Community links
Information from local community groups
Be a Reading Challenge Volunteer at your local library
Young people, aged between 13 and 24, are being encouraged to help run the Summer Reading Challenge in local libraries. The event encourages children aged between four and 11 to read six library books over the summer holidays.
Applications should be made by Friday 27 June https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/news/2025/apply-be-reading-challenge-volunteer-your-local-library
FREE drop-in spaces up for young people with Netmakers Youth and local churches in Harrogate
PAUSE at St John’s & St Luke’s
Tuesdays from 3.15-5pm
Drop in cafe space in St John's Hall, Bilton for young people in Y6-Y13. A warm, welcoming space, where there is someone friendly to chat to, some games to play, help with homework, food and drinks. Contact youthwork@stjohnsandstlukes.org.uk for more information.
Teen Drop In Space
https://netmakers.org.uk/pf/youth-group/
Fridays 4-6pm in Term Time:
Wesley Chapel, Oxford Street, Harrogate
A free space for teens (11-17 year olds) to hang out and spend time with their friends. Free food, WIFI and charging.
St Andrews, Starbeck Thursdays 3.30pm – 5pm
For years 5/6/7. Free food, crafts and games.
Life Destiny Church, Starbeck Thursdays 3.30pm – 5pm
For years 10-13. Free food, arts, crafts and games.
Inspire Youth - Inspire Together, inclusive youth provision for all aged 11+
https://www.inspireyouth.uk/whats-on/
Mondays, 4-5.30pm
Inspire Youth Yorkshire Community Hub, Knaresborough
Activities and experiences in a safe place, promoting independence, health, wellbeing and friendship. Cost: £6.50, includes refreshments. Booking essential at bookings@inspireyouth.uk or 07547 287982. If any young person would like to arrive a little early, or meet the team before, or parents would like to stay, email info@inspireyouth.uk to arrange.
Harrogate Town AFC Community Foundation
Comets Disability Football for ages 5-11
Friday evenings, 5.30-6.30pm at St John Fisher Catholic High School
A recreational, pan-disability football programme for boys and girls with disabilities. Pan-disability is the largest format of disability football, which sees players with a broad range of impairments and health conditions play together. Comets offers a new, flexible and inclusive way of playing, one that’s all about playfulness, friendships and having fun. There is wheelchair/walker access. https://hadca.org.uk/directory/organisation/21804
Family friendly summer events
Family Fun Day at Police Treatment Centres
Saturday 19 July, 12pm – 4pm
www.thepolicetreatmentcentres.org/get-involved/fundraising/fuelling-the-force-ptc-family-fun-day
Stalls, food vendors, children’s activities, and more. Adult tickets £5, children’s tickets £1, family of 4 £10.
North Yorkshire Youth Pride Picnic
Sunday 20 July, 11am – 3pm
Carlton Lodge, Carlton Miniott, YO7 4NJ
Join us for a day of fun, food, and wellbeing at the NYY Pride Picnic 2025 — a vibrant event where young people (aged 11+) can come together to relax, connect, and show their pride. Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community or a proud ally, everyone is welcome to join this inclusive celebration! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-yorkshire-youth-pride-picnic-2025-tickets-1383960024689
FEVA Festival
8 – 17 August
Knaresborough
https://feva.info/
Lots of FREE family friendly activities including lots of street performances, a family bike ride https://feva.info/events/feva-family-bike-ride, a celebration service at St John’s https://feva.info/events/feva-celebration-service-5 , Storytime with CREATE at The Kiosk at Conyngham Hall https://feva.info/events/storytime-with-yorkshire-create and the FEVA opening ceremony https://feva.info/events/feva-opening-ceremony-2
Family Fun Day at The Village
Friday 29 August, 10am – 12 noon
The Village, Skipton Road, Harrogate
As part of their warmer welcome Campaign National Energy Action are joining with us to put on a morning of fun at The Village! Bring your little ones down for face painting, refreshments from The Living Room Starbeck children's entertainment from Zumbinis, meet other local charities and free ice creams! www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=758545479829040&set=a.216771314006462
HADCA local resources
A reminder that our website has useful, local information on Cost of Living Support and Welcoming Warm Spaces (including for venues).
