It's been another challenging 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.
Our latest HADCA project recognises that not everyone has the time to dedicate to regular volunteering. Help Out Harrogate is an initiative offering local people the chance to volunteer at a variety of one-off events without the need to make any regular commitment.
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 North Yorkshire Council lists some options for making donations of food and other essentials to local community food providers.
Ripon Salvation Army Annual Christmas Appeal New gifts for all ages from new-born to elderly, which are not gift wrapped, will be accepted Monday-Wednesday between 10am-2pm until 6 December 2023. Check on the website for what would be particularly welcome. If you know an individual or family who may be finding things a bit difficult and would appreciate gifts, please get in touch with the Salvation Army.
New Beginnings Peer Support have a Christmas Campaign supporting a 100 families who have previously been subjected to domestic abuse. are collecting gifts for children in families in need who have been affected by domestic abuse. As well as cash donations they are also collecting family size biscuit tins, family size chocolate tubs, mince pies, chocolate coins and hot chocolate.
Harrogate Homeless Project have put together some ideas of gifts and donations you can give to help people experiencing homelessless in our district.
Toys, books and games can be given to the North Yorkshire Reuse Santa Appeal at local household waste recycling centres until 3 December. Everything from action figures and dolls to games and puzzles for babies up to 16-year-olds will be accepted, so long as they are in good condition and safe to use.
‘Project Sweetest Street’ is supporting Harrogate District Foodbank and a number of other local charities. Boxes of chocolates, chocolate biscuits, selections boxes etc. can be donated at stores on Commercial Street from 25 November to 16 December.
Harrogate Round Table are putting together Christmas hampers to deliver to families and individuals who could use a little extra support this time of year.
You can also find hundreds of local charities in our searchable Where To Turn Directory who would love your support and donations! Many charities have fantastic Christmas raffles too!
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 12th to 15th January 2024 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, Harrogate Hospital & Community Charity, Friends of Harrogate Hospital, Artizan International, Harrogate Fair Trade Shop and Open Arms Malawi 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. Our charity shops will be looking lovely as the local Soroptimists are holding their annual Charity Shop Christmas Shop Window competition.
You can also buy locally grown trees from 1st Pannal Scout Group and support their work with young people as they celebrate their 75th Birthday. You can arrange collection for recycling too (Harrogate, Pannal, Burn Bridge and down to Huby).
Donate as you shop online
Donate to a cause you care about when you do online shopping with sites such as Give as you Live or easyfundraising.
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
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. Players must be 18 years and over. Be Gamble Aware.
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 (X) Facebook and Instagram 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 as a member of our Help Out Harrogate crew.
If you've got any ideas to add, please let us know!
updated 23 November 2023
