Libraries launch memory bags to help those living with dementia

Residents and families affected by dementia are being offered support from their local library with the launch of a scheme aimed at unlocking memories.

Memory bags are now available to pick up from libraries across North Yorkshire, which include items, books and activities for individuals or groups to improve their quality of life.

The bags and their contents aim to promote conversations between people with memory loss as well as their family and friends. They contain a selection of books from the Reading Well dementia collection, jigsaws and sensory items such as fidget toys and scents. They also include tactile-themed items such as gardening gloves, a gym towel and bean bags and items to reminisce over such as seaside posters and sport programmes.

Library users can also take away items including hidden disability lanyards and a copy of the ‘blue book’, which contains a summary of support and activities for people living with dementia.

A booklet containing information to support making new memories, collecting old ones, and supporting people and families living with memory loss is also available.

Figures from Alzheimer's UK found that 26,233 people over the age of 65 are living with dementia in North Yorkshire and the Humber, but only 15,807 of these people have received a recorded diagnosis.

Bags can be borrowed from your local library for up to three weeks. Find your local library on our local libraries page. If a bag is not available, you can reserve it free of charge.

North Yorkshire’s largest-ever 20mph scheme gets go-ahead

Road safety campaigners have welcomed approval of the county’s largest ever 20mph scheme.

We are overseeing plans to lower speed limits from 30mph to 20mph in the south and west of Harrogate.

This decision follows a petition presented to the council in June 2023 and a public consultation held in December last year.

The first phase of the project will see speeds reduced to 20mph on 190 roads in total.

Traffic calming measures could be introduced to lower speeds on additional roads in the area under a second phase of the project, which is subject to further consultation.

The new 20mph limits are expected to be introduced over the next few months.

Welcoming the approval of the 20mph speed limits, Hazel Peacock, of the Oatlands and Pannal Ash Road Safety and Active Travel Group, said: “We wholeheartedly thank all those involved – members of the community, schools, and local politicians who supported the campaign and the North Yorkshire Council team who have worked so hard to develop the scheme.

“We look forward to seeing the benefits it brings to Harrogate.”

The new scheme comes after we announced in February that speed limits outside every school in the county are being reviewed as we take unprecedented action to improve road safety.

We are assessing more than 400 education sites across the county, including schools, nurseries, and colleges, starting with those where speed limits are the highest.

By-election to be held to elect new councillor in Scarborough

A by-election for the North Yorkshire Council division of Eastfield in Scarborough will be held on Thursday 19 June.

The seat has become vacant following the resignation of Cllr Tony Randerson.

Residents of the Eastfield division have until midnight on Tuesday 3 June to register to vote and until 5pm on Wednesday 4 June to apply for a postal vote. If someone is unable to vote in person or by post, they have until 5pm on Wednesday 11 June to apply for a proxy vote.

Voters attending the polling station for the by-election on Thursday 19 June will need to bring photographic identification to be able to vote. Anyone without an accepted form of ID should apply for a free voter authority certificate by 5pm on Wednesday 11 June.

There are many accepted forms of ID, including:

• a UK or Northern Ireland photocard full or provisional driving licence
• a UK passport or a passport issued by the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, the Isle of Man, or any of the Channel Islands
• and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or blue badge

For a full list of accepted forms of ID visit the photo ID you'll need page on government website.

Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

To register to vote, visit the register to vote page on the government website and to apply for a postal vote, visit the apply for a postal vote on the government website.

Share your views on our first local plan

The first major step towards creating a new plan to support sustainable economic growth and prosperous communities in North Yorkshire up to 2045 has got underway.

Residents and businesses are being asked to give their views on our first Local Plan, which sets out where land should be provided to accommodate new homes and jobs as well as the infrastructure to support them.

The strategy also looks at how to protect and enhance the landscape and the historic heritage of the county, address climate change and create healthy communities.

The single countywide policy will replace adopted plans for the previous district and borough council areas of Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby.

Although national planning reforms are expected, we are moving ahead now to put a robust plan in place as soon as possible. Any changes made by the government can be transferred to the new plan.

An eight-week public consultation, running until Tuesday 15 July, asks for views on key themes including housing needs, sustainable growth, transport, infrastructure, the local economy and the specific needs of towns and villages across the county.

Comments will be considered by councillors before a draft plan is formulated by the end of next year ready for further consultation.