LEAP – the energy and money saving service
You could be eligible to receive FREE energy advice to help cut your bills if you are: on a low income, receive Universal Credit or Housing Benefit, if you receive an income or disability related benefit. https://www.communitysupportny.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/LEAP-flyer-2024.pdf Call 0800 060 7567 www.applyforleap.org.uk
Household Support Fund
The Fund was set up to help people who are struggling with the increase in living costs and feeling the financial pressure of paying their bills. Anyone who has received a letter telling them that they are eligible for a Household Support Fund payment, must select their supermarket e-vouchers by 13 February 2025. Everyone who is eligible will have received a letter by 21 January 2025. Because the guidance has changed, some people who received a payment as part of a previous phase of the Household Support Fund may not this time. Find more information on the North Yorkshire Council website
Crafty Llamas at Artizan
Every Monday, 4pm-5pm at Artizan Café & Creative Space, Cambridge Road (next to McDonalds)
FREE crafty and fun after school session at Artizan Cafe & Creative Space for young people age 10-15 with additional needs. Get in touch to book your place today liz.cluderay@artizaninternational.org
Renew HG1 YP
https://www.renewhg1.org.uk/young-people
A space where young people in Years 7, 8 and 9 can come and be themselves, Renew HG1 YP is specifically designed to support young people who lack self-confidence, are anxious, find it hard to make friends, often express feelings of loneliness, struggle with their mental or emotional wellbeing. Tuesdays, from 3.30 - 5pm, at Harrogate Baptist Church Community Hall, opposite the Odeon cinema.
Free weekly football sessions with Harrogate Town AFC and Inspire Youth
Monday: 6:30-8pm and Thursday: 4:00-5:30pm, King George V Playing Field Knaresborough HG5 0LG
Wednesday: 6:30-8pm Boroughbridge Muga, Church Lane, Boroughbridge, YO519AY
A great activity for young people, with lots of social and physical benefit. Contact community@harrogatetownafc.com for more information or sign up here. Find out about other Inspire Youth local sessions here, including Inspire Together an inclusive youth and accessible youth club for ages 11+.
Pause at St John’s, Bilton
The youth team at St John’s & St Luke’s are beginning a new weekly young people's group called PAUSE on a Tuesday from 3.15-5pm. It is going to be a drop in cafe space in St John's hall for young people in Y6-Y13. The aim is to provide a warm, welcoming space, where there is someone friendly to chat to, some games to play and some food and drinks. Contact Emma on youthwork@stjohnsandstlukes.org.uk for more information.
Meals and mini supermarket at St Peter’s Church, Harrogate
Hot Breakfast 8.20 - 8.45 am Monday - Saturday
Mini Super Market 4.30 - 4.50 pm Thursdays - an opportunity to stock up on tins and bread
Breakfasts and mini supermarket produce are provided for those in need on a no questions asked basis.
If you have food or tins to donate, please place them in the hamper by the West door or contact the Parish Office. (07425 161 425 or stpeterschurchhgtoffice@gmail.com)
Essential Needs
The charity re-uses and redistributes good quality used furniture, household items and white goods to residents in need of support. They stock tables, chairs, beds, chest of drawers, cupboards and wardrobes. The also stock appliances including cooers, washing machines, driers, fridges, freezers and small electrical items such as lamps, toasters and kettles. Open to everyone, they run a two-tier price system – anyone in receipt of a means tested benefit or on a low income (less than £21k for an individual or £26k for a couple) can register with them to receive a 35% discount. Check out what’s in stock right now at https://essentialneeds.org.uk/in-stock
Community transport in Harrogate
TVCSA provides community transport in Harrogate. Volunteer drivers provide door to door transport for individuals to attend medical appointments (e.g. doctors, hospital, dentist, etc.), shopping, or other social activities. Non-emergency service, bookings need to be made with at least two days’ notice. To book a journey please call 01423 206008.
Online wellbeing
This NSPCC guide discusses the steps you can take to manage children and young people’s digital/online wellbeing.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-wellbeing/
Wondering what to do with your used stamps?
The Girl Guides are collecting them as part of their fundraising drive for the new Birk Crag Centre. They have an office in Community House, so you are welcome to drop them off here at reception any time during opening hours: Mon – Thurs 9am – 4.30pm. Community House, 46-50 East Parade, Harrogate, HG1 5RR.
