This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise money for a minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. 

The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare.

Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s not forget who needs our help this Christmas.

Today, we hear the story of Dementia Forward.

“I sometimes feel national charities have lost touch with local communities.

“The need for dementia support was huge and the funding was usually decided in London.

“We felt we could do a better job by being rooted in the community.”

It was this realisation that prompted Jill Quinn to improve local dementia support in the Harrogate district.

Jill, who previously worked for two national dementia charities, said she “wasted many years in retail management” before realising that the voluntary sector was where she belonged.

Dementia Forward was born in 2012 after Jill and other founding members left their previous healthcare jobs on a Friday and launched the charity the following Monday morning.

The team places need at the centre of the charity – something that can’t be done 200 miles away. She added:

“People know when they put their pound in the pot, they’d be getting better services in the local area.

“You can’t design a service to be delivered in the local area from an office in London.”

Dementia Forward began with just seven members of staff. The team was donated second-hand laptops and worked from a small office in Ripon.

Kathy Patton, one of the founding members, added:

“We knew from working at a national scale what clients really want and needed, so we set up local activities – like the hub club and coffee mornings.

“It was our dream to have a hub building like we do now.”

George Armitage House – the flagship hub in Burton Leonard – was donated to Dementia Forward by a lady who had previously lived there. After her husband died, she wanted the money from his estate to go to something meaningful – and so the team’s first hub was born.

Some of the Dementia Forward team.

Things were looking bright for Dementia Forward and the team was right – there was a huge need for local dementia support. Within just 18 months, the charity was commissioned to cover three areas of North Yorkshire. A decade later, Dementia Forward now covers the entire county.

The charity now employs more than 60 staff members, has 250 volunteers and helps 4,500 families.

Dementia Forward offers unrivalled support for those suffering with these life-changing diseases and their carers. It hosts weekly social events and groups for people to attend, as well as community groups and cafés.

The charity also has a young onset group – known as Time Out Together – which helps those who have developed symptoms of dementia under the age of 65.

People enjoy puzzles, board games and quizzes. They sing together, go on trips to the beach, walking excursions, art gallery visits and much more.

There is a certain sense of family that runs through Dementia Forward and it is clear the demand for its help and companionship is only growing.

It provides a lifeline for families and carers that are losing their loved one before their eyes.

However, the charity can only continue its amazing work with the help of charitable donations.

Kathy added:

“Every penny donated will go towards improving the lives of our clients. The money goes to them rather than the machine of a charity.”

Without Dementia Forward and its services, many people would have nowhere to turn.

Please give generously and support this vital local organisation. Nobody deserves what these families are facing – especially at Christmas.

Every donation to our campaign will go directly to Dementia Forward, helping us hit our £30,000 target to buy the charity a new minibus and improving the lives of those living with dementia and the people around them.

Dementia Forward’s current bus is old and urgently needs to be replaced. The charity would seriously struggle to afford a new one, which is why they need your help to keep this vital service going.

Without it, many people living with dementia wouldn’t be able to access the help and support they need.

Please click here to donate whatever you can – you never know when you, your family or your friend may be in need of Dementia Forward’s help too.

Let’s not forget who needs our help this Christmas. Thank you.

The NHS found that one in 11 people over the age of 65 in the UK are living with dementia. If you need urgent help or have a dementia-related enquiry, call 0330 057 8592 to speak to a helpline adviser.

North Yorkshire Council highway engineers and other workmen have been out in force in Ripon city centre today.

Engineers started three days of trial works to discover what exactly lies beneath the surface of the Market Place East and West roads.

Meanwhile, a council colleague was eradicating weeds and grass around the base of the obelisk and poking out of the joints between the paving sets on the southern half of Market Square.

He told the Stray Ferret the environmentally friendly means being used to rid the monument and square of unsightly growths is a combination of potato starch and steam,  previously used for weed clearance in Harrogate’s Valley Gardens.

The trial works began on Market Place East this morning.

Deeper down under the cracked and uneven block paving roads adjacent to Market Square, engineers are carrying out tests to find out more about their foundations, so that a scheme can be drawn up for comprehensive tarmac resurfacing costing £630,000 works to go ahead next October.

The trial work is scheduled to last until Wednesday and while it is ongoing each road will be kept open but reduced to a single lane, meaning traffic disruption and delays are likely.

North Yorkshire Council said in a statement:

“Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout and on-site personnel will assist in managing access to properties and businesses within the works area.”

Main picture: A council workman uses starch and steam to clear weeds on Market Square South.

Read more:

• Giant snow globe is heading for Ripon
• Moorside Primary School in Ripon rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

Police today issued CCTV images of a man they want to speak to following a public order offence at Ripon Cathedral.

The incident took place on Friday, October 20, at about 11.15am. No further details have been released.

