The Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal: The story of Dementia Forward

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise money for a minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. 

The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare.

Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s not forget who needs our help this Christmas.

Today, we hear the story of Dementia Forward.

“I sometimes feel national charities have lost touch with local communities.

“The need for dementia support was huge and the funding was usually decided in London.

“We felt we could do a better job by being rooted in the community.”

It was this realisation that prompted Jill Quinn to improve local dementia support in the Harrogate district.

Jill, who previously worked for two national dementia charities, said she “wasted many years in retail management” before realising that the voluntary sector was where she belonged.

Dementia Forward was born in 2012 after Jill and other founding members left their previous healthcare jobs on a Friday and launched the charity the following Monday morning.

The team places need at the centre of the charity – something that can’t be done 200 miles away. She added:

“People know when they put their pound in the pot, they’d be getting better services in the local area.

“You can’t design a service to be delivered in the local area from an office in London.”

Dementia Forward began with just seven members of staff. The team was donated second-hand laptops and worked from a small office in Ripon.

Kathy Patton, one of the founding members, added:

“We knew from working at a national scale what clients really want and needed, so we set up local activities – like the hub club and coffee mornings.

“It was our dream to have a hub building like we do now.”

George Armitage House – the flagship hub in Burton Leonard – was donated to Dementia Forward by a lady who had previously lived there. After her husband died, she wanted the money from his estate to go to something meaningful – and so the team’s first hub was born.

Some of the Dementia Forward team.

Things were looking bright for Dementia Forward and the team was right – there was a huge need for local dementia support. Within just 18 months, the charity was commissioned to cover three areas of North Yorkshire. A decade later, Dementia Forward now covers the entire county.

The charity now employs more than 60 staff members, has 250 volunteers and helps 4,500 families.

Dementia Forward offers unrivalled support for those suffering with these life-changing diseases and their carers. It hosts weekly social events and groups for people to attend, as well as community groups and cafés.

The charity also has a young onset group – known as Time Out Together – which helps those who have developed symptoms of dementia under the age of 65.

People enjoy puzzles, board games and quizzes. They sing together, go on trips to the beach, walking excursions, art gallery visits and much more.

There is a certain sense of family that runs through Dementia Forward and it is clear the demand for its help and companionship is only growing.

It provides a lifeline for families and carers that are losing their loved one before their eyes.

However, the charity can only continue its amazing work with the help of charitable donations.

Kathy added:

“Every penny donated will go towards improving the lives of our clients. The money goes to them rather than the machine of a charity.”

Without Dementia Forward and its services, many people would have nowhere to turn.

Please give generously and support this vital local organisation. Nobody deserves what these families are facing – especially at Christmas.

Every donation to our campaign will go directly to Dementia Forward, helping us hit our £30,000 target to buy the charity a new minibus and improving the lives of those living with dementia and the people around them.

Dementia Forward’s current bus is old and urgently needs to be replaced. The charity would seriously struggle to afford a new one, which is why they need your help to keep this vital service going.

Without it, many people living with dementia wouldn’t be able to access the help and support they need.

Please click here to donate whatever you can – you never know when you, your family or your friend may be in need of Dementia Forward’s help too.

Let’s not forget who needs our help this Christmas. Thank you.

The NHS found that one in 11 people over the age of 65 in the UK are living with dementia. If you need urgent help or have a dementia-related enquiry, call 0330 057 8592 to speak to a helpline adviser.

 

Fraudster who targeted Harrogate woman for hundreds of thousands of pounds jailed

A serial fraudster who manipulated a Harrogate woman into giving him hundreds of thousands of pounds has been jailed.

Marc Raven, 61, claimed he was a successful businessman, and deceived the victim into marrying him and selling her home.

Raven, of no fixed address, caused “immeasurable damage” to her and her family, York Crown Court heard.

He pleaded guilty to fraud against two women.

Raven, who had also been known as Marc Bookey, Marc Cohen and Marc Stewart, met one of the victims through a dating app in January 2018, and they were married by October.

Raven told her he had a large amount of money in a Singaporean bank account that he was having difficulty accessing. He encouraged her to sell her home in Harrogate and use the money to live on, making her believe they would soon be buying a property worth more than £1 million.

Meanwhile, he was taking money from her, with the promise he would pay her back when his money arrived. They made offers on a number of houses, but this would never progress, with Raven blaming the sellers.

Between June 2018 and May 2019, the victim had transferred him more than £200,000. She had to declare herself bankrupt and move in with family.

