News

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. 

Scope’s Disability Energy Support Service

Free energy advice to any household where a disabled person lives across England and Wales.
Expert energy advisers can offer support with:

• Energy debt
• Switching tariffs or supplier
• Changing your meter
• Green energy
• Becoming more energy efficient
• Accessing energy benefits, grant and trusts
• Contact or complaining to your supplier
• Understanding your bills
• Understanding how to use your heating systems
• Free pre-payment fuel vouchers (conditions apply)

Check details online or call Freephone: 0808 801 0828
 

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Working from home can sometimes feel like a challenge. Charity digital offer some tips and tricks to help you stay motivated and get you through the day. 

Working from home: digital life hacks

The Citizens Advice website gives information to make the right choices, including help to deal with debt problems, how to avoid losing your home and how to get your finances back into shape.

For advice Citizens Advice Craven and Harrogate districts are help to help.  
 

The Register is a free service provided by suppliers and network operators. Being on the Register enables people to have extra support from their energy supplier such as advance notice of planned power cuts, priority support in an emergency, meter reading services and identification of callers, for example.

Working from home can sometimes feel like a challenge. Charity digital offer some tips and tricks to help you stay motivated and get you through the day. 

Working from home: digital life hacks

Where To Turn for more local support 

Hundreds of local support services and activities are listed in our searchable HADCA Where To Turn Community Information Directory for Harrogate district  

Open Country Spring Nature Activities Pack

There’s so much to explore and discover in nature over these next few months and this Spring Nature Activities Pack will help you to get involved in wildlife in your own homes, gardens and local parks.

Beginners’ cycling group ‘Liferiders’ – Community Cycling and Wellbeing 

For the past 4 years, Liferiders has been organising weekly bike rides with a difference. Aimed at novices and beginners, Liferiders offers a supportive, friendly and FREE way to enjoy the social, mental and physical benefits from riding bikes together in the countryside. Liferiders aims to make cycling accessible and inclusive, with members ranging in age from 17 to 65+.
 
Covid Lockdown guidelines have meant that the regular Wednesday and Sunday group rides have not been able to happen, enabling the trustees to invest time in successfully upgrading Liferiders to Charitable Incorporated Organisation (foundation) status (Reg No. 1193499).
 
The charity has acquired 5 loan bikes for use by anyone who doesn’t have access to a bike. Liferiders also offers an introductory 1-2-1 support service, helping potential members to check that their bike is roadworthy, answering questions, and easing any concerns about coming along for their first ride.

During the rides there’s always plenty of support on hand to help with punctures and mechanicals that sometimes occur. Notwithstanding the Pandemic, there is often a cafe / pub stop en route for refreshments
 
The pace of the rides is slow, steady and leisurely, with an emphasis on enjoying the conversation, making new friends and connecting with nature. There is a mental health first aider on most rides, if anyone is going through a difficult time and would like to talk about it.
 
Liferiders is entirely funded by donations and grants. To find out more check out the website or email suziesijack@hotmail.com 
 

Friends of the Elderly small grants

Small grants (normally up to £400) to older people who are:

• Resident in England and Wales
• Of/over state pension age
• Who are living on low incomes and with little savings
• Who do not fit the criteria for other funders

Grants for older people can only be accessed via a third-party Referral Agent who knows the person in a professional or community capacity and submits the application on their behalf.