News

 Volunteering opportunity – become a MIND trustee

Mind in Harrogate District is looking for new Trustees to join their small Trustee Board and add to their range of skills and experience. If you are seeking a new opportunity and want to give something back to our local community then they would love to hear from you by 4 June.

Mind are looking to diversify their Trustee Board and are particularly interested in people who can help to:

 · Develop their equality and inclusion agenda

· Develop services to support Children and Young People’s mental health

 · Provide strategic input into the marketing and promotion of the charity

· Lead on fundraising initiatives

Find out more

The Clothes Bank provides free of charge,  good quality clothes for children and adults. It is open to anyone on a low income.  
The Clothes Bank will now be open most Saturday mornings 10.30 – 12.30 and some Fridays (check the website and Facebook for details).

No prior booking will now be necessary and Covid measures will be in place.

April is stress awareness month.

What are the signs of stress and how can you help yourself?
This past year has been stressful for many people, for many different reasons. Stress is our body’s response to pressure. Many different situations or life events can cause stress. It is often triggered when we experience something new, unexpected or that threatens our sense of self, or when we feel we have little control over a situation.

Get Your Mind Plan on the Every Mind Matters website

Answer 5 quick questions to get your free plan with tips to help you deal with stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, boost your mood and feel more in control. 
 

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Get a coronavirus (covid-19) test if you don’t have symptoms

You can now order tests to be delivered, collect a test from a local pharmacy or from a testing site (including between 2:30pm and 8pm from Dragon Road Car Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate, HG1 5DB)  

You can now book a vaccine if you are aged 45 and over.

There is now a fourth Vaccination Centre in our district at Pateley Bridge (Memorial Hall) run by Pateley Bridge pharmacy. Appointments can be booked through the national system.

Covid-19 vaccination for people with severe mental illness
Public Health England has also developed a series of short videos on Covid-19 vaccination to support and encourage people with severe mental illness to get their Covid-19 vaccines.

Covid-19 vaccine and clotting information
Public Health England has released an information sheet explaining the safety of the vaccinations.

The government is consulting on changes to the way local services are provided. Instead of responsibility being split between two, separate, councils the government has suggested two unitary authorities to each run all services in their respective areas. Six of the seven district and borough councils – including Harrogate – have proposed an east and west model with the county split roughly either side of the A1(M). The west side would be formed of the current Craven, Richmondshire and Hambleton districts and the borough of Harrogate. The east side would be formed of the current city of York area, the districts of Selby and Ryedale and the borough of Scarborough. You’ll find the business case for the east/west model on this special website. North Yorkshire County Council is suggesting one unitary council would cover the entire county with a second, smaller unitary to run the city of York as is the case now. The government consultation is your chance to shape the way local council services are organised and provided in your community. Harrogate Borough Council encourage you to take part and add your views.

During lockdown, the markets in Knaresborough and Ripon were restricted to the sale of essential goods only. From Wednesday 15th April in Knaresborough and Thursday 16th April in Ripon, all traders will be allowed to start back.

The Hydro in Harrogate and Ripon and Nidderdale leisure centres welcomed back their first customers from 12 April.

You can now enjoy lane swimming and family fun sessions in the pools at the Hydro and at Nidderdale leisure centre.

Brimhams fitness centres at the Hydro and at Ripon and Nidderdale leisure centres are now open again to existing members.

All swim and gym sessions must be pre-booked in advance.

Please note that you must wear a face covering in all communal areas of the buildings.

Harrogate Borough Council (HBC) are putting plans in place to open the three other pools in the coming weeks and months.  It is anticipated that Ripon Spa Baths will be next to open.

HBC are waiting for the government to publish guidance on future social distancing rules which will dictate how quickly Starbeck baths may be opened.

Regrettably, the filtration equipment at Knaresborough pool is still broken. Components from Spain are needed to repair the systems however the impact of the third wave of Coronavirus is affecting these repairs. HBC want to reassure residents they are working on alternative reparation planning and hope the pool will be repaired as soon as possible.

Coronavirus: non-essential retail is open again

12 April is the date we’ve all had in our dairies for weeks.

From this date, non-essential retailers, ‘personal care’ premises (hairdressers, barber shops, nail bars) many public buildings and leisure centres opened again.

Hospitality businesses are also allowed to serve customers in outdoor settings.  Food and drink must be ordered and consumed when you are seated.

You can now book and stay at self-contained accommodation, such as campsites and holiday lets, provided indoor facilities are not shared with other households.

However, despite the fact the lockdown restrictions have eased further today, Covid-19 hasn’t gone away.

Please continue – like you have been doing all along – to follow the rules to do your bit to minimise the spread of the virus in your local community and across the district.

Remember ‘hands, face and space’ and a new message about fresh air.  Even indoors, you should consider how to keep fresh air circulating.

Please wear a face covering where you are required to and maintain social distancing even when you are outdoors.

Harrogate district foodbanks service update
NEW Foodbank in Starbeck
Opening Thursday 8 April
Life Destiny Church (at the rear of the Starbeck Methodist Church building), 93b High Street, Starbeck, HG2 7LH
Opening times: 10:30am – 12:30pm
 
Knaresborough Foodbank – Change in day of opening
Opening day is moving from Mondays to Fridays with the first Friday opening 9 April at the same venue, Holy Trinity Church, Briggate, HG5 8BQ and the same time of 10:30am – 12:30pm
 
There are no changes at the Mowbray Community Church foodbank which will continue to open Tuesdays and Fridays 10.30am – 12.30pm.