North Yorkshire Police described the suspect as white, around 6ft tall and in his early 40s. He is believed to be from the Ripon area.

It said in a statement:

“Officers have released two CCTV images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the investigation, as he may have important information about it.”

Anyone with any information can contact PC 116 Craig Brogden at craig.brogden@northyorkshire.police.uk, quoting reference 12230199599.

You can also dial 101, select option 2 and ask for PC 116 Craig Brogden.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read more:

• Woodland Trust backs Ripon campaign to save veteran beech tree
• Firefighters called to water heater blaze in Ripon

Firefighters were called to a heater fire at a property in Ripon last night (Sunday).

A crew from Ripon was called to premises on Boroughbridge Road at 5.52pm after the alarm went off.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident report said firefighters found a water heater on the first floor in a kitchen area had caught fire.

It added:

“The fire was contained to the water heater and was out upon our arrival. Fire crew investigated and isolated the heater.”

Later last night, an unattended incense stick set fire to a plant pot at a home in Harrogate.

Harrogate and Knaresborough firefighters were called to Belmont Road at 10.23pm

The incident report said “the fire was extinguished prior to our arrival by the occupier” and only damaged the pot.

Read more:

• Harrogate Spring Water plans reignite debate on trees and plastic.
• Woodland Trust backs Ripon campaign to save veteran beech tree

This year’s Stray Ferret Christmas Appeal is to raise £30,000 for a much-needed minibus for Dementia Forward in the Harrogate district. 

The appeal is kindly sponsored by Vida Healthcare.

Please give generously to support local people and their families living with dementia. Let’s not forget those that need help this Christmas.

Today, Flora spoke to a couple who go to the wellbeing café.

Before Pauline Brown’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, she was a volunteer at Dementia Forward’s wellbeing café. Now she and her husband John, who is her carer, attend the café for a different reason.

Pauline tells us her story.

“People didn’t believe me when I was diagnosed. I was talking the way I am now, and people needed convincing.”

Pauline began volunteering at the wellbeing café – which takes place every Tuesday – 10 years ago. She spent eight years supporting those living with dementia and their carers.

“I loved volunteering.

“I just enjoyed helping people and chatting to them – I liked feeling needed.”

However, the couple began to see symptoms of dementia around four years ago and received her diagnosis two years ago. Pauline said:

“Nobody told me I couldn’t volunteer anymore, but I didn’t think it was right.”

Luckily, the couple knew just where to go following the diagnosis and Pauline swapped her volunteer badge for a game of snakes and ladders. She added:

“I love playing games here – snakes and ladders, dominoes, Jenga.

“You just meet people and chat things over – you need to get out of the house.”

John, who also volunteered at the café for three years, said being surrounded by people who understand each other has helped them both.

“We have a laugh.

“We talk to people who are in similar circumstances who pass on their own stories and experiences.”

Pauline and John lean on each other for support, but every type of dementia comes with its own set of challenges. He said:

“You’ve got to be a team – we care for each other.

“I have a few problems myself, but I would never swap them for Alzheimer’s.

The wellbeing café has provided a lifeline for the Browns and hundreds of other families across the Harrogate district.

John added:

“Unless you’ve been involved with someone with dementia – when you’re slowly losing someone – you can’t appreciate these services.

“Help people when they need help – it’s a family.”

The Dementia Forward team eases the pain as much as it can – but can only continue to do so with the help of charitable donations.

Every donation to our campaign will go directly to Dementia Forward, helping us hit our £30,000 target to buy the charity a new minibus and bettering the lives of those living with dementia and the people around them.

Dementia Forward’s current bus is old and urgently needs to be replaced. The charity would seriously struggle to afford a new one, which is why they need your help to keep this vital service going.

Without it, many people living with dementia wouldn’t be able to access the help and support they need. 

Please click here to donate whatever you can – you never know when you, your family or your friend may be in need of Dementia Forward’s help too.

Thank you.

The NHS found that one in 11 people over the age of 65 in the UK are living with dementia. If you need urgent help or have a dementia-related enquiry, call 0330 057 8592 to speak to a helpline adviser.

The owner of one of Ripon’s smallest cafes, has been dealt a devastating blow caused by an act of mindless vandalism.

Helen Slater, who has run the Cathedral View Cafe for six years, arrived at work this morning to discover that one of the windows at her Bedern Bank premises had been smashed with a rock.

She told the Stray Ferret:

“I was absolutely heartbroken, this has never happened to me before and the timing could not have been worse.”

Ms Slater who arrived in festive dress, ready for a hard day’s work, added:

“With the Ripon Cathedral Gift and Food Fair taking place across the road, I was expecting this to be one of my busiest weekends of the year, as I serve breakfast sandwiches and other food and drink items for people who have stalls at the fair.

