THE LOCAL FUND supports 17 community groups across the Harrogate district by distributing £37,473

THE LOCAL FUND for the Harrogate District has recently allocated over £37,000 to support 17 community organisations, helping them to continue delivering essential services to local people.

These grants bring care and support for rural residents, improve wellbeing and social connection for people experiencing social isolation and help upskill people with disabilities.

This year’s funding ranged from £3,000 to support Inspire Youth Yorkshire in running bi-weekly girls’ sessions, to a £250 grant that covered the cost of a coach for the annual summer outing of the Hampsthwaite Wednesday Group, a social group for over 50 rural older women, many of whom are widowed and live alone.

As Celia McKeon, Chief Executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation, said at the LOCAL FUND event back in 2024.

“These grants go right to the heart of our community, from tackling food poverty to supporting people affected by pregnancy loss, or even creating spaces like a pond-dipping platform for children to explore nature.”

Here’s how some of the local groups are using their grants:

• Chain Lane Community Centre are launching a new Community Gardening Service. The funds were used to purchase essential equipment, including a lawn mower, hedge cutter, strimmer, safety goggles, and gloves. Their aim is to create a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient community through high-quality green spaces, local projects, volunteering, and grassroots leadership.
• Dancing for Wellbeing runs gentle exercise classes for people over 60, but it’s far more than just a dance class. With a strong emphasis on pastoral care, the team takes time to get to know each attendee and offer signposting when someone needs extra support. The grant allows them to continue running two Monday sessions in Boroughbridge.
• Darley Cricket Club, based in a large rural area of Nidderdale, has expanded to four cricket teams, two for 5–13-year-olds and two teams for the 13 years and over age group. The club plays a key role in the community, offering its pavilion as a shared space. The grant will help fund new windows and doors, making the building more comfortable and accessible for wider community use.
• Gracious Street Methodist Church (GSMC) hosts regular activities for older residents in Knaresborough, tailored to different needs and interests. This grant supports ongoing costs for initiatives including Lunchlink (home-cooked meals and social dining), Memory Café (dementia-friendly events), Men’s Club (briefings and breakfasts), CAMEO (group discussions), digital skills training, social games, and a book club.
• Harrogate & District Community Action (HADCA), an independent charity supporting communities across Harrogate and North Yorkshire, received funding for their ‘Power of 10’ project. This grassroots initiative encourages young people to volunteer for 10 hours in their local communities, building confidence, wellbeing, skills, and employability.
• Harrogate & District Over Fifties Forum is open to anyone over 50 and currently has 128 members. Their funding supports two group day trips, one to Kiplin Hall near Northallerton and another to Breezy Knees near York. Travelling in a group encourages members to explore new places, make friends, and create lasting memories.
• Funding for Harrogate Baptist Church has gone to the running of a young people’s group. The space gives young people a safe place to connect, be heard, and work on their wellbeing.
• Headway Harrogate & District have purchased promotional items (gazebo, flag, 6ft pull up banner, folding table and tablecloth) to improve visibility of the charity and to raise awareness for their work supporting brain injury survivors and their families.
• Knaresborough Connectors works to reduce social isolation among over-65s. Their funding is supporting three group outings, including a trip to Kynren. Covering transport and entry fees makes these events accessible to all, regardless of income, and helps improve wellbeing through shared experiences.
• Lifeline Harrogate provides supported housing for people experiencing homelessness. Their funding is covering the costs of an annual seaside outing, an important opportunity for residents to build relationships and informal support networks.
• Markington Memorial Institute are improving its community hall to better support activities and shared interests among residents.
• Ohana supports families of children with SEND in Ripon and the surrounding areas. This funding will launch two new sessions in a dedicated space: one for baby sensory activities and another for a parent/carer support group.
• Pinewoods Conservation Group are creating a signed circular nature trail through local woodlands. The new path will be accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs in fair weather, helping visitors explore key points of interest in a safe and welcoming way.
• Taking Baby Steps CIC provides 1:1 therapeutic support for individuals affected by birth trauma, perinatal anxiety, pregnancy and baby loss, and fertility issues. Led by Jane, an experienced NHS midwife, the project will deliver 46 sessions over 12 months thanks to this grant.
• The Village Harrogate (Part of Hope Church Harrogate) is launching four 12-week wellbeing group sessions for new mums struggling with anxiety and loneliness. With no “manual” for parenthood and often overwhelming advice, these sessions create a supportive, non-judgemental space where new parents can connect and feel less alone.

Get involved

Since 2017, THE LOCAL FUND has supported community groups and charities across the Harrogate District by making over 163 grants and investing over £410,000. Backed by a partnership of North Yorkshire Council, Harrogate & District Community Action, and Two Ridings Community Foundation, THE LOCAL FUND continues to benefit local people and communities. Despite changes to local government boundaries in 2023, it remains a lasting legacy from Harrogate Borough Council.

As well as being a great fundraising opportunity for voluntary groups in the Harrogate district, the local lotto also directly contributes at least 10p from every sale to THE LOCAL FUND.

Applications for THE LOCAL FUND are currently closed, but to find out more about the fund and the grants made, please visit: tworidingscf.org.uk.

If you want to get involved and donate to this collective fund to benefit the communities in and around the Harrogate District, donate here.