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05

Aug 2023

Last Updated: 04/08/2023
Community
Community

New Knaresborough group aims to unite community and support good causes

by Vicky Carr

| 05 Aug, 2023
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conyngham-hall-knaresborough-scaled
Conyngham Hall in Knaresborough.

A new community group has been set up with the aim of building more support for people in Knaresborough.

Life Aid Knaresborough was created by volunteers four weeks ago and has already attracted more than 200 members to its Facebook group.

Its aim is to organise events, raise money for charities, and bring the community together.

Stacey Worrall, who was one of the founders, told the Stray Ferret:

"There's so many people in what some say is a rich town, but it's not – the poverty at the moment is higher than ever.
"It would be nice to be able to have some funding in a pot where, if we hear of a family that's struggling, to be able to help the people of Knaresborough out."


While local support is the long-term aim, the first project the group is working on is raising money for a fire engine to send to Volodymyr in Ukraine.

The city has strong links with Knaresborough, after resident Bob Frendt made eight aid trips there over the course of 15 months after the war began last February.

Bob Frendt in one of his aid lorries earlier this yearBob Frendt has delivered eight lorry loads of medical and other supplies to Ukraine

He built connections with local dignitaries and, on what he said was his final trip, was asked by the mayor to deliver a fire engine after its appliances were commandeered to help in the war effort.

While an official scheme has seen fire engines delivered to Ukraine from the UK, these have gone directly to Kyiv and have not benefitted outlying communities like Volodymyr, which is in western Ukraine.

Bob said:

"The problem is, for the towns to try and get an engine back, they have got to grease the wheels, they've got to give a backhander to someone.
"Volodymyr is such a poor place, they can't afford to give a backhander, so they can't get the fire engine back.
"When I was there, I met a woman whose husband was killed in the war. She lived in an apartment on the sixth floor of a building – and those buildings are poorly built to start with.
"We asked what would happen if the apartment block caught fire. Without thinking, she said, 'we will die'.
"For her sake and her children, I have to get a fire engine to them."


Mr Frendt hopes to raise enough money to deliver a second-hand fire appliance in October, and has already passed the £5,000 mark.

Life Aid has already begin helping his fundraising efforts, with several events planned for the summer.

Knaresborough Cricket Club will host live music on Friday, August 25. Entry will be free, with donations taken towards the fire engine fundraising.

The following day, venues around Knaresborough are taking part in a series of events designed to get the whole community involved.

There will be face painting and children's games at the kiosk at Conyngham Hall, while the World's End pub will have live music from a folk duo.

A disco will be held at Park Place Social Club, supported by Yorkshire Young Farmers, and other venues around the town will offer open mic nights.

Entry is free, but volunteers will be visiting all the venues to collect donations.

The organisers are also keen to hear from local businesses interested in sponsoring or supporting the events, or getting involved in the future.

Stacey added:

"We hope Knaresborough will be heaving with visitors and locals for the bank holiday.
"If it's a success, we're planning to carry on every year on the same day, raising money for different charities and helping locals in need."