The founder of a Harrogate dog rescue charity has resigned after a disagreement with the trustees over kennel fees.

Moorview Rescue was set up by Joanne Brydon in 2009 and based at her farm in Bewerley. Over the years it’s housed hundreds of neglected and mis-treated dogs whilst they were found new owners.

The disagreement came because, alongside the charity, Ms Brydon also ran a kennel business where the charity paid for the rescued dogs to stay.

In recent weeks the trustees and Ms Brydon disagreed on the price the charity paid for kennel fees leading to Ms Brydon’s resignation.

She said:

“They have now decided to move to new premises. I’ve had no choice but to resign. I’ve changed the name but I will be keeping all the farm animals. They thought the rescue fees were too much, we had conflicting ideas.”

Ms Brydon has set up another business called the Moorview Sanctuary, caring for her rescued farm animals. She said she will continue to run the kennel business and only care for rescue dogs once she has raised the funds.

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The charity’s trustees now control of the charity and said they’re looking for new premises to house the dogs.

A charity spokesperson said:

“We decided to part ways as the cost was a challenge area and now everyone has gone their separate ways. Our aim is to continue helping animals and to continue doing the great work of this charity.”

The charity was unable to give further details on the new premises but said it would continue to care for neglected and mis-treated dogs.

Ripon based charity Dementia Forward has won The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

The charity has won the accolade, which is given for outstanding work towards the local community, along with 241 others across the UK.

More than 200 people volunteer with Dementia Forward, including minibus drivers, public speakers and coordinators who run activities for people struggling with the illness, such as gardening and baking sessions.

During the pandemic the charity adapted to offer virtual support including a ‘café in a box’ service delivering activities to people’s doorsteps.

It reported more than 1,000 calls to its dementia helpline every month over lockdown. The helpline covers a range of services including advice for early dementia and deploying specialist support workers.

Jill Quinn, CEO of the charity since it was founded nine years ago, said;

“We have never looked back from that first step in 2012 and have grown the charity from supporting just 200 families in the first year to now supporting over 4,000 families and this award is certainly a red letter day for everyone involved.

“We are blessed to have a team of over 200 volunteers and so many supporters across the county.”

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The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service was set up in 2002 as a celebration for the golden jubilee and has given awards to thousands of charities each year.

Representatives from Dementia Forward will go to a ceremony to receive the award crystal and certificate later this year. Next summer they will attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace gardens along with the other winners.

The awards ceremony for last year’s winners took place this week and saw Harrogate and Ripon Food Angels receive its service award. It provides a ‘meals on wheels’ service around the area, delivering to those who are unable to cook and checking on their wellbeing.

If you or a loved one has been affected by dementia, you can call the Dementia Forward helpline on 03300 578592.

Harrogate and Knaresborough Toy Library says classes for new parents has become more important following lockdown and with new funding it can offer more.

The charity received £1,307 from The National Lottery Community Fund and has had their venue hire prices covered by Chain Lane Community Hub until December.

The funding has helped the charity hold a second new parent class.

Play session worker, Rachael Bolton, says lockdown has isolated some new parents leaving them with out the usual opportunities to socialise and demand for spaces has increased.   The library’s capacity is currently limited due to restrictions.

Play session worker, Rachael Bolton said:

“New parents can often feel alone at the beginning because it is all new and meeting new parents normalises it all because you have common experiences. But many have missed out on this over lockdown.

“This can be extremely isolating and we are really happy to be able to give this opportunity to the local community.”

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• Charity Corner: a toy library to open children’s imaginations
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The baby and new parent classes on a Monday and Wednesday are held at Chain Lane Community Hub in Knaresborough.

An outdoor play session is also held for toddlers and older children at Knaresborough House on Tuesdays.

The charity also offers a toy library where parents can pick toys via the online library to take home for two weeks before returning them.

The shelves are stacked high with doll houses, dinosaurs and board games

A Harrogate primary school has raised £2,420 for Cancer Research UK, which is nearly 10 times the original target.

Woodfield Community Primary School took part in the Race for Life Schools programme on May 14 and has since smashed its £250 goal.

Around 60 pupils, aged three to 11 years old, took part in the event to raise money for life-saving research.

Jo Marwood, who is head of school at Woodfield Primary School, said:

“We set a target of £250 for the school to raise and thought that would be an amazing achievement for our small school.

“So to see the total going up and up with each donation we were over the moon!

“We’d like to thank everyone, our students, our staff, our families and our local community who have cheered us on and donated to such an important cause.”

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Sarah Pickersgill, head of events marketing for Cancer Research UK, said:

“Organising a Race for Life Schools event is a fantastic way for schools to have fun, whilst raising money for a good cause.

“The money raised by Woodfield School will help our scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, helping to save more lives.

“So, we thank all the pupils, parents and teachers for their vital support.”

A Harrogate charity is in need of new premises to continue supporting struggling families across the town.

