Ripon Disability Forum is arranging free training for local businesses, voluntary organisations and councils aimed at making the city more accessible.
The training, at Community House on Allhallowgate, is being provided by disability consultants Nimbus Disability. It will take place from 9.30am to 2pm on October 26.
Nimbus created The Access Card, which is an ID card for disabled people that indicates what their legal rights might be and gives businesses an indication of the support they need to provide.
RDF trustee Jeremy Dunford, who is a wheelchair user, said:
“The Purple Pound, which refers to the spending power of people with a disability, is estimated to be worth £274 billion per year to the UK economy, so it is in the interests of businesses to ensure that their premises are as accessible as possible for those with limited mobility.
“However, it’s not just about clients and customers, it’s is also about employment opportunities, information sharing/presentation and technology.
“It is also about developing the best accessible practise by overcoming barriers that can be overcome and sharing open information when a barrier cannot be overcome for example, when it is not possible to provide ramped access to a listed building.”
With 25 places available at Community House, the training is being offered on a first come, first served basis to businesses or organisations that operate in, or serve Ripon and its surrounding area. Attendance via Zoom can also be arranged.
Bookings should be made via ripondisabilityforum@gmail.com or the forum’s facebook page.
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Harrogate office issues urgent plea for help to save stranded pigeon
A shared office space in Harrogate has issued an urgent plea for help after an injured pigeon was found in the building this morning.
Staff at Community House on East Parade discovered the young bird hiding behind a box in reception this morning.
They turned a cardboard box into a makeshift home and are attempting to keep it alive while help is found.
Karen Weaver, strategic lead at Harrogate and District Community Action, which is based in the building and has responsibility for it, said:
“We’re keeping it hydrated but it’s not keen to eat so far. So if any one can offer it a good home and more expert knowledge than we have here we’d love to hear from them ASAP.”
Staff at Community House, which has 30 serviced offices, believe the pigeon was dislodged when the building’s gutters were cleaned yesterday.
https://twitter.com/KarenWeaver2020/status/1643572483977629696
They think the bird is too young to fly and contacted animal welfare charity the RSPCA but it was unable to help.
Ms Weaver said:
“We need someone to give it some TLC, help it feed and drink, hopefully survive and thrive and then fly off.
“We’ve got interest from the teenage daughter of one of our team but mum would be happy for it to be rehomed elsewhere if we can find someone willing this afternoon.
“We get lots of requests for help here at Community House but we’ve not had one from a homeless bird before!”
Community House reception can be contacted on 01423503700.
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Poetry lovers prepare for a four-day feast in Ripon
Tickets are now available for Ripon Poetry Festival, which has grown year on year to become the biggest event of its kind in Yorkshire.
The four-day feast of readings, performances, workshops and book launches, runs from September 22 to 25 at venues across the city.
Claire Thompson, who is outreach librarian at Ripon Library and one of the judges for the festival poetry competition, told the Stray Ferret:
“We attracted a record 260 entries this year from poets of all ages.
“This prompted us to produce separate anthologies of poems written by children and adults, selected for publication after catching the eyes of judges.”
The respective children’s and adult anthologies will be launched at 5.30pm and 7.30pm on September 24 in the Operatic Hall at Ripon Arts Hub.
Ripon Bowling Club at Bondgate Green is the venue on September 23 for The Testament of Jake Thackray.
Festival curator Andy Croft, who is a talented poet, prolific author and publisher, said:
“We were so impressed with the standard of entries received from children, that we decided they should have a book of their own.
“This will be the fifth time that we have staged the festival and this year’s line-up includes well-known poets Linda France, Helen Mort, Tara Bergin, Henry Raby and Jim Greenhalf.”
The festival will include posthumous launches of new books by Yorkshire poets David McAndrew, who taught English for many years at Ripon College and Vernon Scannell, whose work titled Farewell Performance, is being published to mark the centenary of his birth.
Humorous songs written by the late singer-songwriter, journalist and poet Jake Thackray, will be performed by Mike Wilson and Keith Wilshere in an evening of entertainment at Ripon Bowling Club.
In addition to the arts hub and bowling club, a wide range of venues will be used to increase accessibility to events.
These include Community House, Evolve, The Walled Garden, Jennyruth Workshops, The Leper Chapel on Magdalen’s Road, Ripon Library, The Walled Garden and Thorpe Prebend.
As well as being available through the Ripon Poetry Festival website tickets can be purchased on the door or in advance from the Little Ripon Bookshop on Westgate.