The festival season kicks off this month with a family favourite in aid of one of the Harrogate district’s best-known charities. 

Henshaws Beer Festival will return with three days of fun for all ages from Friday, April 28 to Sunday, April 30.

There will be two adult evening sessions and two family-friendly daytime events.  

The beer festival will raise funds for Henshaws, which supports people living with sight loss and disabilities across the north of England. 

Festival-goers will be able to choose from a range of beers, gins, wines and ciders, all produced in Yorkshire.

Local breweries Cold Bath Brewing, Daleside, Harrogate Brewery – all in Harrogate – and Roosters and Turning Point, both in Knaresborough, will again be joining forces to support and supply the annual event.

An eclectic mix of live music across two stages will feature sets from local performers including Rory Hoy, reggae band Drop Leg Steppers, Hot Sauce and rapper Lence. 

Pop-up vendors will be serving a selection of freshly-cooked food, including pizza, Mexican and BBQ. There will also be fun activities and games for the children running throughout the day.   

Henshaws’ fundraising development manager Gemma Young said:

“The Arts and Crafts Centre offers a unique outdoor setting for the festival with a large stage area, undercover spaces and outdoor and indoor seating. For last year’s event, we welcomed over 850 guests and served over 4,000 drinks, and this year given the addition of the Friday night we look forward to welcoming even more visitors!”

Henshaws art-maker Ebonie raises a glass at the Henshaws Beer Festival in 2022.

For 2023, Henshaws Beer Festival’s title sponsor is Harrogate-based 4Life Wealth Management. The company’s operations director, Gary Nash, said:

“We are delighted to support this popular Henshaws event and help the charity raise much needed funds for the brilliant work they do. This festival represents a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community.”   

Founded in 1837, Henshaws is one of the oldest charities in the UK. It employs around 360 members of staff and 232 volunteers, who support individuals, families and their carers who are living with sight loss, as well as a range of other disabilities.

The charity’s specialist college in Starbeck offers day and residential places for young people aged 18 to 25 with special educational needs and disabilities, and its Arts and Crafts Centre in Knaresborough helps people living with disabilities realise their artistic and personal potential. 

Tickets for the Henshaws Beer Festival are available online for £15, or £18 on the door (£5 for children over the age of three), and each visitor will receive a limited-edition souvenir pint glass and two half-pint drink tokens.  

Pic shows (left to right), Matthew Joyce, sales manager at Harrogate Brewing Co, Joe Joyce, owner at Harrogate Brewing Co, and Gary Nash, operations director at 4Life Wealth Management

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It’s time to join the Stray Ferret Business Club. The third in our series of networking events in association with The Coach and Horses in Harrogate is a lunch event on March 30 from 12.30pm.

Don’t miss out on this chance to network with businesses from across the Harrogate district. Get your tickets by clicking or tapping here.

A project manager has been appointed for the refurbishment of the St George Hotel in Harrogate.

Inn Collection Group, which runs the hotel, has hired Silverstone Building Consultancy to act as project manager and contract administrator for the scheme.

The hotel, which is set to be renamed The Harrogate Inn, will see six new bedrooms added on the ground floor and a “complete transformation of the venue’s hospitality spaces”, according to the owners.

Tom Wright, senior chartered building surveyor, who is based in the Leeds office of Silverstone Building Consultancy, said: 

“We are, naturally, very pleased to continue our working relationship with The Inn Collection Group. We have developed a great rapport with the team, which is built on the successful delivery of a diverse and complex range of projects.

“As well as the project management and principal designer role, our remit has progressed to contract administrator. Work on site has started with the appointment of the principal contractor, 7formation.

“The restoration of the hotel will very much be in keeping with the proven style of the Inn Collection Group and is a 16-week construction project that will see extensive internal and external works.

“We are looking forward to working with all parties to deliver a truly high-quality refurbishment which will be a major asset to The Inn Collection Group, to the town of Harrogate and to future guests, who will undoubtedly feel the benefit of the extensive investment made in the hotel.”

Louise Stewart, property director at The Inn Collection Group, said: 

“We’re delighted to be working with Silverstone Building Consultancy on Hotel St George and the renovation project and strengthening our excellent relationship with them. 

“We are working in partnership with them across several refurbishments at the moment and have already completed some high-quality projects. It’s a measure of the strength of our relationship, that we have made them our contract administrator with this project, as well as project managers and principal designers. 

“The works at St George Hotel are going to give the venue an exciting refresh with the creation of new bar spaces, a new main entrance and external patio spaces, as well as undertaking some maintenance to the fabric of the building, including the roof and external elevations.”

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Housing developer donates £25,000 to Henshaws 

Henshaws Specialist College based in Starbeck has received a £25,000 donation from local housebuilder, Barratt Developments Yorkshire East.