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Raven was arrested by North Yorkshire Police. During the course of their investigation into him, officers discovered another victim in Singapore.

Raven had begun a relationship with her in 2016, and the following year he contacted her to say he had been hospitalised in Dubai, and needed money to pay medical fees and customs fines. 

In reality, Raven was fit and well in the UK. Between July 2017 and August 2018, the victim transferred about £100,000 to Raven.

When interviewed by police, Raven continued to claim that he had money in Singapore. As part of the investigation, international financial enquiries were carried out there, showing his claims were false.

‘Immeasurable damage’

In a personal statement read at court yesterday, the daughter of the woman Raven married said: 

“The damage Marc has done to my family is immeasurable, and no punishment will ever repair the damage he’s done to my mum. I just hope that he’s unable to cause this much harm and pain to anyone again.”

Raven was jailed for eight years and one month.

DC Neil Brodhurst, of North Yorkshire Police, said:

“Raven was a serial fraudster, who lied again and again to obtain money from women he was in a relationship with. It’s no exaggeration to say his deception has shattered lives.

“While nothing can undo the damage he has caused, I hope that this result can at least bring about some closure for the victims. And it will ensure that no one else can ever be taken in by his lies, or forced to suffer what they have endured.

“Financial abuse is a form of domestic abuse. It can happen to anyone of any age. Sometimes it can take a long time for victims to realise what is happening. But if you feel uncomfortable about how someone you know is behaving with your money, they may be financially abusing you.

“It’s not easy to take the first step to break free of financial abuse, but you will not be alone – the police are here to support you. Call us on 101. We will talk to you in confidence about the help that’s available.”

Councillors push ahead with scaled-back £11.2m Harrogate Station Gateway

Senior Conservative councillors have agreed to drastically scale-back Harrogate’s £11.2m Station Gateway in an effort to rescue the troubled scheme.

This morning North Yorkshire Council’s executive said it will remove the part-pedestrianisation of James Street from the plans and will end its hopes of reducing Station Parade to single lane traffic so it can build cycle lanes.

The council said a rethink was needed because Harrogate-based property firm Hornbeam Park Developments, which owns several commercial properties on James Street, issued a legal challenge in the summer that left the original vision in tatters.

The council admitted that it made a technical error during the consultation stages of the proposal.

It means the council’s flagship active travel scheme for Harrogate is still set to go ahead but may only include a redeveloped One Arch and Station Square, better traffic signals, a bus lane on lower Station Parade, new paving for pedestrians and cycling parking at Harrogate Station.

North Yorkshire Council said it will explore the possibility of creating south-bound segregated cycle on Station Parade although this is not guaranteed.

The council is also developing gateway schemes in Skipton and Selby worth a combined £42m with funding from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.

The council’s executive member for highways, Cllr Keane Duncan, said today:  

“Delivering capital projects of this scale in an era of high inflation and supply chain issues is not straightforward and not easy. It’s important we as an executive do not shy away from that reality. It’s important we are clear and realistic about what we can achieve.

“Our revised proposals focus on the core elements with the most public support and are built on cross-party engagement and frank and honest conversations.

“We are not reneging on the ambition and scale of our overall vision. The update today represents positive progress and puts us in the best possible position to deliver this landmark package of investment whilst avoid potential pitfalls, delays and constraints that we’re being very honest about.”

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Due to inflation, the Station Gateway project will still use its entire £11.2m budget, despite key elements being removed.

A report that went before councillors ahead of today’s meeting warned there are financial risks in developing a revised scheme.

This point was reiterated by executive member for finance, Cllr Gareth Dadd, who said the authority could be left “on the hook” if costs spiral.

The Department for Transport previously insisted that all projects must be built before March 2025.

This leaves a tight window for the council to get the project finished in time. The council also does not know if the government will agree to the changes.

The council must now undertake more public consultation, publish updated Traffic Regulation Orders and submit a new business case to West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which won the initial funding. It expects this process to take another five months.

If the business case is approved next summer, construction could begin by Autumn 2024.

Woman in 70s injured following Harrogate collision

A woman in her 70s has suffered injuries following a collision on Skipton Road in Harrogate.

The incident happened at the Texaco garage at 9:45am yesterday (November 27) when a Vauxhall Corsa collided with a pedestrian who was crossing the road.

The pedestrian, a woman in her 70s, is receiving treatment in hospital.

North Yorkshire Police is now appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage to gather further information.

In a statement, the force said:

“The pedestrian suffered injuries following the collision and is receiving treatment in hospital.

