Facebook group launched to keep people of Bilton connected during Covid crisis

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From people offering to collect shopping for neighbours who are self-isolating to standing on their doorsteps applauding NHS staff and key workers, Harrogate has never felt more connected, even if we have to be physically apart.

And one tool which has proved vital in bringing people together has been social media - which 21-year-old Benjamin Rothery and 19-year-old Tyler Reeton, from Bilton, have taken full advantage of.

The duo has created the ‘Bilton Community Group’ on Facebook in a bid to encourage people to keep communicating with and helping one another.

Ben told the Harrogate Advertiser: “When the pandemic first started, we used to talk a lot about starting something like this.

“It was like the world had come together and there was a real sense of community that had been missing for a long time.

“My grandad used to tell me stories about Bilton in years gone by and it seemed so different, everyone knew each other.

“People are still very friendly and say hello in the street, but it’s not like it was in those stories.

“We saw a glimmer of hope with the way people were pulling together during the Covid crisis and decided it was the perfect time to start something new.”

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They started the group at the end of December and already have almost 1,700 members, with more than 450 posts since it was created.

The group has already seen old neighbours and friends reunited, and is rife with acts of kindness, stories reminiscing on past eras and discussions about how to make Bilton the best it can be.

Ben added: “This is a unique group and we hope that in the coming months we can expand further, and maybe even make something physical, rather than just on Facebook, once the pandemic is over.

“Bilton Gala used to be the highlight of the year, it was such an amazing community event and we really need more of that.

“To us, kindness is key and we just want to spread that energy to everyone else around us.”

The pair has also launched a Bilton newsletter, which is circulated to residents and offers them the latest news in the area.

Questions, curated from members of the group, are put to local councillors once a month and the answers are reported in the newsletter.

“Our purpose is to stand for a common cause and hopefully make changes to benefit residents,” Ben said.

“We keep our opinions out of it and just represent the views of people who live here.

“We just want to help people as much as we can, especially as it’s such a difficult time, so whether it’s helping people to get their voices heard or simply letting them look at snow pictures, it is all worthwhile.

“As young people we know we can’t change the world but we can make a difference in our small part of it and that is what is most important to us. We just want to make people smile.”

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To join, search ‘Bilton Community Group’ on Facebook.