Guests at last week’s annual summer tea party of the local Opening Doors Project were the first to hear the news that £300,000 of Big Lottery funding will ensure that this project, and three others run by Harrogate & Area CVS, will continue to provide help for older and vulnerable people in the Harrogate area for the next three years. The 4 projects will merge to create the new Harrogate Easier Living Project (HELP).
Key services to be offered by the new HELP project are:
In the home:
Help for full-time carers via a regular volunteer sitting service and occasional holiday cover.
Help for vulnerable adults who are struggling with gardening, garden clearance, decorating, basic repair and one-off practical tasks. Provided by a team of trained and supported volunteers.
Away from the home:
One-to-one volunteer-supported social and leisure outings for older and disabled people unable to get out and about on their own
Help with essential trips such as medical appointments.
Social events such as Christmas lunches and summer tea parties, which offer the chance to meet old and new friends and to enjoy performances from talented local young singers and musicians.
An expanded and dedicated team of staff and volunteers will be working harder than ever to help vulnerable adults and carers in the Harrogate area to enjoy healthy and active lives.
Harrogate & Area CVS are currently looking for a Project Manager for the new HELP project, who will be able to lead and manage an enthusiastic team of staff and volunteers. More details of this vacancy can be found at www.harrogatecvs.org.uk/job+vacancies
HELP will also offer ongoing opportunities for volunteers to get involved, with regular training and support and the chance to meet other volunteers at social events. To find out more about volunteering for the HELP project call 01423 509004.
The Director of Harrogate & Area CVS, Karen Weaver, commented:
‘It was a real pleasure to see the reaction to the news by our guests at the summer tea party. Many were worried that the current cutbacks could mean them losing their volunteer help but now we can reassure them and also offer even more support in the future.
“This is our second successful Big Lottery Reaching Communities application this year. Bidding for Big Lottery funds is an extremely competitive process.
“When the HACVS Talking Space Counselling Service received an award of £200,000 over 5 years in February we hardly dared to hope that a second bid would be successful, but we are thrilled that we have been able to secure £0.5million of Big Lottery funding into the Harrogate District via these two applications.
“Both bids have been developed around supporting volunteers to provide tailored health and social care services to local people and it is very rewarding to know that the Big Lottery are confident that we can achieve the challenging targets we have set for ourselves.
“We look forward to continuing to work with our local partners to develop these services and ensuring that they are sustainable beyond the Lottery funding.’