The Harrogate Clothes Bank offers free clothing to those in need and is currently based at McCarthy’s Storage World on Ripon Road.

The charity’s home is being let out from August so it is on the hunt for a unit of between 1,000 to 1,500 square feet it can use for free, or somewhere it can rent for well below market price.

The clothes bank is run entirely by volunteers and was set up in 2016. Families in Harrogate who find themselves in financial difficulty can get in touch with the charity on Facebook and let it know what they need.

Before the pandemic the charity was supporting 60 to 70 families each month but it says since April this has dropped to 30 to 35 families. It said this is because organisations that handle referrals could be unaware it is running fully again.

The charity expects numbers to rise again in coming months.

Co-ordinator Mike Procter said:

“There are many reasons why people may need our help, it could be due to long-term financial issues or a crisis situation causing critical need such as escaping an abusive relationship.

“We will continue to help as many people as we can.”

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The charity has said location is important. Ideally it would be based on Knaresborough Road around Starbeck or Ripon Road near Jennyfield.

Mr Procter added that if no location was found the clothes bank would have to work out of several smaller spaces and offer a delivery service.

This would mean people’s options would be vastly reduced as they would be unable to come in and choose their clothes.

It is currently in need of summer clothing donations for children and adults.

The centre is open on Saturdays between 10.30am to 12.30pm for donation drop-offs and pick-ups. It is holding a pop-up clothing sale at St Mark’s Church, Harrogate, on Sunday to raise funds.

Harrogate Clothes Bank works closely with other charities including The Village, which offers free baby clothing in Harrogate. The charity shares its space with the Canaan Trust that provides free white goods and furniture.

Another partner is Resurrected Bites in Knaresborough, which makes meals out of food headed for landfill.

A Harrogate domestic abuse charity has spoken out after two recent crimes in Harrogate show the realities of coercive relationships for women.

In recent weeks a murder-suicide has been reported at the Majestic hotel and a man has been jailed for 18 months for exerting military-like control over his ex-partner.

Lindsay Oliver, CEO of New Beginnings a charity supporting female survivors of domestic abuse, and a survivor of domestic abuse herself, said these examples are difficult to read but far more common than people think.

As well as offering support for women she also campaigns for stronger sentencing for ex-partners and more education.

What is Coercive Control?

“Coercive control” is ongoing oppression with one partner trying to take control of the others’ life. This could include limiting access with family and friends, monitoring money and name calling.

Ms Oliver says victims of coercive behaviour are often not immediately aware of the behaviour. For the perpetrator it becomes about gaining control and limiting their partner’s self-worth to try and en-trap them further.

According to Refuge, two women a week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales alone.

Two weeks ago Chenise Gregory was found dead at the Majestic hotel in Harrogate alongside another man. The police are treating it as a murder-suicide.

Her family spoke out online about their “beloved” Chenise and said she was “lured to her death at the hands of her controlling and manipulative ex-boyfriend.”

Last week we reported on a court case in which a man was sentenced to 18 months in jail after preventing his pregnant partner from getting pain relief during labour and assuming military-like command of her day-to-day life.

Ms Oliver said:

“The lucky ones survive. Many survivors will tell you the control, coercion, emotional and psychological abuse is so much harder to recover from than the physical injuries.  It’s in your head and the video is on constant replay. The lack of self worth this creates in victims and survivors is soul destroying.”

Read more:

• Charity Corner: New Beginnings offers support as women re-build their lives after their abusive relationship
• Ripon abuse survivor has written a book in hopes it can help others 

One of the women who has been supported by the charity spoke anonymously to the Stray Ferret. She said:

“If I went out with friends he would throw me down the stairs, he made me feel like staff in my own home. He told he behaved like that because of me and would say ‘if only your friends and family would but out.’ He convinced me over time I’d be better off dead and in the end I believed him.”

The women was with the man for six years, she said at the beginning it wasn’t easy to spot. She added over time you stop listening to other people who are trying to warn you.

Her mother also spoke anonymously to us, she said:

“It was very difficult. There’s only so many times you can tell her to leave. If I called her he’d smash the phone. To have that much control over her was scary.”

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.

An arts charity in Knaresborough puts mental wellbeing at the forefront of everything it does making sure local residents have the space to express their creativity.

Orb Community Arts offers numerous different classes and 1-2-1 sessions to support people who may be struggling with their mental health.

In this month’s Charity Corner we wanted to acknowledge Mental Health Awareness Week and highlight one of the district’s smaller charities doing all it can to support people.

The charity offers different classes from guitar lessons to a ukulele orchestra; you can lay down your own track in the studio or plant some vegetables in the garden.

Set up 12 years ago, the charity has evolved into a centre with over 200 users and seven core members of staff as well as plenty of volunteers.

The charity’s art room is decorated with artwork created during the sessions.

The charity’s strapline “positive mental health” is what it aims to achieve. It hopes to remove the stigma surrounding acknowledging your mental health and make it as important as physical health.