The consultation runs until Tuesday 15 July. Take part in the consultation online.

Save on your energy bills with community buying scheme

Householders are being offered help to explore lower energy tariffs through a new round of the Big Community Switch.

Supported by us, the free community group buying scheme is designed to secure better energy deals for households.

The initiative enables access to competitive tariffs based on 100% renewable electricity. It also ensures that suppliers offer renewable electricity which supports our commitment to sustainability.

Since launching in 2012, the Big Community Switch has seen over 2.1 million people register their interest in switching energy contracts and giving them an easy, hassle-free way to switch to a competitive fixed tariff.

Suppliers compete for the opportunity to offer the lowest energy tariff, and there is no need to compare different tariffs as everyone registered receives a personal offer.

Households can register online before Friday 1 August. More information is available on the Big Community Switch page.

Life-changing support available for people with hearing loss

People in North Yorkshire living with hearing loss are being encouraged to try and restore their independence by seeking vital support from our sensory service.

We provide specialist assessments and support to blind, deaf and deafblind people living in the county including rehabilitation programmes, mobility training, care assessments, information and support groups and advice on the use of equipment and aids.

According to Office for National Statistics (ONS), one in three adults in the UK are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.

Our technical officers for sensory services, Paul Senior and Angie Beckett, assess and offer one-to-one advice, information and life-changing support about equipment for people with hearing loss, including fitting equipment such as hearing loops, smoke alarms and assistive listeners.

Paul is based at the resource centre at Harrogate Community House every Wednesday between 2pm and 4pm.

Over the years, the service has worked closely with the Harrogate Deaf Society supporting many people who struggle with visual and hearing impairments.

People can book an appointment by contacting us or a referral can come via another person, such as a GP, an audiologist or a family or friend on their behalf.

Contact information for the service can be found on the sensory loss support services page or by calling us on 0300 131 2131 and saying “Hearing Loss” when prompted or by visiting the Resource Centre, 46-50 East Parade, Harrogate.

New council chair commits to working with all elected members

Our new council chair has pledged to work alongside all councillors on the local authority to ensure benefits are realised for communities throughout the county.

Cllr George Jabbour has become the third chair of North Yorkshire Council after members voted him into the role during the authority’s annual general meeting on Wednesday 21 May.

He has succeeded Cllr Roberta Swiers, the elected member for the Cayton division who held the position for the past year, and he will hold the role for the next 12 months.

Cllr David Chance, who represents the Danby and Mulgrave division, was appointed as our vice-chair.

Cllr Jabbour said: “Having enjoyed working with colleagues from across the council over the past few years, I am committed to ensuring that all our elected members have a voice and that we work together.

“In my role as the chair of North Yorkshire Council, I will make every effort to represent our communities from the coast to the Dales so that they are at the heart of all we do.”

Cllr Jabbour was elected as a member of the former North Yorkshire County Council in May 2022. North Yorkshire Council was launched on 1 April 2023, when Cllr Jabbour continued to represent the Helmsley and Sinnington division.

Funding of £1.2 million to invest in town plans

More than £1.2 million in funding has been approved to help communities across North Yorkshire identify and shape local investment priorities.

The funding will support a three-year programme to promote sustainability and revitalise 32 towns and service centres - home to about 376,000 residents.

But while each location has its own character, they all face challenges from changing economic, technological, social and environmental trends.

The programme will focus on key themes such as town centre regeneration, travel improvements, workspace provision, restoring cultural assets and tackling health inequalities.

The grant from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority was approved by our executive on Tuesday 6 May.

North Yorkshire is England’s largest county and covers more than 3,000 square miles and includes coastal communities, a series of market towns as well as deeply rural areas including the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks.

The initiative started in May and covers Bedale, Bentham, Boroughbridge, Catterick Garrison and Colburn, Easingwold, Eastfield and Cayton, Filey, Grassington and Threshfield, Harrogate, Hawes, Helmsley, Ingleton, Kirkbymoorside, Knaresborough, Leyburn, Malton and Norton, Masham, Northallerton, Pateley Bridge, Pickering, Richmond, Ripon, Scarborough, Selby, Settle, Sherburn-in-Elmet, Skipton, South Craven, Stokesley, Tadcaster, Thirsk and Whitby.

