It's been another difficult year, but we can choose to respond with kindness, help spread some joy and give people hope for a positive future.

Volunteering at Christmas 

The organisers of Knaresborough Christmas Day Dinner would appreciate any offers of help and are also collecting gifts. 

Many of our hard working small local charities and dedicated volunteers are taking a well-earned break over Christmas, but will certainly welcome help at other times of year.

We help people find their ideal volunteering role through our HADCA Volunteering Directory at  https://www.hadca.org.uk/volunteer  

You can search our Directory by availability (day of week) and causes and activities which interest you, as well as volunteering you can do at home. When you find suitable roles, you are able to log in to make enquires direct to the community organisations looking for volunteers. More volunteer drivers and befrienders are especially needed.  

Other things you can do…..

Donate food or money to local community food providers or gifts for Christmas appeals 

This Christmas the food support leaflet updated by Harrogate Borough Council lists some options for making donations of food and provisions for local foodbanks.

Harrogate Homeless Project has put togther a list of a few ideas for gifts people they work with would like to receive. Please telephone the hostel on 01423 566900 to book a time to drop off your donations. 

Ripon Community House are collecting cash donations this year for local care homes to organise Christmas treats for their residents.   

Ripon Salvation Army Annual Christmas Appeal accepts gifts (big or small) of new, unwrapped toys and gifts presents for babies, children, young people and adults and festive food such as selection boxes, sweets, chocolates, biscuits or savoury snacks, as well basic food supplies. Please drop off your donations at The Salvation Army, Lead Lane, Mondays-Wednesdays between 10am-2pm, by 14 December.

Harrogate Town Community Foundation are collecting items suitable as gifts for members of Supporting Older People, aged over 65. local good causes. 

New Beginnings Peer Support  are collecting gifts for children in families in need who have been affected by domestic abuse. Toys, books and games can be given to the North Yorkshire Reuse Santa Appeal at local household waste recycling centres until 11 December.

You can  also find hundreds of local charities in our searchable Where To Turn Directory who would love your support and donations!

Connect with neighbours, friends and family and offer to help 

Extra phone calls to keep in contact with friends, neighbours and family could mean a lot to them and is an opportunity to find out about any needs they may have. Offer to help neighbours, keeping it local where people may recognise you and trust your offer is genuine. There is inspiration and ideas from Action for Happiness. The Great Winter Get Together will be taking place from Monday 16th to Sunday 29th January 2023 so put those dates in your diary!  

Help people Connect @Xmas

Connect@Xmas was set up during lockdown when we couldn't see everyone we wanted to over the festive period. But using digital skills to get and stay connected is still important now. We can help people learn new digital skills that will stay with them all year round. Find fun digital resources on the Connect@Xmas website to help people enjoy Christmas online and access mini-courses to learn how to get people connecting.

Buy charity Christmas cards

There are lots of lovely local options including from  Horticap, Jennyruth Workshops, Henshaws, Friends of Harrogate Hospital, Artizan International or visit Cards for Good Causes at the library or buy from your local charity shops. 

Buy charity Christmas trees and gifts  

Special and unique gifts from local charities including Horticap, Ripon Community Link and Walled Garden, Jennyruth Workshops, Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity, Harrogate Fair Trade Shop, Open Arms Malawi , Artizan International, Henshaws  The Harrogate Chocolate Factory and many more. Or visit your local charity shop, support a good cause and choose a pre-loved gift. 

Support a local good cause when enjoying a coffee and catching up with friends 

Enjoy good coffee and delicious food at venues including Hopkins @ Horticap, Harrogate Chocolate Factory café, Artizan Café, Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre, Ripon Walled Garden or at one of the Resurrected Bites Give As You Can Cafes.   

Support local charity and community events 

You can find many events listed on our community calendar

Help people on the street to turn a corner with Harrogate Street Aid 

Make a difference for those on Harrogate district streets, helping them to make a real change to stay off the streets.
You can donate at: http://harrogatestreetaid.co.uk or via the tap terminal outside Marks and Spencer on Oxford Street, opposite Harrogate Theatre or at the Victoria Centre, opposite the station. 

Help people struggling with the cost of living 

With the ever increasing cost of living, local people are struggling to feed their families, heat their homes & pay their bills. Two Riding Community Foundation's North & East Yorkshire Cost of Living Crisis Appeal enables you to donate directly to support people in North and East Yorkshire who are struggling.

Pack a gift-wrapped shoebox

Include lots of things for children in need around the world with Operation Christmas Child (there's still time to build a shoebox online!) 

Play THE LOCAL LOTTO for the Harrogate District 

It's a fun way to support a cause that matters to you with over 100 local good causes signed up – and you could be a winner! When you play THE LOCAL LOTTO you know that 60% of your ticket price goes to good causes (more than double what the National Lottery gives) and the money raised is going to good causes that benefit your local community. 

If you can’t decide which cause to support you can choose THE LOCAL FUND which will be spent on providing vital support to a wide range of local organisations and initiatives which have a beneficial impact on our local community. 
Play THE LOCAL LOTTO online now at just £1 for a ticket 

You can buy THE LOCAL LOTTO Gift Vouchers starting from just £5 giving the gift of giving to local good causes & providing a bit of fun!

Become a Friend of THE LOCAL FUND  for the Harrogate District 

Anyone who cares passionately about the Harrogate District and would like to make a positive difference by improving the quality of life for disadvantaged people and communities across the area is encouraged to become a Friend.

Be Kind to our district and our planet

Zero Carbon Harrogate have plenty of ideas for what you can do. 

Help us to keep our Where to Turn Community Information Directory  up to date

Its important people know they are not alone and our local community organisations are here to help.  Our online searchable Where To Turn Directory helps to signpost to appropriate support. If you are involved with or know about a charity or group that isn’t listed please get in touch

Support our local charities on social media

Please like and share their messages to raise awareness of the support available and so people know how they can help. We’d love you to follow us on twitter and Facebook too! 

There are many other ways you can help to spread kindness in Harrogate District all year around. Volunteering is not just for Christmas.
If you’re thinking of New Year Resolutions and want to keep motivated getting active, connecting with people or learning new skills there is no better way than to volunteer with other like-minded people. So please take another look at our Volunteering Directory or sign up for Community Fit! 

If you've got any ideas to add, please let us know!   

updated  6 December 2022