Birk Crag Centre Open Day
Saturday 22 March, 10am-2pm, Birk Crag Centre on Cornwall Road
Go along and take a look at the amazing progress that has been made with the build, show your support for Girlguiding North Yorkshire West, have a brew and buy a cake!
https://www.birkcragcentre.org.uk/
Free Priority Services Register (PSR)
Extra support and advice in the event of a power cut, water leak or planned works
Power cuts or water shortages can cause a worry, particularly if you, or someone you care for, needs power or water for medical reasons, are elderly, sick or disabled or have trouble communicating. You may have young children to look after at home.
You can find out who your supplier is and apply at www.thepsr.co.uk
Our HELP team have a number of FREEPOST PSR application forms for Northern Powergrid they can send out for you or someone you care for or they can help over the phone too. Get in touch on 01423 813090 help@hadca.org.uk
Yorkshire Children’s Charity Grants
Help for young people aged 19 years and under
- Grants for Wheelchairs
- Grants for Specialist Equipment for individuals and organisations, including sensory rooms and outdoor spaces.
- Helping Hand grants of to £200 per child for essentials and things to make life better and create memories. The needs of each child will be looked at so there is not a set list of what will be funded. A representative from the child’s school or agency/charity working with the child can recommend for funding.
https://yorkshirechildrenscharity.org/charity/charity-how-we-can-help/
Don’t forget:
Resurrected Bites Community Groceries
A weekly shop from as little as £3
The community groceries are run through a subscription scheme and are for people who are in financial hardship. It costs just a fraction of a normal supermarket shop and it saves thousands of tonnes of food from going to landfill every week. You can join for £5 then have access to a weekly shop for just a few pounds (a 4+ family can get their shop for £6). They run at New Park School and Gracious Street Methodist Church in Knaresborough twice weekly https://resurrectedbites.co.uk/#groceries
Support with your fuel bills and energy saving
Struggling with increased utility bills?
HELP can refer families to Warm & Well North Yorkshire or the Green Doctor for support with energy bills, energy debt and energy efficiency as well as advice on keeping warm in the home. Contact the charity on 01423 813090 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
If you’re struggling with any of the above or don’t know where to turn for other support and advice in the local area, please contact Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP) on 01423 813090 or email help@hadca.org.uk
HELP
A referring organisation for the Trussell Trusts Foodbanks (at Mowbray Church in Harrogate, Life Destiny Church in Starbeck and Holy Trinity Church in Knaresborough). If any of you are in crisis requiring food, please get in touch with the school office and we will refer you. There is also the NY Local Assistance Fund to access supermarket and energy vouchers www.northyorks.gov.uk/local-assistance-fund – no referral needed, people can just call them direct – 01904 550030.
They can also refer families to Warm & Well NY or the Green Doctor for support with energy bills, energy debt and energy efficiency as well as advice on keeping warm in the home. You can give them a call on 01423 813090 between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
Harrogate Clothes Bank
Provides free, good quality pre-loved clothes from their base on Hornbeam Park - see below
Harrogate & Knaresborough Toy Library
Toys and resources to borrow from St Mary’s Church in Knaresborough www.hktl.org
Warm Spaces
This year there are a number of ‘Warm Spaces’ people can access if they’re struggling to heat their homes. Community venues, churches and local libraries are friendly, safe and inclusive places, offering not just warmth but a place to enjoy the company of others, and maybe a hot drink. Venues across the Harrogate district are being added to HADCA Where To Turn Community Information Directory, searchable under the theme ‘Warm Space’ https://hadca.org.uk/wheretoturn
You-Are-Not-Alone-leaflet
The NHS-funded service enables children and adults to get convenient access to advice and treatment where appropriate for seven common conditions, without the potential delay of having to wait for a GP appointment. Accessing the service may mean that children feel better and back to school as quickly as possible, as well as supporting parents/carers to also get better if they are unwell with one of the conditions covered under the service. There is no need to make an appointment; parents or carers can pop into their local Boots pharmacy with their child and ask for help under the service.
Click on the link below to find out further information.
NHS Pharmacy First Information
