20
Nov 2024
Harrogate district community groups awarded £50,000
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Charities and community groups from across the Harrogate district have been awarded grants in the first tranche of awards made by the Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Legacy Fund.
Fourteen successful applicants attended a presentation evening on Tuesday (November 13) at Oakdale Golf Club in Harrogate. They received awards ranging from £400 to £10,000.
Selected from a list of 65 applications, the chosen groups included the Happy Wanderers Ambulance and Resurrected Bites who were both given £10,000. A full list of recipents is below.
Groups were invited to seek a share of the first tranche of £10,000 donated to Harrogate Brigantes Rotary in the will of a local resident and former friend of the club.
The rotary club, which is part of a global network that engages in community projects, decided to split the donation into two lots of £50,000. The second funding round is expected to be launched in 2025.
A legacy fund committee of local business leaders was invited to assist in the judging.
Matthew Stamford (director of Estate Agent Verity Frearson), Sharon Canavar (chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals) and Frances Elliot (chief executive of Harrogate and District Community Action) comprised the panel alongside Brigantes president Bill O’Rourke and David Read (director of ConsultRFID) who is also a member of Harrogate Brigantes Rotary.
Harrogate Brigantes Rotary President Bill O’Rourke and Chair of the Legacy Selection Panel, Matthew Stamford, at the event at Oakdale Golf Club.
Mr O’Rourke said:
This was an extremely difficult process, because so many of the groups and charities asking for our support had put forward very strong applications.
I thank our legacy panel for their diligence and consideration over every application. The total amount requested was several times greater than the £50,000 we had earmarked for this tranche and it was a real shame that we could not help them all.
However, we are absolutely delighted to have been able to support these worthy 14 organisations with financial grants ranging from £400 up to £10,000. We are confident that the funds will not only be put to good use, but will make a huge difference to the local community.
Chair of the legacy selection panel, Matthew Stamford, said:
This was a wonderful opportunity for Harrogate Brigantes Rotary to make a real difference to charities and groups in the Harrogate community.
Reading the various stories and understanding just how this money will be spent by the applicants shone a light on all the people who do an amazing job helping those in need.
Brigantes Rotary has made a real difference, and I look forward to launching the second tranche of £50,000 when I’m expecting even more groups to step forward with their requests.
How the first tranche of £50,000 has been spent:
- Coppice Valley Primary School - £5,000 towards building an outdoor natural classroom to support their outdoor learning.
- Follifoot Disabled Riders - £3,250 to purchase a special ramp, allowing wheelchair users safe access to the horse drawn carriage.
- Happy Wanderers Ambulance - £10,000 towards the cost of a new, fully wheelchair accessible minibus.
- Harrogate Hospital Radio - £1,500 to purchase a new and improved replacement transmitter.
- Harrogate Skills for Living - £2,300 to develop an outside seating area at their café on East Parade.
- Independent Domestic Abuse Service - £5,000 towards the purchase of a summer house and the development of the outdoor space at their refuge in Harrogate.
- New Beginnings Peer Support - £2,700 to purchase refurbished mobile phones and deliver their befriending and text check-in service. It will also allow them to purchase more office desks to increase their working capacity.
- Resurrected Bites - £10,000 to replace their 17-year-old van.
- Sensory Day - £1,000 to purchase new equipment for their new permanent space in Harrogate Community House.
- Saint Michael’s Hospice - £2,600 will go towards replacing two of their hospice beds.
- Taking Baby Steps - £750 to purchase a new a laptop so that they can communicate more effectively with their clients.
- The Forest School - £2,000 to develop their outdoor provision and purchase a store for their woodland adventure area.
- Time Together - £3,500 towards the purchase of clothes rails, a washing machine, four sewing machines and a clothes steamer.
- Woodfield & Dene Park Community Centre - £400 towards the renovation of the community centre toilets, entrance and hallway, providing better facilities for all members.
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