“The driver of the Corsa is assisting officers with their investigation.

“Anyone who witnessed the collision, saw the vehicle involved or the pedestrian in the moments leading up to it, or has dashcam footage, is urged to make contact with North Yorkshire Police if they have not already done so.

“Please email ian.mckenzie@northyorkshire.police.uk  or phone 101 quoting reference number 12230225350 when passing on information.”

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First human case of swine flu strain in UK detected in North Yorkshire

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced the first human trace of the influenza A(H1N2)v strain was detected in a North Yorkshire patient.

The disease, which is commonly known as swine flu, is similar to flu viruses currently circulating in pigs in the UK.

The UKHSA said yesterday that the strain was detected during a routine flu inspection undertaken with the Royal College of General Practitioners and is the first human case to be detected in the UK.

It said the individual was tested by their GP after “experience respiratory symptoms”, adding:

“Influenza A(H1N2)v virus was detected by UKHSA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and characterised using genome sequencing.

“The individual concerned experienced a mild illness and has fully recovered.”

The source of infection has not yet been discovered and the case remains under investigation.

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Anyone experience respiratory symptoms is advised to avoid contact with other people while symptoms persist – particularly the elderly and those with existing medical conditions.

The UK Health Security Agency also said:

“As is usual early in emerging infection events, UKHSA is working closely with partners to determine the characteristics of the pathogen and assess the risk to human health.

“UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely and is taking steps to increase surveillance within existing programmes involving GP surgeries and hospitals in parts of North Yorkshire.

“To assist in the detection of cases and assessment of transmission, those people who are contacted and asked to test are encouraged to do so.”

The last outbreak of swine flu was in 2009; a virus spreading through pigs and birds caused a subsequent pandemic in humans in the UK.

The UKHSA said there have been 50 human cases of influenza A(H1N2)v reported globally since 2005 – none of which are “genetically related” to the most recent strain.

Chief veterinary office, Christine Middlemiss, added:

“We know that some diseases of animals can be transferred to humans – which is why high standards of animal health, welfare and biosecurity are so important.

“Through our animal and human surveillance systems we work together to protect everyone. In this case we are providing specialist veterinary and scientific knowledge to support the UKHSA investigation. Pig keepers must also report any suspicion of swine flu in their herds to their local vet immediately.”

Campaigners to protest at Harrogate Spring Water meeting

Campaigners are to stage a protest at an event held by Harrogate Spring Water this week to discuss its expansion plans.

The company, which is part of French multinational Danone, revealed revised plans this month to expand its bottling plant off Harlow Moor Road. This would involve felling 450 trees planted by schoolchildren in nearby Rotary Wood to combat climate change.

Harrogate Spring Water has said it has a contractual agreement with a landowner to buy two acres of land and plant 1,200 saplings to offset the impact if its planning application is accepted. It claims this would lead to a net biodiversity gain on the site.

About 25 people opposed to the felling of trees attended a Save Rotary Wood event in Harrogate yesterday.

One of the children who planted the trees was among those attending, along with members of Zero Carbon Harrogate and Pinewoods Conservation Group, a North Yorkshire councillor and concerned individuals.

Activist Sarah Gibbs said she would protest in her tree costume at the public consultation event, which takes place at the Crown Hotel in Harrogate from 4pm to 7pm on Thursday.

Yesterday’s meeting also discussed developing a long-term strategy to save the trees and heard concerns about the wider impact development would have on the environment and Harrogate’s reputation.

Among the issues raised were more lorries using the site, whether greater water extraction would affect local water supply and the possibility of further expansion at the site.

Jessica Eaton, of Zero Carbon Harrogate, said:

“Where does it stop? And do we want Harrogate to be associated with plastic bottles? I’m fairly sure most people in Harrogate support us.”

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Arnold Warneken, the Green Party councillor for Ouseburn, said campaigners should focus on valid planning reasons for refusal.

One attendee described direct action as a “last resort” but “not inconceivable”.

Harrogate Spring Water already has outline planning permission, which means the principle of development has been established. It is now preparing a reserved matters planning application, which would agree the details.

Richard Hall, managing director of Harrogate Spring Water, said previously the company believed its revised plans addressed previous concerns and “create a way forward together for the local community and for ourselves as a growing Harrogate business”.

He added:

“We would like people to come and see for themselves what we have planned and how we aim to carry it out.”

Anyone who cannot come along on the day will still be able to see the plans and have their say here.

