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 this year.
Volunteering at Christmas
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 a food support leaflet was updated by Harrogate Borough Council which lists some options for making donations of food and provisions. Local charity IDAS have some ideas on how you can support families escaping abuse, with their Christmas appeal. New Beginnings Peer Support are also accepting donations to support women and children in Harrogate district affected by domestic abuse. Toys, books and games can be given to the North Yorkshire Reuse Santa Appeal
Harrogate Town Community Foundation are collecting items for local good causes. Any of the listed items can be dropped at the Harrogate Town Club Shop on Commercial Street up to Wednesday 22nd December.
Ripon Community House are accepting gifts for the residents of local care homes until Friday 10th December 2021.
Ripon Salvation Army Annual Christmas Present Appeal accepts gifts (big or small!) of new, unwrapped presents which would be suitable for children, teenagers and adults. Please drop off your donations at The Salvation Army, Lead Lane, Mondays-Wednesdays between 9am-3pm.
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 and Our Neighbours. The Great Winter Get Together will be taking place from Monday 17th to Sunday 30th January 2022 so put those dates in your diary!
Help people Connect @Xmas
Connect@Xmas was set up last year 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 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 survive Winter
With the cold weather arriving and the cost of living ever increasing, this Winter will be hard for all. The money raised through the Two Ridings Community Foundation Surviving Winter Fund will go to those who have to choose between food or warmth - those who have to choose between feeding their baby and putting money into the heating meter - to those who keep their houses at 15 degrees as they are too worried about paying the bills and becoming in debt.
Pack a gift-wrapped shoebox
Include lots of things for children in need around the world with Operation Christmas Child (the collection week ended on 22 November so this can be an idea for next year now!)
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!
If you've got any ideas to add, please let us know!
updated 7 December 2021
