Harrogate Business Improvement District has won gold at the RHS Britain in Bloom awards.
The organisation, which aims to increase footfall in the town centre, was successful in the BIDs, town centres and city centres category.
It was recognised for its Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration campaign, a fortnight-long initiative that celebrated the town’s international connections through a series of town centre floral designs.
The summer of celebration was in addition to Harrogate BID’s regular floral offering of almost 200 barrier baskets, shop doorway planters and hanging baskets.
One of the gold-winning displays.
Matthew Chapman, the manager of Harrogate, said:
“Three years ago this award was a huge aspiration of Harrogate BID and after winning gold in last year’s Yorkshire in Bloom awards and then being entered as an RHS Britain in Bloom finalist, we are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded a gold award.”
“This summer’s Harrogate Floral Summer of Celebration was the second year of the campaign and it was a huge success, increasing footfall, spend and first impressions with visitors and residents alike.”
Pictured receiving the award from left to right: Pam Grant (Harrogate in Bloom), Bethany Allen (Harrogate BID), Matthew Chapman (Harrogate BID), Kitti Johnson (Harrogate BID) and Nick Smith (Harrogate Flower Shows)
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Ripon’s Jack Laugher wins second gold medal at Commonwealth Games
Ripon’s Jack Laugher has won his second gold medal for England at the Commonwealth Games.
Laugher clinched the title for the synchronised 3m springboard alongside Anthony Harding this afternoon.
The medal becomes the 27-year-old’s second gold in 24 hours.
Yesterday, Laugher defended his 1m springboard title for a second time at the Sandwell Aquatics Centre in Birmingham.
The medal was among the first titles on offer in diving at the games.
Laugher took gold after scoring 447.05 to finish 10 points ahead of Australia’s two-time world champion Li Shixin.
Afterwards, he dedicated the victory to his late grandma, Bernice, who died a couple of months ago and lived seven miles away in Sedgley.
He said:
“It’s really special that today I’ve hopefully done her proud. She was my biggest supporter and I think hopefully I have done her, my family, my mum on poolside, my girlfriend’s parents up in the stands, I hope I have done them all proud.”
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Laugher said there was pressure to defend his title, but he was relieved to clinch gold in front of a home crowd.
He added:
“There was loads of pressure coming into here, trying to defend that title that I’ve had for eight years now.
“It was a great performance, very steady, a few mistakes here and there but I’m really, really happy with everything and to do it in front of a home crowd makes it a little sweeter.”
Laugher was joined on the podium by Jordan Houlden who won the bronze medal.
Speaking after his victory, Leanne Jalland, chair of Harrogate District Diving Club, said:
Meditation at heart of Harrogate school’s mental health award“We are incredibly proud of Jack, he is not just a talented athlete but an excellent ambassador for diving as a sport. Our divers will be eagerly watching and cheering him on during his next events on 3m.
“It’s great to see so much British talent on show during the 2022 Commonwealth Games to inspire the next generation of young divers”
A Harrogate school has won gold for its mental health and wellbeing support for pupils.
Coppice Valley Primary School has rolled out a wide range of activities including meditation, and more as part of a mental health curriculum.
It is collaborating with local services Compass Buzz and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The school also has set out specific support for pupils in need.
The school said the focal point of its provision is its weekly personal, social and health education lesson which teaches children how to look after their mental health.
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More than 800 schools have signed up to take part in the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools award.
The award shines a light on the work of schools to support mental health, something which has become more poignant after a year of coronavirus.
Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health, which is part of Leeds Beckett University, established the award in 2017.
Coppice Valley’s headteacher, Emma Meadus said:
“I am extremely proud of the mental health offer we provide at Coppice Valley for all pupils.
“Achieving this award is a fantastic recognition of all the hard work of the whole school community to create our mental health provision.”
Sam Wright, Coppice Valley pupil wellbeing worker, added:
New Year search for Ripon’s Community Diamond“Working towards the award over the last year gave me the perfect opportunity to audit our mental health provision for the whole school.
“I was able to see what we were doing well and which areas we could improve on. We’ve built a robust offer for all our children through the award-process.”
In the New Year, the Stray Ferret will begin the search for an outstanding individual who has gone the extra mile to help others during the coronavirus crisis, with an incredible prize from The Vintage Room in Ripon.
The winner will receive a 25 point diamond that they can have put in a gold or white gold setting to create their own customised piece of jewellery, a prize worth up to £1,000.
The Ripon Community Diamond Award was the idea of Mike and Liz Cooper, who run Red Buttons jewellers in Queen Street, Ripon, and supported by Hedley Hall, whose antiques and collectables business is run from the same Vintage Room premises.
Liz said:
“We are delighted to be partnering with the Stray Ferret in the search for the man or woman, living or working in Ripon, who has really made a difference through their selfless service to the community. Because of the community spirit that we know exists in Ripon, we are sure that there will be numerous suitable candidates who can be nominated for the award.”
Hedley pointed out:
“Since March, we have been reading, on a regular basis, stories on the Stray Ferret website about acts of kindness and compassion from people in the Ripon area who have come to the aid of those stuck in isolation, or in need of other kinds of assistance.”
Mike said:
“In the eight years that we have been in business in Ripon, we have seen its community spirit. We wanted to find a way to recognise those who are the beating heart of this city.”
Nominations for the Ripon Community Diamond Award will open in January.