The Nidderdale Plus column with Debbie Grassam

In last month's column I mentioned a free Internet Safety workshop available at Nidderdale Plus in conjunction with NYCC Adult Learning and Skills Service and NYCC Libraries. I would like to begin my article with a quick reminder that this takes place on Tuesday 8 May between 11am and 1pm.
The first Friends of the Local Fund meeting was held at Rudding Park Hotel.The first Friends of the Local Fund meeting was held at Rudding Park Hotel.
The first Friends of the Local Fund meeting was held at Rudding Park Hotel.

Pop in to the office or call us on 01423 714953 to book a place. Later in the month, on Tuesday 29 May from noon to 3pm there will be another free workshop (also in partnership with NYCC Adult Learning and Skills Service) and this is on First Aid.

Again, pop in or call us if you want to put your name down for this.

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One evening recently I attended the first meeting of Friends of The Local Fund (TLF), kindly hosted at the beautiful Rudding Park Hotel.

I have mentioned this wonderful new initiative in a previous article and I did say I would give an update in due course, so here it is! In case you have not yet heard about TLF, it is a joint venture between Harrogate and Ripon CVS, Harrogate Borough Council and Two Ridings Community Foundation.

The aim of the fund is to provide grants to community groups and charities across the Harrogate District.

The focus is on supporting projects and activities which benefit local communities and residents – seeking to support unmet needs such as loneliness, mental health and carers.

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More ‘Friends’ of TLF are wanted, to encourage charitable giving, for governance support, research and development.

Friends have a vital role in making TLF an agency for good in the Harrogate District by promoting the fund and increasing the skills and networks in order to support it and make local community groups and charities aware of it. As a ‘Friend’ you will act as an ambassador for TLF. Individuals, businesses and charities can become Friends of TLF.

You can sign up online on the Friends of TLF webpage https://www.harcvs.org.uk/FriendsTLF

There will be just one funding round in 2018 and the good news is that the application process is now open! Grants of between £200 and £3,000 will be awarded and the deadline for applications is 4 June 2018, with grants being awarded late July.

Groups applying must:

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l Serve the communities based in the Harrogate District area

l Have a governing document (constitution/ rules/ memorandum/ articles of association) with a suitable dissolution clause

l Be a voluntary organisation, community group, small charity or other not for profit organisation or parish council (for non-statutory activity)

l Have a bank or building society account in the group’s name with 2 signatories (not related or living together)

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l Be able to show that you have proper accounting procedures and are financially viable

Further details and a link to a single online application form is available at: https://www.trcf.org.uk/grants-tlf-harrogate

Harrogate Borough Council are also about to launch a ‘Local Lotto’, which will support TLF and any local “good cause” within Harrogate District with a formal constitution and a bank account with two signatories will be able to sign up to soon.

I’m sure there will be lots of information available in this newspaper shortly about this exciting development!

For now though, just a date for your diary. There will be a Good Cause Sign Up event at Pateley Bridge Methodist Church on Wednesday 27 June between 5.30pm and 7pm.