Unpaid carers will be given extra support through the continuing coronavirus crisis thanks to fundraising by a Harrogate group.

Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club has donated £1,500 to the Carers’ Resource Covid-19 Emergency Fund after completing a virtual ascent of Everest in the summer.

The fund was set up to help unpaid carers facing unexpected challenges during the pandemic, such as replacing broken white goods or paying for emergency heating repairs. After appealing for help, Carers’ Resource was chosen to receive the proceeds of the Rotarians’ efforts.

Rotarian Mike Hammond said:

“During the Covid-19 crisis, Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club have been working hard to help charities that have suffered a huge loss of income. Our members have dug deep into their own pockets to supplement our charity account, but much more is needed.

“We are delighted to be able to support Carers’ Resource in this way and we appreciate the work that the charity does.”

Carers’ Resource said the needs of people being cared for by unpaid relatives, friends or neighbours have increased during the pandemic.

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In September 2020, Carers Trust ran a major survey of unpaid carers across the UK. The results showed that:

• only 12% of unpaid carers agree they receive enough support from social care
• the proportion of unpaid carers providing 50 hours care or more per week for a family member has almost tripled to 64%, compared to 23% in the 2011 census
• 54% of carers have given up, or reduced, paid work because of caring responsibilities
• one in six (16%) reported that lockdowns and closure of local services have forced them into caring for an additional 40 hours or more per week.

Over the last few weeks, Carers’ Resource has launched an advice line for carers to access help, advice and information, as well as continuing to see carers face-to-face in line with covid-safe guidance. Well-being and confidence-building sessions have continued, along with online yoga, quizzes and coffee mornings to combat loneliness and isolation.

Carers’ Resource community fundraiser Claire Macina said:

“The way that the Brigantes threw themselves into raising funds has been amazing.

“Unpaid carers have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic and we frequently get requests for support. At Carers’ Resource we can offer advice and information and we can also support with financial assistance too if need.”

Local charities

The donation to Carers’ Resource was just part of the Brigantes’ efforts this year, which have seen £8,600 raised to give out to good causes. As well as sending £2,200 to Shelterbox for disaster relief efforts and the Rotary Club of Himalayan Gurkhas in Kathmandu to combat the impact of the covid-19 pandemic in Nepal, the group has contributed more than £6,000 to local charities and people in need.

Among those receiving support are Wellspring Therapy, Harrogate Easier Living Project, Supporting Older People, Horticap, Parkinsons UK, Dementia Forward and Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Meanwhile, although its usual Santa’s Grotto in Asda, Harrogate, has not been possible this year, the supermarket is working with Rotarians to put together Christmas packages for clients of the charities the group supports. Brigantes president David Hayes said:

“All this is possible only through the generosity of those who have supported our fund-raising efforts and helped us to give away some £18,000 for Covid relief since the start of the pandemic. I should like to say a very big thank you to them all: members of the public who have supported our new ventures such as the Lockdown Poetry Competition and our virtual trek up Everest; visitors to the Valley Gardens who have given at the Wishing Well; Club members who have made donations including those in lieu of what they would have spent on club meetings and meals; and the families and friends of members.”

For more information about Carers’ Resource, click here or call 0808 591 5939. To find out about Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club and how to become a member, click here.

The president of Harrogate Brigantes Rotary Club has reached the summit of Everest – without leaving Yorkshire.

David Hayes and 20 members of the group have been covering the equivalent distance of Everest since late August.

They covered 3,900 miles and climbed 106,000 feet – which they calculated to be the Yorkshire equivalent trekking 1,525 miles and 1,056m feet to Everest’s summit.

Among those taking part was Graham Chilvers, who completed his distance and height quota by walking up and down the steps at Knaresborough Castle each day with his dog, Jet. Four Rotarians climbed Yorkshire’s highest peak, Whernside, on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year, while Tony Doveston went up and down the stairs of the high-rise building where he lives.

Tony Doveston contributed to the Everest challenge by climbing the stairs in his high-rise apartment building

Guy Wilson trekked up and down the hill behind his house, David Russell and John Benedict cycled, while others rowed, used a step machine, and walked around the Stray in Harrogate. One hardy participant even contributed to the total distance as he recovered from knee replacement surgery.

On reaching the ‘summit’, Mr Hayes said:

“I am only standing here because of the enormous efforts of club members over the last few weeks.

“Daily they have walked, climbed, cycled and rowed to build up the real distance and height that were needed to get me here. They’re all in their 70s but they’ve put their bodies through a gruelling regime to get us to our goal.”

The fundraising total so far stands at £3,500, with donations still coming in. The money will be split between the Brigantes’ Covid Relief Fund, mental health charity Wellspring, and Carers’ Resource.

A blog of updates on the expedition can be found on the Brigantes’ website.

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