A romantic event with a good cause at its heart is on offer in Knaresborough for Valentine’s Day.

A disco and supper will be held at Knaresborough Town Football Club to support Bob Frendt’s aid missions to Ukraine.

The Knaresborough resident is set to make his seventh trip to the country in March, taking much-needed medical supplies to support those fighting to protect their country from the Russian invasion.

Since his last visit in November, he has continued to collect vital equipment, including four mobility scooters, ready to transport in the spring.

He said:

“I’ve got so much to take out, I can’t fit it all in my lorry.

“Andway Medical did a stock take last week and invited me to go down and collect what they didn’t need. When I got there, I filled a van up. I’ve had to put it all in storage – I was given three months free at My Lock Up on York Road.

“I’ll have to leave the stuff that’s not essential because I can’t get it all in. I’ll have to take it the next time.”

While he is not short of equipment, Mr Frendt said he needs more funds to cover the costs of the trip.

It will be his seventh visit to the country since the Russian invasion last February, and each trip has cost him around £2,500 in fuel, ferries and insurance.

His next trip to Ukraine will be on March 22, returning in early April. He is then preparing to travel again in mid-May with the rest of the equipment.

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The pensioner has used his own funds to cover some of the cost in the past, as well as getting support from local businesses, but needs to raise more money to ensure he can keep travelling to Ukraine as long as the war continues.

Now, he hopes romantic souls across the Harrogate district will support him at the Valentine’s Disco Dance on Friday, February 10 from 7pm.

Tickets are £20 each, including a pie and pea supper. A raffle will be held on the night with prizes donated by many local businesses, including Slingsby gin, Woodlands car valeting, Fair Deal Motors and his beloved Manchester City Football Club.

The grand prize will be a romantic night for two at the four-star Newton House Hotel.

Tickets are available from Sherri Shirley and Prudams cafe on the High Street, and River and Rose florist and Supernews in the Market Place.

Alternatively, call Mr Frendt on 07836 514952.

Marketplace lender Assetz Capital has invested £3m into the development of new flats in Harrogate town centre.

Harrogate-based Tate Estates planned to build 12 two-bedroom apartments at 108 Station Parade by last year.

The development will be situated on 108 Station Parade in Harrogate central

However, the scheme encountered problems due to covid. Lockdowns and construction material shortage disrupted the building schedule.

Ciaran McGivern, relationship director for Assetz based in the north-east, acts as a retained advisor for Tate Estates.

He said:

“I’m delighted to be helping a high-quality client in Tate Estates with their development in Harrogate.

“We hope to continue the excellent working relationship we have established, and this is the first of many successful deals we can fund.”

Rhys Davies, group finance director of Tate Estates, said:

“It was fantastic to get this investment from Assetz on what will be the first in a series of platform development deals.”

It is now hoped the block of flats will be completed in the second quarter of this year.

Harrogate district entrepreneurs boosted by start-up competition

StriveLive, an initiative which helps start-ups, has run a competition to help grassroots entrepreneurs in the Harrogate district launch their business

The StriveLive Harrogate project was funded by Harrogate Borough Council and commissioned by the York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub.

Fourteen local entrepreneurs received help from StriveLive through a series of workshops, advice sessions and challenges over seven weeks.

The candidates then competed to impress business experts for the chance to win £2,500.

Business experts from the National Grid, Buying Hobbycraft, Harrogate Borough Council and YNY Growth Hub were included on the panel.

They awarded prizes to participants in five categories.

Karen Allen from Kidzplay Play Box picked up two awards. She won ‘most customer orientated’ and ‘best business concept’.

Hanna Dilley, founder of Benji’s Bites toddler food, won ‘best marketing,’ with Oliver Brown’s business, Wrapd Studios, winning ‘best branding’.

Ms Allen said:

“Strive popped up on my social media at a point when I was searching for support with the business.

“The company gave me the confidence to move forward, the understanding to face the challenges, and the connections within the local area to continue the support after the course finished.”

Clare Parish, from Four Legs Pet Care, and Graham Dodds, from GMD Home Improvements, both received Strive start-up awards.

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