Two Harrogate community organisations have received £3,000 in funding after winning a photography competition showcasing their work.
Artizan International won the Our People category and the 1st Pannal Scout Group the Our Place category of the amateur photography competition, which was run by the Two Ridings Community Foundation in conjunction with North Yorkshire’s High Sheriff Clare Granger.
Artizan International’s Harrogate cafe supports adults with learning disabilities by providing real-life working experience, a sense of confidence and self-esteem.
Liz Cluderay from Artizan said:
“We were delighted to win first place and the funding is very well timed as we need to replace key pieces of equipment such as a dishwasher and under counter fridges and freezer.”
The 1st Pannal Scout Group is planning to use their prize money to gain match funding for the refurbishment of the Scout Hall, which is used by their 80 children and young people as well as the whole community.
A number of other Harrogate groups were also highly commended in the competition and will receive a small amount of funding. They are Dancing for Wellbeing which runs ‘Keep Dancing’ sessions at Oatlands Community Centre, Harrogate Clothes Bank, New Beginnings Peer Support, and Open Country, which helps disabled people access and enjoy the countryside.
The Artizan Cafe in Harrogate
Two Ridings helps individuals and businesses across North and East Yorkshire to invest in and support small local charities and community groups by turning their donations into funding.
The winners of the competition were announced at a Photography Exhibition & Showcase in the ballroom of Allerton Castle. The event gave local business leaders, friends and supporters of Two Ridings the opportunity to view the impact of community organisations through 16 photographs, and to hear the stories behind the images.
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Two Ridings chief executive Celia McKeon praised Two Ridings’ donors and supporters for enabling the foundation to channel resources direct to the front line, where it makes a difference.
She said:
“The work everyone here does is the humble, selfless work of people acting out of love. Some of the people supported by this work are often failed by our institutions. And yet they are centred in these images. And that is because they are centred in the work of the organisations.
“This work is transformational. It changes people’s lives. This everyday extraordinary work is the power of community action, and it enriches all our lives. We must not take it for granted.”
Sixteen cash prizes were handed out on the night, including to the photography competition runners-up Scarborough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue, Chopsticks in Northallerton that supports adults with disabilities to develop new skills in a workshop environment, the Walled Garden Whitby, and York-based Shine 21 which supports families who have a child with Down’s Syndrome.
Two Ridings recently launched a Cost of Living Crisis Fund appeal, to help support community organisations that offer a lifeline to people in need. Make a donation here.
Grants up to £3,000 available to Harrogate district community groupsCommunity groups in the Harrogate district are being invited to apply for grants of up to £3,000.
The Local Fund for the Harrogate District opened today for applications to its latest round of awards.
The fund is a three-way partnership between Harrogate Borough Council, Harrogate & District Community Action and Two Ridings Community Foundation.
it focuses on small organisations with charitable aims where a small amount of money can make a significant difference.
The guidance notes say:
“Local groups can apply for activities and services that support people, keeping them connected to their community and with each other.
“This may be particularly important during the cost-of-living crisis, you may want to run more activities throughout the winter months, so people have a warm space to access.
“We cannot support overheads alone but encourage you to include them as part of your application and our commitment to full cost recovery.”
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A total of 14 groups received a total of £40,688 in the last funding round, which was celebrated at an event at West Park Hotel in Harrogate last night.
Successful applicants included Boroughbridge and District Community Care, Nidderdale and Pateley Bridge Men’s Shed, St. Andrew’s Church in Burnt Yates, Pannal Ash Junior Football Club and Harrogate District of Sanctuary.
A total of £84,681 was given to 29 groups in the previous year.
The deadline for the new funding round is January 9. Decisions will be made by mid-February.
Grants from £200 to £3,000 are available.
Applicants must be based in and/or working in the area served by Harrogate Borough Council.
Further details are available here.
Jan Garrill, chief executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation, said:
“It is five years since The Local Fund was launched and since 2018, 88 projects have been supported and £237,266 paid out in grants.
“These grants have supported activities around mental health, inequality, hidden poverty and loneliness. More recently they have assisted in the response to and recovery from covid and now the impact of increases in the cost of living.
“Despite the local government changes in 2023 the fund will remain for the long term, supporting local grass roots community action across the whole of the district and with local people involved in decisions about the awards.”
Pic shows: Harrogate borough mayor, Councillor Victoria Oldham (centre), with voluntary sector representatives at last night’s event.
Cost of living crisis fund launched for North YorkshireTwo Ridings Community Foundation has launched a fund aimed at helping communities in North Yorkshire as the cost of living crisis deepens.
The charity is set to open applications for the fund next month and has already received £210,000 worth of pledges towards it.
The fund will give grants to groups who provide practical, financial and emotional support to people struggling to manage bills, with their day-to-day existence and the emotional impact of constantly worrying about finance, debt and their loved ones’ wellbeing.
It comes as people across the Harrogate district have seen energy bills increase and inflation hike the prices of goods and services.
Two Ridings Community Foundation is one of 47 community foundations in the UK which co-ordinate local charitable giving. Its new initiative will help people in north and east Yorkshire.
James Lambert, founding donor of the crisis fund and high sheriff of North Yorkshire, urged others to donate to the fund.
He said:
“As a local businessman I urge everyone who can to donate to this crucial fund.
“As high sheriff I have seen the amazing work that local charities do and know that any money donated is used wisely and well, where it is most needed.”
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The fund will also ensure charities can cope with the impact of the cost of living on their own costs, so they can continue to offer support.
The fund will open for applications from North and East Yorkshire community organisations from early October 2022. Full details will be available on the Two Ridings website.
Harrogate district community groups encouraged to apply for £2,500 grantsGroups and organisations in the Harrogate district are being invited to apply for grants of up to £2,500 to help support local communities.
The Knabs Ridge Wind Farm community benefit fund helps to fund projects which benefit local people, such as renovations to buildings and new equipment for playgroups.
It has also helped fund public Internet and computers at Hampsthwaite Memorial Hall.
The fund is aimed at organisations in Hampsthwaite Felliscliffe, Hampsthwaite, Birstwith, Norwood, Darley and Menwith, Haverah Park with Beckwithshaw and Fewston in Nidderdale.
It is available to small local charities and voluntary and community groups in those areas.
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The fund, which is operated by Two Ridings Community Foundation, has grants that are awarded to “enhance quality of life for local residents” and “contribute to vibrant, healthy, successful and sustainable communities”.
RWE Renewables, which set up the fund, said:
“The Knabs Ridge Wind Farm Community Fund is designed to help voluntary organisations, community groups and small charities and other types of not for profit organization that support charitable, educational, community, environmental, energy efficiency or general community amenity projects in the local area.”
Those applying for the grant must be a voluntary organisation, community group, small charity or other type of not for profit organisation and have been in existence for six months.
They must also have a governing document or a constitution. The deadline for applications is May 9, 2022.
More information can be found on the Two Riddings Community Foundation website.