Boroughbridge junior football club is calling for more girls and disabled players to join its teams training resumes  next month.

The club has several successful teams but hopes to increase numbers in the girls and ability for all teams. The girls team need more members aged 7-13 years.

The ability for all team includes children with various disabilities. The club aims to support each child’s needs and give them the opportunity to play a sport that they may see as unattainable.

Each team plays in local junior leagues but children are welcome to train for fun if they don’t feel confident to play in a league straight away.

The club’s ability for all team are encouraged to enjoy the game regardless of disability.

Christopher Fahey, chairman and coach at the club, said:

“We’re currently looking to build our girls and disabled teams. For the girls teams we need girls aged 7-13 years to join and train with us. In time they could join our competing teams in the Harrogate League. If they don’t think they are ready for the league they can just come along and then train for fun.

“Our all abilities team usually trains together. The children have various disabilities and are all aged between 6-15 years. We tell everyone to just come down to train and we will support them.

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The club is hosting a free girls-only session to attract new players on August 1.

The club can be contacted via its facebook page or website.

Teachers running musical classes for babies and toddlers across the district say they have had no guidance as to when they might be able to restart face to face teaching.

Rhythm Time and Musicality Kids are amongst many companies which deliver music and sensory classes for babies and toddlers in Harrogate.

Despite lockdown restrictions being eased, both Rhythm Time and Musicality Kids said they have no idea when they might be able to see their students again despite holiday clubs and summer camps being allowed to restart.

Before lockdown, Hannah Ruddy from Musicality Kids was teaching 120 children a week.

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Hannah Ruddy, owner and founder of Musicality Kids in Harrogate has been sending weekly emails to parents with resources to help them continue classes at home.

She told The Stray Ferret:

“When the current situation hit it was very clear to me that I certainly wouldn’t be able to do what I do. My classes are very hands on and sensory. I could have adapted for online, but it wouldn’t have been my brand.”

Since putting her classes on hold back in March, Hannah has not been earning and said, because she is self-employed, has had no support from the government.

“There’s no help for us because we have fallen through the government’s cracks. This isn’t a silly little music class, there’s so much more to it. Without it there’s going to be a massive void in the world, something needs to be done.”

Ami Stott, the Harrogate business owner and class leader at Rhythm Time, turned her son’s bedroom into a recording studio and has been delivering online classes.

Ami has been teaching online classes every day since the start of lockdown.

She said:

“Even though the students are really little, they are missing out on social interaction.”

The Children’s Activities Association has pledged to the government to take notice of the issue and provide specific guidance as to when activities can safely restart.

Lockdown has not stopped Pannal Scout Group which, for the last three months, has been finding creative ways to deliver their usual activities online.

The now Pannal ‘Cyber Scouts’ includes Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers with young people, aged between 6 and 18, taking part. Despite suspending all face to face activities, the scouting group has continued to meet each week and has found creative ways to deliver activities online.

The group has completed numerous nights camping in their gardens as well as attending online campfires. The scouts have also done lots of baking, DIY and even completed an online Hogwarts escape room.

The scouts have been pitching tents in their back gardens.

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Andy Bielby, assistant scout leader for the 1st Pannal Scout Group told The Stray Ferret:

“Maintaining the sense of community and team has been important during lockdown and we know that our young people love catching up each week. Attendance online has been almost the same as face to face and it is important to address mental health issues by having a laugh and sharing stories.”

The scout group met via zoom with another group from New Zealand.

The Pannal Scout Group has also gone international by teaming up with another scout group in Christchurch, New Zealand. They have shared meetings and been learning all about each other’s countries and scouting methods.

A mum from Harrogate told the Stray Ferret that she does ‘not see a way’ to be able to send her 6-year-old son who has Downs Syndrome back to school.

Wendy Puckrin’s son, Elijah, is in year 1 at Kettlesing Primary School in Harrogate.

The government says schools should begin reopening for children in nursery, reception, year one and year six, from 1 June. This would mean Elijah could return to school, but for Wendy, this would be very hard:

” I’m not saying homeschooling is going well, but I just don’t see a way he could social distance. He needs human contact to feel secure, he needs cuddles and he just doesn’t understand… He’s a beautiful little kid and I don’t want that trauma for him at such an early stage in life.”