Top names head to coast for book lovers’ weekend

A host of famous faces are heading to Scarborough to take part in the Books by the Beach festival which returns for a 12th year.

The event, which takes place over the weekend from Friday 6 June to Sunday 8 June, promises to be packed with bestselling books and thought-provoking talks.

The literary line-up features a wide range of talent, all appearing live and signing books.

Headliners include BBC presenters Jeremy Vine and Stuart Maconie, along with Gavin and Stacey favourite Larry Lamb, who will reflect on his varied career in television and theatre.

Tracy Chevalier, the author of Girl with a Pearl Earring, joins the programme to talk about historical fiction and strong female characters.

Alison Weir, one of the UK’s best-loved historians, returns with new insights into Tudor royalty.

Fans of dark suspense can hear from Kate Summerscale, known for her gripping true-crime investigations including The Suspicions of Mr Whicher.

Also speaking at the event are former Home Secretary Alan Johnson and geopolitical commentator Tim Marshall, the author of Prisoners of Geography, bringing political insight and global context to the weekend.

Talks, question and answer sessions and book signings run across three days. The full programme is available on the Books by the Beach website and tickets can be booked by visiting the YMCA Theatre website.

More quality childcare places created thanks to funding boost

Hundreds of working families across North Yorkshire are set to benefit from a major increase in government-funded childcare places, helping parents access work or adopt more flexible working patterns.

Among the providers expanding the services they offer is Rosedene Nurseries in Northallerton, which has introduced a new outdoor educational tipi thanks to a partnership with us.

The tipi creates an additional 15 places, raising capacity at the nursery to more than 70 children.

We are delivering these new places as part of a national scheme, supported by more than £1.1 million in capital grant funding from the government.

Over the course of 2025, 483 additional early years places will be made available for eligible working parents across the county.

Currently, working families with children aged nine months to three years can access 15 hours of funded childcare per week during term time.

Those with children aged over three may qualify for up to 30 hours. From September 2025, the offer will expand to 30 hours per week for eligible families with children under three.

The investment has also supported the development of wraparound childcare, such as breakfast and after school clubs, by distributing funding to schools and registered early years providers.

At Rosedene, the new tipi space has been designed to support children’s early development and wellbeing. It includes areas for reading, mindfulness, imaginative play, and forest school-inspired activities. These sessions will form a regular part of the nursery’s routine.

To qualify for the government-funded entitlement, parents must be in work and earning the equivalent of at least 16 hours per week at minimum wage or National Living Wage, while earning under £100,000 annually. This applies to each parent in a couple, and to single parents.

More information on eligibility can be found by visiting the Childcare Choices website.

Last chance to have your say on adult learning in North Yorkshire

Residents are being urged to take part in a major survey to improve the future of learning in North Yorkshire ahead of a deadline for views.

The Let’s Talk Skills engagement is aiming to help boost job opportunities and ensure training and education is accessible to communities.

By taking part in Let’s Talk Skills, you will play a vital role in shaping the learning opportunities available to adults across North Yorkshire.

Your input helps ensure that residents have access to high-quality training courses that can boost job prospects, support mental wellbeing, and provide opportunities for personal interests and hobbies.

Currently, Adult Learning North Yorkshire offer a range of courses including maths, English, digital skills, accounts, business, working with children, art and crafts, wellbeing, distance learning, cooking and more.

A total of 92% of learners do not pay for their course due to the many funding options available.

To take part in Let’s Talk Skills, visit the Let's Talk page before the 9 June deadline. To browse current learning opportunities, visit the adult learning page.

Armed Forces champion supports Royal British Legion

Our Armed Forces champion, Cllr Kevin Foster, represented us at the Royal British Legion’s annual conference. The event was held at Harrogate Convention Centre from Friday 16 until Sunday 18 May.

Formed in 1921, the Royal British Legion was created to support members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families.

The Royal British Legion is the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, with 180,000 members, 110,000 volunteers and a network of partners and charities.

Cllr Foster said: “It was a coup for North Yorkshire to be chosen to host the conference, which is the biggest Royal British Legion membership event of the year.

“We have just marked 80 years since the war in Europe came to an end, with the county holding commemoration events such as parades and street parties.

“We have fantastic Royal British Legion branches across North Yorkshire who support the Armed Forces community. I was proud to represent the council and highlight some of this work.”