A film promoting the work of an initiative that directly helps homeless people back on their feet has been premiered in Harrogate town centre.
The video, starring three local people supported by Harrogate District Street Aid, was shown on a giant screen in the Victoria Shopping Centre piazza, before being played on digital screens in a number of businesses throughout the week.
This event kick-started a week of awareness raising for the scheme, which included a fun football tournament featuring players from town centre businesses, media organisations, the police and Harrogate Borough Council.
In an effort support people who have nowhere to stay and are living on the street, Harrogate District Street Aid was launched in October 2019 in a joint initiative by Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire Police, Harrogate Homeless Project, North Yorkshire Horizons and Two Ridings Community Foundation.
There are many reasons why people ask for spare change in Harrogate. Each person has their own story, and many instinctively want to give money to them because they see they need help. But giving money directly to them can often keep them on the streets for longer.
Those same people can be supported by a Street Aid grant, which can help them get off – and often stay off – the streets. For those who want to help the town’s homeless can do so either online – www.harrogatestreetaid.co.uk – via three ‘tap terminals’, or by sending a text to STREETAID followed by the amount to 70450.
In excess of £24,000 has been raised this way with funds being administered by Two Ridings Community Foundation.
To support the film, Harrogate BID produced a series of posters and leaflets which were distributed to businesses across the town, and there was plenty of social media activity before and during the week.
Last Thursday, at Rosset High School and supported by Harrogate Town AFC and Your Harrogate, six nine-a-side teams – representing hospitality, the media, retail, Harrogate Borough Council, the police, plus a Street Aid All Stars, played a series of 20-minute matches in a bid to win the inaugural Street Aid Cup.
The police team narrowly beat the Street Aid All Stars, with an after-match presentation ceremony being held at Manahatta.