Local Support for families
13 Jul 2023
Summer Holiday activities & FEAST sessions
Inspire Youth have fun summer holiday activities for young people 11- 16 years taking place in Ripon and Boroughbridge. These activities encourage learning, being active, exploring new experiences, promoting enjoyment, kindness and spending time together. www.inspireyouth.uk/whats-on As part of FEAST, these sessions are free for those children that are currently receiving benefits-related Free School Meals at a North Yorkshire school. Find out which other summer holiday activities are offered FREE at https://northyorkshiretogether.co.uk/feast-activities/ (search by location).
FREE family events and activities:
Pop up Party
Thursday 24th August, 11am – 4pm, Ripon Spa Gardens
For younger children and their parents with a mix of entertainment and activities including; magic shows, circus tricks shows, character mini discos and more.
www.visitharrogate.co.uk/events/pop-up-party-in-ripon-spa-gardens
Summer Trail & Circus School
Ripon BID have created a free trail around the City plus take part in one of three free circus school sessions at Ripon Museums
https://visitripon.co.uk/news/summer-trail-circus-school/
YMCA
Various FREE activities aimed at children aged 11+
https://www.facebook.com/YMCARipon
Boost Holiday Club at Holy Trinity Church
For any child aged between 5 and 11 on 1 September 2023. 9.30 am to 12.45 pm on Tuesday 29 Aug to Friday 1 Sept. £10 for the first child and £5 for any subsequent children. If you would like your child(ren) to go to BOOST 23 but feel the cost is too much for you to afford, please email matt.davies@holytrinityripon.org.uk They have a limited number of bursary tickets available.
https://htr-church.org.uk/2023/06/boost-2023/
Ripon Mumbler has shared this lists of local FREE activities to do over the summer:
Free And Low-Cost Family-Friendly Summer Activities (mumbler.co.uk)
*Please note, this is a list from previous years so some events listed may not be happening this summer
FREE downloadable route cards for short, accessible walks in the district
Local charity Open Country has launched it’s ‘Breakfree’ pack for the Harrogate district – a set of 12 accessible walks around the local area, perfect for children, prams and those with limited mobility. Download them at www.opencountry.org.uk/breakfree or pop into Harrogate Community House on East Parade to pick up a printed pack.
Harlow Carr for families on Universal Credit
Harlow Carr (and all RHS sites) are offering £1 entry per family for those on Universal Credit www.rhs.org.uk/press/releases/RHS-offers-low-income-households-%C2%A31-entry-to-its-g The Harrogate Bus Company has just announced a new bus service from Harrogate town centre to Harlow Carr from 22 July until 3 September. The £2-a-trip ‘Price Drop’ fares will be available from the driver or on the free Transdev Go app for this and other journeys including the 36 bus between Ripon and Harrogate.
Ripon Toy Library
Aims to create a friendly and relaxed environment where babies and children up to the age of 8 years, their parents and carers can enjoy having a chat and making friends whilst children explore the large range of toys. Families can stay and play for £1.50 or pay £5 to become a member for a year. It costs members 50p to borrow toys for two weeks. Toys can also be hired for parties or toddler groups at a cost of 10 toys for £5.00. Where to Turn | Harrogate & District Community Action (hadca.org.uk)
Food support over the summer holidays:
Food Support Ripon & Boroughbridge provides emergency food parcels for people in crisis in Ripon, Boroughbridge and the surrounding villages (referral only). Food Support Ripon & Boroughbridge | Ripon Community House Parcels can be collected on either a Monday or Thursday, by appointment only, at Ripon Community House foodsupport@riponcommunityhouse.co.uk
Waste Not Wednesday
Held every other Wednesday 12pm – 2pm at Ripon Community House.
£3.00 per basket, maximum 8 items of donated surplus food from local supermarkets, allotments and gardeners. www.riponcommunityhouse.co.uk/waste-not-wednesday
Boroughbridge Community Larder
Open every Wednesday between 12pm and 2pm at Boroughbridge Methodist church, Horsefair.
boroughbridecommunitycare@gmail.com
Nidderdale Foodbank
For information about how to access food including emergency provisions contact Nidd Plus on 01423 714953 or email admin@nidderdaleplus.org.uk
FREE uniform, clothing and baby items
The Village is a Baby Bank, Children’s Clothing Bank and Uniform Shop providing free essential needs for new mums, families and children of all ages in Harrogate and North Yorkshire. They are open on Mondays 9am-5pm and Wednesdays 9.30am-11.30am and are located at 282 Skipton Road, Harrogate, HG1 3HE with the entrance on Quarry Lane by KD Carpets. Please note, they close over the summer so please access it before the end of term.
Don’t forget, there’s also the Harrogate Clothes Bank which is open every Wednesday from 10-12pm and the second Saturday of every month from 10-12pm (next Saturdays are 8 July, 12 August & 9 September) for free, good quality, pre-loved clothes https://harrogateclothesbank.co.uk/
Universal Credit – childcare payments
Universal Credit maximum childcare payments have risen from 28 June. Parents will be able to claim back monthly on their childcare costs on UC up to £951 for one child and £1,630 for two or more children. Parents who enter work or significantly increase their work hours will also be able to get help with the upfront payment for their first childcare bill instead of having to pay the costs and then claim back https://helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/?mc_cid=bf07963fd6&mc_eid=f373e1c323
Cost of living payments
Cost of Living Payments – The first £301 for people who receive a means tested benefit was paid between 25 April and 17 May. The next payment is due in the Autumn. You can report a missed payment here www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment#find-out-how-to-report-a-missing-301-cost-of-living-payment-for-a-low-income-benefit-or-tax-credits
Disability cost of living payments -- £150 for households who receive benefits such as PIP, DLA and Attendance Allowance will have been paid between 20 June and 4 July.
Energy Bills
From 1 July the average annual energy price will drop and the advice is to do a meter reading to ensure that you are being billed correctly. If you have a smart meter, always check the bill to make sure readings are going through correctly. Reminder that there won’t be the £400 worth of government support for fuel bills this coming winter. Despite the price drop households will pay on average £137 more per year.
For help with all sorts of financial issues visit Martin Lewis’s website https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/ and more locally, you can turn to North Yorkshire Citizens Advice https://www.cany.org.uk/
If any of your school families want to find out more or don’t know where to turn for support and information, please ask them to contact us on 01765 645902 or ripon@hadca.org.uk . They can also access our ‘Where to Turn’ directory at hadca.org.uk/wheretoturn
Best wishes
Lizzie & the HELP team
Lizzie Hughes
Development Manager
HELP team
Harrogate & District Community Action (HADCA)