“But with a broken window, it wasn’t safe to open and I lost all of that breakfast business, as I had to spend three hours cleaning up, contacting my landlord and reporting the vandal attack to the police.”

With the window boarded up, Cathedral View was able to open in time for the later morning and lunchtime trade and it will be business as usual again tomorrow.

Ms Slater, said:

“I have been overwhelmed by the kindness of fellow traders, customers and other people who have sent me supportive messages, made offers of help and dropped by with flowers and chocolates,

“The generosity of the local community has again shone through and I would particularly like to thank Ripon Walled Garden who cheered me up with the gift of a Christmas tree.”

Read more:

• Ripon toilets reopen after vandal attack
• Police seek help to track down Ripon vandals

A van has been stolen from a business park near Ripon.

North Yorkshire Police said today the Fiat Ducato light goods vehicle was stolen from e-commerce firm Hemmingways, at Barker Business Park in Melmerby, on Tuesday, November 21.

The incident occurred at 1.15am.

In a statement, the force said:

“The registration number of the vehicle is BV19OPH.

“It is white in colour and has a distinctive blue curtain side.

“If you see the stolen vehicle, or know where it is, please email richard.tindall@northyorkshire.police.uk.

“You can also call us on 101 and ask for Richard Tindall.”

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The reference number is 12230221425.

Read more:

• ‘Absolutely sickening’: 20 Christmas trees stolen in Knaresborough
• Car on roof after two-vehicle collision in Minskip

A giant inflatable snow globe is coming to Ripon as part of the city’s festivities next month.

Residents and visitors will be able to step inside the inflatable to create a free Christmas photo opportunity.

The globe, which will have biodegradable snow, will be in Ripon from December 14 to 17.

Ripon Business Improvement District, which is funded by traders to increase the number of city centre visitors, has devised the scheme in partnership with tourism organisation Visit Harrogate.

They are marketing the snow globe as “a hugely popular attraction that instantly transports you to your very own winter wonderland”.

It will be in Ripon at the same time as the winter wonderland illuminations in Spa Gardens, which take place from December 15 to 17.

Here’s where you can find the snow globe:

December 14 — 1pm to 7pm The Ripon Inn, Park Street

December 15 — 1pm to 7pm Ripon Cathedral forecourt, Minster Road

December 16 — 1pm to 7pm Ripon Market Square

December 17 — 1pm to 7pm Ripon Market Square

Read more:

• Tree campaigners to hold protest against Ripon Cathedral’s £6m annex plans
• Moorside Primary School in Ripon rated ‘good’ by Ofsted

For the second time in 14 weeks, a section of Dishforth Road/Sharow Lane between the Ripon bypass roundabout and the traffic calming island on the approach to St John’s Church, was closed this morning following a burst water main.

Yorkshire Water and its contractor have been working at the scene, which is close to the location of the previous burst main that forced the closure of the same section of road from August 7 to 11.

More recently, the road in Sharownwas hit by flooding on November 14 caused by Storm Debi and back in December/January, there was three weeks of major traffic disruption when Yorkshire Water replaced a ruptured pipe at the sewage pumping station on Dishforth Road. This work involved the felling of a tree and a round the clock convoy of tankers removing sewage from the site and taking it by road to the sewage treatment works off Boroughbridge Road.

Workers at the scene this morning.

James Thornborough who lives in Sharow, supplied these photos, told the Stray Ferret:

“There has been chaotic scenes during this morning’s rush hour with no advance warning of the diversion route for drivers to take, causing them to have to do three point turns in the road.

“The regularity of major mains failures on this key traffic route, points to the need for a resilient wholesale solution to be put in place.”

Read more:

• Plan for 60 homes in Sharow approved
• Ripon’s historic market square won’t be ripped up and tarmacked

The Ripon YMCA charity shop, which closed at short notice in September, will reopen in time for the Christmas trading period,

Courtney Addison, the newly-appointed manager at the Marshall Way retail park store, told the Stray Ferret this morning:

“We are working hard pricing up goods and stocking shelves and rails ahead of reopening next week..”

The shop windows are being prepared with Christmas displays

Ms Addison, who has transferred over from the YMCA’s Boroughbridge shop, where she worked for four years, has been creating Christmas displays with her deputy Steph Nejzer Hewitt.

She pointed out:

“We have lots of new stock and some lovely festive items and look forward to welcoming back our customers and attracting some new ones as well.”

The store has a vacancy for another deputy manager and is looking for additional volunteers. Anybody wanting to find out more can contact 01765  690664.

At the time of its closing in September, a message on the shop’s Facebook page, said:

“We sincerely apologise for the temporary closure of this store. This is due to property circumstances beyond our control.”

The Ripon shop, which is part of a portfolio of 100-plus YMCA stores in England and Wales managed by the charity’s national retail team in London, opened in February in the unit formerly occupied by Argos.

Main picture: The store is being readied for reopening