 

Harrogate anti-knife crime scheme to be expanded across county

A scheme to tackle knife crime in Harrogate that collected more than 50 blades within its first month is to be expanded with £15,000 of funding.

A metal safe bin was installed in January at the Dragon Road car park in Harrogate and was used by people surrendering knives that might otherwise be used as offensive or dangerous weapons.

Between January and last week, which was national Knife Crime Awareness Week, more than 500 knives and bladed articles were deposited at that location.

The new funding has been awarded to North Yorkshire Council from the Office of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s Serious Violence Duty – Prevention and Early Intervention fund.

It will enable the council, in partnership with City of York Council and North Yorkshire Police, to install knife-drop bins across the North Yorkshire and York.

Following local government reorganisation, North Yorkshire Council has committed to expanding the scheme. Although North Yorkshire is regarded as one of the safest counties in England and Wales, knife crime remains an issue.

There were more than 2,700 recorded incidents in the Harrogate district where a knife or bladed article was involved or mentioned between January 2020 and June 2022.

Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“Knife bins have proved their worth wherever they have been located.

“I am delighted that my office has been able to provide funding to this project. We can never truly reverse the impact of a violent crime after it has occurred, and so it is crucial that we are able to support preventative measures like this which are proven to reduce the risk of these crimes happening in the first place.“My office supports a range of services designed to do just that, providing support for victims of crime as well as addressing the underlying causes of reoffending.

“North Yorkshire is statistically one of the safest parts of the UK, but that does not mean we should ever rest on our laurels, and we will always strive to ensure that residents of our region are able to be safe and feel safe.”

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The number of fatal stabbings in England and Wales is reported to be at its highest level since records began more than 75 years ago.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show 282 homicides were committed using a knife or sharp instrument in the year to March 2022, which is a 19 per cent rise when compared to the previous year.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr David Chance, said:

“I am delighted the bid for funding had been approved.

“Knife bins will not reduce these horrendous statistics on their own, but they have proven to be a successful way of preventing knives and bladed articles from getting into the wrong hands.

“Knife crime has devastating consequences for all those involved. If installing these bins leads to the prevention of just one death, then the investment will have been worthwhile.”

Locations are currently being considered for the new knife-drop bins. Once the locations have been decided, members of the public will be able to deposit the knife or bladed article through the bin’s hatch. People are advised to wrap the blade in thick paper or cardboard and secure with tape as a safety precaution.

The bins will then be emptied by officers from North Yorkshire Police and the items disposed of.

The Government’s Serious Violence Duty, introduced in January, requires the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner to bring organisations, such as North Yorkshire Council, together to develop and implement strategies that help prevent and reduce serious violence.

North Yorkshire Council’s head of community safety and CCTV, Odette Robson, said:

“This initiative helps us to safeguard our communities and fulfil our commitment to tackling serious violence.”

Business Breakfast: Knaresborough chamber meeting brought forward

Are you already thinking of how to reward your employees this Christmas? Why not choose the Harrogate Gift Card?

The Harrogate Gift Card can be spent in over 100 businesses in Harrogate town centre including retail, hospitality and leisure, whilst keeping the spend locked into the local economy.

Complete a corporate bulk order of over £250 and receive 15% discount from November 1 to 15 with the code ‘HGT15’.

The next meeting of Knaresborough and District Chamber has been brought forward to avoid congestion in the Christmas calendar. 

The meeting will take place from 7pm this Wednesday, November 29, downstairs at The Mitre pub.

The packed agenda will begin with North Yorkshire Council‘s Michaela Young taking a look at SME and business sustainability grants.

Banking in Knaresborough will also be covered, with news about the town’s new Banking Hub, and an update on the Onebanx initiative, with a video link to the Onebanx team.

The issue of electric vehicle parking spaces will be discussed, and there’ll be news about the Shared Prosperity Fund relating to the proposed cliff lift, connectivity, data intelligence and economic prosperity.

There will also be updates on double devolution progress and the marketplace from the town council, and on the Christmas Market, as well as news on other developments, including the Christmas Market; Henshaws Beer Festival sponsorship and 12 Days of Giving; the Christmas Day Dinner, which needs volunteers; the New Year Duck Race; and an update from the town crier.

Harrogate firm aims to beat southern rivals at awards

A Harrogate office supplies company will be battling it out against a field of firms from the south at an awards ceremony this week.

Supplies Web Ltd, which is based at Claro Court Business Centre, has been shortlisted for the dealer excellence award, for companies that turn over less than £5 million a year, at the national BOSS Awards.

