HADCA: Here To Help you know Where To Turn
Times can be hard as day-to day costs go up and personal circumstances change. There is local support available to anyone who finds themselves struggling.
The HADCA (Harrogate & District Community Action) charity team, based at Harrogate Community House, can connect people with the help they need and with local organisations who support local residents to live happy and fulfilling lives.
During the winter months the team receives more requests for information about where to go for advice and support, but anyone can find themselves needing a bit of extra help at any time of year, for many different reasons. This Spring, gas and electricity bills will increase for many households, when the Energy Price Cap rises again on 1st April.
Anyone worried about managing energy and living costs, debts, buying food, keeping warm or their wellbeing can find local information on the HADCA website at https://hadca.org.uk/CostOfLiving
The advice from Citizens Advice is to not let things build up with money, benefits, housing and employment problems. The sooner a call is made to their North Yorkshire Freephone Advice line 0808 278 7900 (9.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday), the sooner the first steps can be taken.
Taking care of our minds is really important too. Sometimes we may not feel mentally very strong, whether we call it stress, being fed up, sad, just not being ourselves, it’s OK not to be OK. There is local support to help anyone who finds themselves struggling, who is anxious or feeling isolated.
The searchable HADCA Where to Turn Directory lists hundreds of local charity services, support groups and regular community activities supporting good health and wellbeing, from youth clubs to lunch clubs and seated dancing.
If you know a colleague, neighbour, friend or family member who is worried and finds themselves struggling, please let them know about the HADCA website and that our team is Here To Help if they would like to chat through the options on 01423 813090 or help@hadca.org.uk
If you can, please consider giving to a local charity this year to ensure that if you, your colleague or neighbour needs local support in 2025, the help they need is available.
Essential Needs appreciates donations of quality furniture and household items and Harrogate Clothes Bank welcomes good quality second-hand clothes for men, women and school-age children to help change local people’s lives. Harrogate Foodbank and Resurrected Bites are grateful for food donations to reduce food poverty and food waste.
We have a vibrant voluntary sector and together we can make sure that everyone knows they are not alone.
Harrogate and District Community Action is the Chamber’s nominated Charity of the Year.
Visit www.hadca.org.uk for more information.
