Seven voluntary organisations in the Harrogate district have received National Lottery cash injections totalling nearly £450,000.
They are among 300 organisations in Yorkshire and Humberside to receive a share of more than £13 million awarded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Dementia Forward, based in Burton Leonard, was awarded almost £240,000, which was the largest donation made to a North Yorkshire charity.
The grant will provide three-year funding for its time out together group for people aged 35 to 65 with young onset dementia.
The group enables younger people with this rare form of dementia, who receive little support, to socialise and go on day trips.
The time out together members at Dementia Forward.
Debby Lennox, community liaison manager at Dementia Forward, said:
“The real testament to the success of this project and the need for it to continue is the difference that it is making to the people we support and their families – it truly is life changing.”
The other local groups rewarded were:
Ripon Community Link — £170,000
Ripon Community Link supports adults and young people with learning disabilities.
The charity offers members the chance to work in a café or shop based at Ripon Walled Gardens, and aims to boost self-confidence and employability skills.
The funding will be used to employ more staff to support members working and encourage them to serve customers.
Emerging Voices — £5,780
Emerging Voices is a Harrogate-based project which uses music to improve mental health.
Members can receive mentoring from musicians and teachers. They are offered support with songwriting, singing and playing instruments.
It will use the donation to restart a wellbeing choir and mentoring services.
It hopes the choir will bring people together and reduce isolation.
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Harrogate — £10,000
St Joseph’s Catholic Church, on Skipton Road, will use its award to contribute towards the replacement of a boiler in the church hall.
The hall is used by groups to host community events and private functions.
Starbeck Community Library — £6,000
Starbeck Community Library, located on the High Street, will use the donation to improve the children’s reading area.
It hopes a new and improved reading area will encourage families to stay at the library for longer and, in turn, improve children’s development.
Autism Angels — £10,000
Summerbridge-based charity Autism Angels offers horse riding sessions to children with autism.
It also offers support to parents, siblings and carers.
The grant will be used to fund additional support sessions for parents and carers. It hopes to start a father’s support group and a parenting programme.
The charity also hopes the funding will reduce isolation and increase awareness and knowledge.
The Robinson Library — £7,500
The Robinson Library in Timble is used as a village hall to house community events, as well as health and wellbeing activities.
The money will be used to refurbish the kitchen.
Joe Dobson, head of funding for Yorkshire and Humberside at the National Lottery Community Fund, said:
“We’re delighted that local groups are using our funding to strengthen communities and improve lives in our region.
“Their passion, creativity and commitment are making a real difference to local people’s lives, and this deserves recognition.”
The fund aims to distribute at least £4 billion by 2030 to support community activities, inclusivity and improve the environment.
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New £18,000 playground unveiled in Darley
A section of Darley playground has recently undergone a facelift and the results were unveiled last Friday.
The new playground, which is run by the Darley Playing Fields Association, combines 12 different play features for young ones to enjoy.
With a mini climbing wall, a rope wall and balancing beams, it was designed to improve balance, coordination and strength of mind.
Garry Raisbeck, a trustee of Darley Playing Fields Association, told the Stray Ferret the design and delivery of the playground were led by the preferences of children in the village.
He added:
“We hope that the new equipment helps families to get outdoors and enjoy the playing fields other facilities that include a football pitch, basketball court, boules court and village shop and café.
“It is also a great place to start a river walk along the River Nidd on the Nidderdale way.
“Darley Playing Fields Association is planning to build on this success with further improvements in future.”
The equipment is made from a natural, rot-resistant hardwood sustainably sourced from Europe.
Mr Rasibeck noted it was chosen “to blend in with the beauty of the local area.”
Darley Playing Fields Association is a charity that strives to keep the people of Darley healthy, while maintaining the playing areas of the village.
The project received a total of £15,500 in grant funding from RWE Renewables, the Harrogate Local Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.
The association then raised some extra funds itself.
The funding process took almost 18 months to complete.
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