Leon Fijalkowski, strategic director, said:

“Since moving to Knaresborough a decade ago we have grown. We are there for everyone including people who may think they don’t have poor mental health. Our centre can help you speak openly about your mental health and do something about it.”

In the summer the charity will be working with the Woodland Trust to explore the Nidd Gorge offering mindfulness, drawing and foraging classes. The charity are passionate about the embracing nature and the impact it can have mentally.

David Littler in his natural habitat is one of the charity’s music studios.

The charity relies on a number of funding streams and charitable donations.

During the pandemic they received a £65,000 grant as part of the covid response fund from the National Lottery.

It welcomes people from across the district and says moving onto zoom during the pandemic has helped them reach more people.

If you want to find out more about the charity you can get in touch here.

The garden is the pride and joy of several of the users. It includes several vegetable patches, a pond and a hobbit hole for reflection.

A number of Harrogate shop keepers have called in a local charity to help them become more accessible for disabled customers.

Disability Action Yorkshire is working with some retailers on Commercial Street in a move that it is hoped will also make them more profitable.

The spending power of disabled people and their families, known as the purple pound, is estimated to be worth £249 billion and increasing each year.

Josh McCormack, Disability Action Yorkshire’s think access co-ordinator, has been advising businesses.

Mr McCormack recommended the owner of The Cheeseboard, which is a small store and has a step in the entrance, put a sign in the window saying, “If you can’t come into to us, we will come out to you”.

This informs customers with wheelchairs or prams that they are welcome and can get help.

Mr McCormack said:

“More and more businesses are now looking at making their premises accessible to all, particularly as online shopping became a way of life during the three national covid lockdowns.

“In many cases, becoming accessible need not cost a penny. Businesses are starting to realise the value of the purple pound and to become accessible they need someone who can advise them.

“My role at Disability Action Yorkshire is to go into a business, conduct an audit, and them produce a report. Disabled people want to enjoy the same experiences as everybody else, and a business becoming accessible makes complete sense.”

The charity has said it is keen to work with shops across the Harrogate district that want to become more accessible.

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Gemma Aykroyd, the owner of The Cheeseboard, said:

“I’d like to thank Josh for visiting our shop and speaking to me about what we could do to become more accessible.

“Whilst the limited space and step are a barrier, Josh offered us some very practical and simple advice. This simple measure says we will go that extra mile, ensuring we cater for everyone.”

Organisers behind the annual bonfire and firework display on the Stray fear that putting the event on this year would be a “huge gamble”.

The Harrogate District Round Table, which was forced to postpone its 50th anniversary display last year, is currently weighing up the risks.

Although all coronavirus restrictions are set to be lifted well before November, large event organisers are struggling to find insurance in case they need to cancel again.

This has prompted many to postpone plans for another year.

So the round table, which is a charity run by men aged between of 18 and 45, may have to spend thousands of pounds that it may never get back.

Read more:

• Covid forces cancellation of 50th anniversary Stray bonfire
• Harrogate’s new green look has residents seeing red

The charity was unable to hold its annual beer festival this year so it has already missed out on an opportunity to generate income.

Ben Taylor, who works to recruit new members, told the Stray Ferret:

“We are currently working with Harrogate Borough Council. If we submit plans now then they have to follow all the social distancing guidelines in place currently.

“So we will have to wait until the restrictions ease before we do anything.

“I think it is fair to say that it is a risk putting the event on this year because there is no protection. It’s a huge gamble really.”

The round table is also on the lookout for new members. The group is for young men to make friends and help the local community. Interested? Click here.

A Ripon grandma with no running experience and severe health conditions has embarked on a mission to run 30 kilometres to raise money for a children’s charity.

Joy Kalus, 75, suffers from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which causes breathing difficulties, disabling osteoarthritis and is recovering from viral heart failure.

Despite all these ailments, the former British Rail worker is determined to complete her challenge within 30 days.

She aims to do so by running laps of Ripon rugby field. Money raised will go to the NSPCC.

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In just one day, Joy has already beaten her £120 target. So far she has raised £245. Click or tap here to donate on JustGiving.

The cause is close to Joy’s heart. Ten years ago she flew to Brazil to help children on the streets and orphanages.

Joy, who has two daughters and is a grandmother to three boys, said:

“I am just an old lady rattling on to do her best. I can only trot about 25 steps at a time at a time before I start flapping my arms so I look like I am taking off.

“Osteoarthritis has made most of my joints swell. So everything is rattling and crackling as I move.

“I’ve never run before but that isn’t going to stop me. It’s more of a trot because I can’t breathe well.

“But I always tell my daughters they can do anything if they are determined enough. So can I.

“I don’t care how old I am, or what illnesses I am suffering from. Even if it takes me all year I’ll get there.”

Daughter Lisa Bradley, 43, said:

”Both my sister Suzanne and I are so unbelievably proud. Our mum has always been a force to be reckoned with.

“When she first told me I thought she was mad, but she laced up her trainers and off she went. She really is our inspiration.”