A Harrogate independent school is offering free places to Ukrainian children displaced by war in their home country.
Brackenfield School, on Duchy Road, has already welcomed one child and another is set to join in September.
Staff are giving them extra support to make sure they feel safe and comfortable in their learning environment and “have a fair opportunity to thrive”.
Joe Masterson, headteacher at Brackenfield, said:
“We are privileged to welcome these extremely brave and resilient children into our school community and are doing all we can to ensure our new pupils are as much a part of school life as every other child.
“Everyone deserves an education in a safe and caring space and we’re proud to be hosting Ukrainian children in our school and making them part of the Brackenfield family.”
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Mr Masterson said it was also a valuable learning opportunity for other students.
He added:
“They can learn and ask first-hand about Ukrainian culture, gain a better understanding of the world around us and see with their own eyes that giving a helping hand makes everyone stronger.”
It’s believed that 2.5 million children have fled Ukraine since the start of the war, many leaving everything behind and being displaced for months before arriving in a safe country.
Deputy head Paul Jenkins with pupils.
Brackenfield is one of seven independent schools owned by Forfar Education to welcome Ukrainian refugees.
John Forsyth, chief executive of the Forfar Group, said its schools had a moral duty to support Ukrainian families as they settle into UK life.
He said:
“Forfar had taken the decision to offer free places to Ukrainian children fleeing conflict at the time the war broke out, so we’re proud to be leading the way for other independent schools considering doing the same.
“It’s important to show solidarity in times of crisis. We believe everyone has the right to a good and safe education, which is why we have opened our doors to those who need it most exactly when they need our help.”
Forfar has offered places in all of its schools, with no limit of the number of spaces available.
Residents on Harrogate’s Duchy Road lose water after pipe burstsPeople living on Harrogate’s Duchy Road were without water today after a pipe burst.
Yorkshire Water was carrying out planned work to repair a section of pipe.
But a Yorkshire Water spokeswoman explained things didn’t go entirely to plan. She said:
“During that repair, an unexpected burst happened nearby. This was then repaired live by the guys on site already there.
“It’s unclear how many houses were affected but I can tell you we had five calls from customers.
“This issue should now be resolved, customers may experience low pressure as their water comes back on.”
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#HG1 Apologies if you have no water due to work on #DuchyRoad. We will get supplies back on ASAP and will tweet when resolved. pic.twitter.com/WD9otVNaPE
— Yorkshire Water Help (@YWHelp) April 10, 2022
Four wellness retreats in the Harrogate district to re-energise mind, body and soul
January can be a pretty depressing month.
Our finances have usually taken a hit thanks to Christmas, we feel run-down due to the impact the festive season has had on our nutrition and sleep and the cold, gloomy days don’t help either.
Add to that the effect the pandemic has, and continues to have, on our mental health, it comes as no surprise some of us just want to lie down in a dark room and hibernate until spring.
If the past year has been a slog, these breaks focusing on nutrition, yoga and mindfulness in the Harrogate district can help restore balance, health and creativity.
Switch off at the Acorn Wellness Retreat, Brimham Rocks Road, Hartwith
With stunning views of the rolling fields of Nidderdale, this calming boutique retreat at Hartwith has a not-for-profit business ethos and uses its funds to support cancer patients. If you want to step away from the real world and completely switch off, Acorn Wellness offers a number of retreats and pop-up events. All the guests have use of the sauna and steam room and can book massages. Healing Day Retreats run regularly – including one on January 26 – and include yoga, visualisations and gong baths, as well as use of the spa. If you’re looking to escape for a few days this month, a Heart and Soul Weekend Retreat is taking place on January 29 and 30. The retreat includes a combination of yoga-nidra, somatic meditation, mindfulness, sound healing with gongs, a cacao ceremony and nourishing vegan food and is priced from £280.
Jules Cooper and Trish Nugent, who will be leading the retreat, said:
“We endeavour to give you the right balance between activity and rest so that your body is able to release tension, giving you the space to discover lightness of mind, your deep intentions and your true spirit for 2022.”
Rejuvunate at the Yorkshire Centre for Wellbeing, Duchy Road, Harrogate
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Escape from modern life at Swinton Bivouac, Masham
If you are craving somewhere away from the beaten path, the two-night wellness retreat at Swinton Bivouac could be just the ticket. Guests can completely unplug and unwind, and find space to clear the mind in an off-grid tree lodge. There is chance to relax, recuperate and recharge with a hosted programme that combines sound baths, forest baths – which are mindfulness forest walks – and reiki drumming around the campfire. This retreat is perfect if, like most of us, you are suffering from low levels of energy, or feeling anxious or stressed, and spending too much time on your screen at too fast a pace of life. The retreat also includes complimentary access to the spa at Swinton Country Club and Spa. The package cost is £375 per person, based on two sharing a tree lodge and takes place from June 26 to 28 and September 25 to 27.
Workout with a celebrity personal trainer at Grantley Hall, Ripon
Ok so this one definitely isn’t cheap. But it is at luxury hotel Grantley Hall, the playground of the rich and famous, so it’s to be expected. This is a brand new retreat that is being launched at Grantley by Pillar and features sessions with a celebrity personal trainer alongside Michelin star-quality food. It also includes a four-night stay in a deluxe room at the hotel. Taking place from January 24 to 28, the retreat costs £3,350 based on two adults sharing a room or £4,910 for single occupancy and offers a variety of activities, aimed at targeting both physical and mental health. A gut health-specific workshop with Joey O’Hare, who was a 2015 Masterchef finals contestant will also take place and there will also be a personal concierge service. It is the first retreat in the UK to be launched by Pillar, which is led by personal trainer Harry Jameson, who was hired to help Prime Minister Boris Johnson lose weight.
