2020 has been a difficult year in many ways. Although we can't change our situation, we can choose to respond with kindness and give people hope for a positive future, as so many people across Harrogate District have done.
Volunteering at Christmas
It will be a very different Christmas with Covid and some of the regular festive volunteering opportunities aren’t available this year.
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.
One way of making a difference from your own home is being a telephone befriender. Supporting Older People would love to hear from you if you would be interested in making calls to older people in Harrogate and Knaresborough. You can get in touch with the charity on 07535 508043 or by emailing Team@supportingolderpeople.org.uk (but please note the team is taking a break 19 December 2020 – 4 January 2021)
Other things you can do…..
Donate food or money to local community food providers or gifts for Christmas appeals
This December a food support leaflet has been produced by Harrogate Borough Council which lists some options for making donations. (St Peters Church in Harrogate have updated the details of their food provision for people in need over the Christmas period and you can download their flier here ) Local charity IDAS have some ideas on how you can support families escaping abuse with their Christmas appeal. Toys, books and games can be given to the North Yorkshire Reuse Santa Appeal
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 and keep it local where people may recognise you and trust your offer is genuine. There is inspiration and ideas from The Great Winter Get Together, Action for Happiness and Our Neighbours
Help people Connect @Xmas
We can't see everyone we want this holiday. But digitally we can connect. We can help people learn new digital skills that will stay with them all year round. Find fun digital resources in 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 Horticap, Jennyruth Workshops, Henshaws, Friends of Harrogate Hospital, Artizan International
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 and many more
Give a zero-waste share in Long Lands Common – it will last for a lifetime and beyond!
Long Lands Common is a project to create a community-owned woodland area between Harrogate and Knaresborough. Shares are available until 20 December.
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.
Pack a gift-wrapped shoebox
Include lots of things for children in need around the world with Operation Christmas Child
Play THE LOCAL LOTTO for the Harrogate District
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.
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 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!
updated 22 December 2020