The money will fund the creation of a new outdoor classroom to support their Forest School.

The college, which provides education, learning and care for young people aged 18 to 25 years with a wide range of disabilities and complex needs, plans to add an outdoor classroom to the school which will enable students to develop skills using the natural environment.

Gemma Young, from Henshaws, said:

“We’re so grateful to Barratt Developments for their generous £25,000 donation in support of our college. The addition of a new outdoor classroom to our forest school will really help our students to develop new learning opportunities in a change in scenery, whilst also broadening their knowledge and understanding of the natural world.

‘We look forward to working with Barratt Developments in bringing this to life!”

Daniel Smith, managing director at Barratt Developments Yorkshire East added:

“We’re extremely passionate about supporting the communities in which we build, and our donation to Henshaws Specialist College is a wonderful way for us to support incredible organisations within the local area…. We hope that our forest school donation makes a positive impact in students’ education and life at Henshaws and we look forward to working closely with them over the coming months.”

Henshaws Beer Festival is back this weekend after a two year absence.

The event, on Saturday and Sunday, is a vital fundraiser for the Arts and Crafts Centre in Knaresborough which works with disabled adults from across the district.

In June 2020 Henshaws announced the centre would be closed for the “foreseeable future” . Almost a year later the charity received a grant from Arts Council England from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, which allowed the centre to reopen.  Henshaws said it needs to raise £200,000 of non-statutory income a year to keep the centre running.

Henshaws said the beer festival will be bigger and better than ever.  Five local breweries have joined forces to present the best of beer, including a specially brewed Henshaws Ale. Wines, gins, cider and low-alcohol beer will also be on offer.

The weekend will also feature sets from a range of local performers and a DJ . There will be a special acoustic stage on the Sunday.

There will be five different types of food and a range of family activities. Daytime family-friendly sessions take place on both days and there is an adults-only evening on the Saturday.

Fundraising development manager Helen Donkin said:

“Ticket sales are going well and we are beginning to get quite excited! The Arts and Crafts Centre offers a unique outdoor setting for the festival, with a large stage area, undercover spaces and outdoor and indoor seating. The event has been incredibly well supported in the past and, given the pressure that all charities are under, we hope for even more visitors this year. During our first event, we welcomed over 750 guests and pulled more than 2,500 pints and this year we want to do even better!

“We are already hugely grateful for the support of our sponsors including our title sponsor, Berwins Solicitors, and from the local breweries taking part, Cold Bath Brewery, Daleside, Harrogate Brewery, Turning Point and Roosters.”

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Martin Whincup, Head of marketing at Berwins, said:

“We’re delighted to be associated with this popular event as it returns from a pandemic enforced absence.

“This festival represents a fantastic opportunity to come together as a community and to raise money for a very important cause – Berwins is proud to support the work of Henshaws in this way.”

Tickets are available at Henshaws Beer Festival 2022 – Henshaws and each adult ticket receives a limited edition souvenir pint glass and two half-pint tokens, while children’s tickets come with a complementary soft drink voucher.

North Yorkshire County Council has agreed to resurface the whole of Bogs Lane.

Previously, the council said it would only lay fresh tarmac on the stretch of road from the Forest Lane junction of Knaresborough Road to Henshaw’s College. Work began last week.

The road, just off the main A59 Knaresborough Road, is in a busy residential area that has been affected by numerous new housing schemes.

However, following requests from resident Malcolm Binks and Starbeck Liberal Democrat councillor Philip Broadbank, the county council has now agreed to resurface the whole stretch of road.

Cllr Broadbank said that this will now include the section from Henshaw’s College to the low bridge that connects Bogs Lane to Kingsley Road.

He said:

“The road’s been in a very poor condition for a long time. It beggared belief the county council didn’t decide to do it until now.”

The councillor said the resurfacing work should be completed by the end of this week.

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As Henshaws celebrates the progress it has made for those with learning difficulties and disabilities in the past 50 years, the current principal believes there is much work still to do.

The Duchess of Kent , pictured, opened the college in 1971 when it was smaller and only for people with visual impairments. The college and attitudes have changed significantly since that day.

Today the charity welcomes a more diverse range of people, including those aged 16 to 25 with a range of sensory impairments, autism, physical disabilities, learning difficulties and specialist healthcare needs.

Coronavirus forced more muted anniversary celebrations, with students learning how to sign happy birthday in Makaton and creating art to express their feelings about the milestone.

Adrian Sugden, the current principal, is proud of the legacy and has big plans for the future. He told the Stray Ferret:

“I think Harrogate has a strong connection with Henshaws. Just in the three years I have been here I have seen that connection only grow stronger. We get much more support.

