Salt of the Earth: Meet Stewart Webb HELPing out in and around Ripon

In March, Harrogate and District Community Action (HADCA) was selected as the community support organisation for Harrogate and has worked alongside Ripon Community House to help provide support for Ripon as well.

One of their volunteers, Stewart Webb, has made the transition from volunteer driver to Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP) volunteer.

Anna Woollven, HELP Project Development Worker said: “Stewart has been volunteering with our service for the last two years. Up until March he was helping people get to medical appointments, make essential trips and other journeys as one of our volunteer drivers.

“To respond to local needs, we reshaped our services to offer shopping, prescription collections, errand running and telephone befriending.

“Stewart was one of the first to sign up to help in this new capacity as a ‘Here to HELP’ volunteer. He has been an absolute stalwart throughout. In the early days when people were struggling to obtain food supplies, he helped set up and coordinate food boxes.

“This service was invaluable during those uncertain early days of lockdown. One food box recipient said: “A big thank you to for organising a food parcel. We were so pleased with the contents of the box. Well done and thank you.”

“As well as assistance on a practical level, Stewart has been keeping a friendly eye on some of his regular clients and flagged up any concerns to us: For example, where he feels clients might enjoy a befriending call from us.

“We are extremely grateful to Stewart, and all our other committed volunteers, for giving their time and support to help other people at this very challenging time.”

Ceri Naylor, HELP Ripon & Rural service coordinator, said ‘There are volunteers that stand out and make a difference, that work selflessly because they care so much about the wellbeing of others – Stewart is this person.

“As a valued volunteer driver for the HELP service, Stewart has adapted and provided countless shopping trips, prescription collections and was the inspiration and coordination behind our ‘food boxes’ with over 100 delivered safely to the homes of people in need.

“Thank you Stewart, for your passion, hard work and being someone the community can count on!’

Stewart, 79, was born in Harrogate, and after a “brief excitement” in the forces where he served in the Brigadier Guards and the Scots Guards. He returned to Yorkshire some 30 years ago.

He said “I lost my wife 11 years ago and I was getting bored. I went to Age Concern and said ‘What can I do? And somebody said ‘we’d like you to come and be one of our car drivers.’.

“That was about two and a half years ago. I just enjoy getting people to where they need to get to.”

“When Covid hit, we came to a full stop. There was no handbook. No rules. We had to start from scratch.

“First I approached three supermarkets and Aldi were brilliant, as were the wholesalers, although that didn’t work so well.

“One little old lady had a turnip the size of a football and a leek the size of a palm tree. The jam came in a catering tin, so we had to review it.

“We thought about what people would want in a week’s shopping and bought that. From there we were inundated with phone calls.

“I used to stand in Aldi with a clipboard and a sheet of paper and send kids in all different directions.

“They all had ID badges and one kid was so proud he even slept in it.

“One of the care homes, Sunnyfield Lodge, decided to make a little shop. I’ve been stocking them up once or twice a week.

“It gives the 80 or so residents a focal point to meet. They can get cranberry juice and such like.

“As far as I know they’re going to continue even when there is no Covid as it’s such a good idea.

“It helps keep me occupied. I’m not 80 in my mind, I’m flying round like a scalded cat!”

The HADCA Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP) enables older and vulnerable people to stay safe and well supported at home. Services include: voluntary car driving, befriending project, practical support, information and signposting and social events.

Stewart said: “If somebody wants to do it they need to be discreet, but it can be very rewarding.

“They must have a sense of humour as it helps lower barriers. People feel awkward sometimes and struggle to accept help, having a sense of humour can help make them accept it.

“We’re often asked to observe and if we see something out of the ordinary, we flag it up to a manager.

“We’re a bit like a tree really, if we can’t help, we have branches and we know someone who can.”

Anna Woollven, HELP Project Development Worker said: “We’re inviting people to become a ‘Covid Hero’ and volunteer with us to assist others at this challenging time.

“We are particularly in need of volunteers to help with practical errands with both our Harrogate and Ripon services i.e. shopping and prescription drop offs.

“We also require more telephone befrienders for our Ripon service.”

If you would like to get involved you can sign up at www.hadca.org.uk/volunteer or by calling Harrogate: 01423 813096 or Ripon 01765 645902