The BOSS Awards are held annually by the BOSS Federation, which is the trade association for the business supplies industry.

Supplies Web is up against stiff competition from four other firms, all based in the South East and East Anglia; the most northerly competitor apart from Supplies Web is based in Lowestoft.

Paul Graves, director of Supplies Web, said:

“We are delighted to have been nominated for dealer excellence. BOSS is the authoritative body for the UK business supplies industry, and this is the biggest awards night in the calendar – like the BAFTAs of our industry!”

The winners of the BOSS Awards will be announced at a gala dinner held at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester this Thursday (November 30).

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Ryan Reynolds fever hits Harrogate ahead of big match

Speculation as to whether Hollywood superstar Ryan Reynolds will turn up to Harrogate Town’s clash with Wrexham tomorrow evening has been rife today.

Town are expecting a record attendance for the match at the EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road.

The rumour mill went into overdrive when the Harrogate Town Supporters Group account on Facebook posted a picture showing a man of similar size, age and build as the Deadpool A-lister near a four-seater private helicopter, which purported to be of “Ryan Reynolds landing in the grounds of a well-known local hotel this morning”. 

The post may well have been a spot of mischief-making, but Reynolds’ presence at the match is not out of the question. He and his business partner and friend, fellow actor Rob McElhenney, bought Wrexham in 2020, and their investment in the club helped it to win promotion from the National League to League Two at the end of last season. 

They are not known to frequent games beyond Wrexham itself, but they have come under fire for using private planes to transport players around the country for away fixtures. 

The helicopter in the photo is a Bell 206B Jet Ranger currently registered in the fleet of Heliflight UK, which is based at Gloucester, but also has a presence in Wolverhampton, 65 miles from Wrexham. 

When the Stray Ferret asked 10 days ago if Wrexham’s star owners were expected at the EnviroVent Stadium tomorrow, Harrogate Town’s spokesman said:  

“I would think it’s very unlikely. I’m not aware of Ryan Reynolds having been to any other away games – but you never know.” 

Town’s media assistant, Nickolas McInally, said today:  

“We are not aware of whether or not Ryan Reynolds plans to attend the match.

“With regards to tickets, this will be a record crowd with only a couple of hundred remaining. Tickets will be on sale online or in the club shop until 2pm tomorrow [Tuesday, November 28].

“We will also have our new stand in use for the first time.”

Tickets for all matches are available online only at the club’s e-ticketing webpage.

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Hampsthwaite garage expansion plans finally set for go-ahead

Simon Graeme Auto Services Centre‘s plans to build a new MOT and service building in Hampsthwaite finally look set to be approved.

The garage, which has been situated alongside the A59 for three decades, has been keen to expand for some time. But it has faced a lengthy battle for planning permission.

North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon planning committee will decide on its latest plans on Tuesday next week, and a council case officer has recommended the seven-person committee approves the bid.

The proposed new building, which would include two MOT bays and five servicing bays, would be situated on the edge of Nidderdale National Landscape, which was previously known as Nidderdale AONB, where there are strict planning planning rules. It is also outside the council’s development area.

In January, the council said the scheme would “create a significant level of landscape harm to both the open countryside and the views into and out of the Nidderdale AONB” and turned down the application.

A visual of the planned new garage for Simon Graeme Auto Services Centre in Harrogate.

A visual of the planned new garage.

The company, based on Grayston Plain Lane, submitted revised plans, which the council again recommended for refusal in October. But the planning committee decided instead to defer it so the company could revise the landscaping and provide additional information about drainage and design.

Cllr Andrew Williams, a member of the Conservative and Independents group who represents Ripon Minster and Moorside told October’s meeting the Nidderdale AONB should be a place for people to live and work and “not a museum for townies to visit on a weekend”.

Now council documents published ahead of next week’s planning committee meeting say the new MOT and service building should go ahead. The existing overflow car park would be removed as part of the scheme.

They say:

“It is considered that the proposal would have an economic benefit to the area and that following the revisions to the landscaping proposal and the provision of additional information in relation to sustainability of design and waste that the proposal would meet the requirements of local plan policy EC2 in relation to the expansion of an existing business in the countryside.”

The documents add the current scheme also differs from the previous proposal because the previous bid was to move the entire operation, which will now be split between two sites.

The 0.5-hectare site would create five new posts to take the number of staff to 16, according to planning documents.

Fifty-five people have supported the scheme; two have objected.

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