“It is lovely taking the students into Harrogate. They all wear their lanyards to say where they are from and they get lots of recognition.

“Lots of the local businesses are much more supportive as well. Not as many as I would like, I want to get more companies accepting students for work experience.

“I have seen people’s awareness of disabilities improving. They are starting to see our students as people who can contribute positively even though they have complex needs.”

Jono Lancaster (right) and Principal Adrian Sugden (left) presented graduating students with their certificates.

The last couple of years with coronavirus has been difficult for Henshaws. While the college remained open throughout thanks to the commitment of staff, the charity has struggled.

Last year the Stray Ferret reported how Henshaws made the decision to close its supported living supported living services and residential services, which were taken by North Yorkshire County Council and Homes Together.

Mr Sugden pointed to a problem with the way the college is funded. As it is classed as independent it cannot access government or council funding so when it needs money the only way is through fundraising or increasing fees.

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One of the things Mr Sugden has enjoyed seeing is the increasing number of opportunities for students in Harrogate.

Not only is there Hopkins for those with learning difficulties and disabilities. Harrogate Skills 4 Living Centre opened its Harrogate Chocolate Factory cafe earlier this year and Artizen is also planning to open a cafe. He added:

“It’s really positive to see that progress but sadly we are following America’s lead on this. I am doing a really interesting piece of work with Harrogate College on this at the moment.

“I am also a believer in job carving, where our students could do one type of job which they enjoy at many different businesses. That way our students could make an incredible contribution.

“When you look at the national statistics of people with disabilities going into employment, it’s frighteningly low. If we could improve that in Harrogate the town could become a leading example.

Charity fundraising events in the Harrogate district have been slowly returning.

But whilst the smaller events have successfully returned, such as HELP‘s Nidderdale walk or Saint Michael’s ‘Go Purple’, the big set-piece charity balls are yet to return.

The balls play a vital role in the annual fundraising calendar for many charities – often raising significant amounts of money. Such as the Firecracker Ball, which raised over £250,000 in 2019.

Claire Mills who’s partner, Tony Furlong, received end of life care from Saint Michael’s Hospice, has organised one of the first balls to return.

The event named ‘The Tony Furlong Memorial Ball’, will take place at The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, on Friday, November 5. It has already sold over 150 tickets at £60 per person.

Ms Mills said:

“I am looking forward to welcoming friends, family and colleagues of Tony to the ball, I am hoping that we raise a huge amount for St. Michael’s Hospice whilst remembering Tony and sharing some great memories. Tony loved to attend a black tie ball, particularly as he spent his career managing hotels and I am sure everyone attending will do him proud by having a fantastic evening, particularly after such a challenging year, I think everyone is ready for a party.”

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Other annual charity balls, such as the Barnardo’s Firecracker Ball, Martin House’s Glitter Ball, and the Candlelighters Ilkley Ball – have not been confirmed to be returning this year.

The Glitter Ball, though, is scheduled for May next year at Rudding Park. 

Sara Cracknell, senior events fundraiser at Martin House Children’s Hospice, said:

“We are excited to announce that the Martin House Glitter Ball will return to Rudding Park Hotel on Friday 6th May 2022, hosted by Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson.”

“The Glitter Ball is our most glamorous fundraising event, and also our biggest – in 2019 it raised over £172,000.”

The Ilkley Candlelighters Ball, will not return in 2021, with 2022 still under review. In past years the ball has raised upwards of £52,000 in donations.

Alison Clay, chairman for the Ilkley Candlelighters Ball, said:

“With rising costs and dwindling returns, year on year, and the current situation we all find ourselves in, we are fearful this type of event will ever happen again! I sincerely hope and pray that this is not the case as the charity provides an invaluable resource for patients and their families in the most dire of circumstances and I urge all our supporters, past and present, to do their utmost to make sure that the Ilkley Candlelighters Ball continues for many years to come.”

For more information about the ‘The Tony Furlong Memorial Ball’, contact: cmills@classiclodges.co.uk and to support Claire’s fundraising for Saint Michael’s click here.

A £100,000 government grant has enabled the charity Henshaws to reopen its arts and craft centre in Knaresborough this month.

Henshaws announced last year the centre would be closed for the “foreseeable future” because it was no longer economically viable.

However, it received a grant from Arts Council England in the second round of funding awards from the government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, which helps organisations affected by covid.

Henshaws which supports disabled young people with special educational needs is inviting disabled people to come forward and apply for places as art makers.

The centre, which runs a range of workshops including music, crafts, pottery and horticulture, will remain closed to the public for the time being.

Henshaws chief executive Nick Marr said:

“Covid has had a massive impact both on the arts and crafts centre and the charity as a whole and we have been working tirelessly to continue to support those who need it most, so I am absolutely delighted that we are now able to take this major step forward.”

