable groceries – and reducing food waste at the same time – for as long as people need them.

While calls for help have continued to come in, so have donations of food. Resurrected Bites is often chosen as the recipient of ‘reverse advent calendars’, where organisers put an item in a box every day through December and donate it all at the end of the month.

Anyone wishing to give food can do so at Resurrected Bites’ warehouse at the rear of Disability Action Yorkshire on Hornbeam Park Oval, Harrogate, on Wednesday, December 21 or Thursday, December 22, between 9am and noon.

Meanwhile, we may have passed our £20,000 fundraising target, but our appeal continues right up until Christmas.

Later this week, we’ll bring you stories about how Resurrected Bites is helping to make Christmas magical for everyone, ensuring people are fed and children don’t go without presents.

Please keep donating to the appeal. It really will make all the difference to local people this Christmas and beyond.

Nobody in the Harrogate district should go hungry this Christmas.

It costs £300 to run the community grocery for one day. Please help to keep it open for everyone who relies on it.

Click here to contribute now. Thank you.