About 2500 people signed a petition in June to keep the centre open.

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The charity is hosting a virtual tour on May 12 between 10am and 2pm to give potential art makers and their families a taste of what is on offer.

In October, the charity announced a Harrogate-based provider, Homes Together, would take over its residential services due to its financial situation.

Henshaws Arts and Crafts Centre has been awarded the first of 12 donations made by a commercial nursery in the Harrogate district.

Johnsons of Whixley has donated £150 worth of winter interest plants to the charity’s sensory garden in Knaresborough.

Henshaws provides vocational training, including art and horticulture workshops, for people with a wide range of both learning and physical disabilities.

The nursery hopes its donation will bring a splash of colour to anyone using the centre during the pandemic.

Johnsons is giving away 12 donations to Yorkshire charities this year as part of its centenary celebrations. Henshaws is the first recipient.

The plants donated include hamamelis, skimmia, sarcococca and helleborus.

Gemma Young, fundraising manager at Henshaws, said:

“We were so pleased to hear Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre were the first winners and can’t wait to see the blooms in their new home.

“Lorna and her team at Johnsons of Whixley were instrumental in the creation of the beautiful sensory garden at the centre a couple of years ago, and their continued support means such a lot to the community here.”

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Eleanor Richardson, marketing manager of Johnsons, said:

“2020 was a challenging year for many charities, including Henshaws, who rely heavily on donations to survive.

“It’s great to support Henshaws once again, we hope our plants spread cheer amongst staff, students and visitors for many years to come.”

At the start of the pandemic, Johnsons donated hundreds of plants to local villages and spent £5,000 in Whixley, the village where it is based, to restore a stained glass window in the church.

A new Harrogate-based provider will take over Henshaws residential services as the charity struggles with its finances.

Homes Together, which has run care homes for the last 16 years, will now run the service which includes seven homes in Harrogate and one in Knaresborough.

The Henshaws Residential Care service provides 24/7 for disabled adults.

It is different to the part time care of Henshaws supported living services, which North Yorkshire County Council is preparing to run.

North Yorkshire County Council is said to be supportive of the Residential Care transfer.

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The chief executive at Henshaws, Nick Marr, said today that the charity was “very distressed” to cease operation of the homes service:

“But we can no longer sustain the costs of our residential services. We will do everything we can to ensure continuity for our residents. It is critical to Henshaws that the service remains intact and continues with a recognised provider.

“Therefore, we are very pleased that a decision has been made to transfer the services to Homes Together.”

Steve Jones, who runs Homes Together, was previously the principal at Henshaws College. Many of his former students now live in the residential service.

Henshaws has invited its service users, parents and carers to take part in face-to-face or virtual meetings to raise any questions they might have.

All staff who currently work in the homes service have the opportunity to transfer on their existing terms to Homes Together.

Mr Marr added that despite “months of effort” Henshaws was unable to make the homes service sustainable.

The charity’s latest financial accounts detailed how in the year up to August 2018 it spent £12.3 million – which is £1 million more than its income.

No further accounts have been published by the organisation. The Stray Ferret has approached North Yorkshire County Council for a comment.

A 10-year-old from Harrogate will start a 100-mile cycling challenge today to raise funds for Henshaws.

Ewan Clarkson is a keen cyclist and wants to use his hobby to help others.

He will split the distance over three consecutive days, cycling at home on an electronic bike. During training, Ewan said he has watched TV “to keep me going”.

He said:

“I’ve been on the indoor bike building it up – over the past few days I’ve been doing 50km.

“Cycling is my passion. When I was little I went round the garden and the arts and craft centre which I loved. I wanted to raise money for them because how they help disabled people is amazing.”

Ewan’s initial fundraising target was £100 but by Friday he had already raised more than £240. To support him, click here.

Ewan often cycles with his dad, Ian Clarkson, and his parents were always supportive of his pledge. Ian said:

“We’ve always told him it’s not a race – it’s about getting the distance done. When he saw the challenge he wanted to do it straight away.

“He knows he can do the distance as long as his legs don’t give up. He’s taken his training seriously and he was determined. I think he’s ready.”

The charity said lockdown has left it struggling financially, initiatives like this are helping.

The Henshaws Hundreds challenge is a new fundraising initiative launched by the charity to raise vital money. It has experienced shortfalls this year which it attributes to coronavirus and the lack of charity events taking place.

Gemma Young, Henshaws’ fundraising manager for Yorkshire, said:

“Launching at the start of National Eye Health Week on September 21, for 10 whole days we are challenging supporters to do ‘your hundred, your way!’

“Inclusivity really is at the heart of this challenge. It’s possible to cover your chosen distance in a wheelchair, using a walking frame, walking on your hands, or by running, walking swimming or cycling.”

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