Latest news with #Harrogate
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Harrogate yoga teacher helps young offenders find inner calm
A Yorkshire yoga instructor has received a community champion award for her voluntary efforts bringing healing and hope to young Nicholson, from Harrogate, hosts yoga sessions in prison for boys aged 15–18 who face a range of challenges, including behavioural issues and trauma. "You have to break down quite a few barriers," Ms Nicholson told BBC Radio York, but added she was gratified by the positive response, with many of the boys telling her they "found yoga peaceful, and it made them feel calm"."Emma's story is a testament to the potential of compassionate intervention," said Diana O'Reilly, chair of the British Wheel of Yoga, which put her forward for the accolade. "Teenage boys doing yoga anyway is quite unusual, but in this particular context it is perhaps even more difficult to imagine," said Ms Nicholson."A really common comment is that they [the boys] never thought they'd do yoga."Ms Nicholson was trained to teach in prisons by the Prison Phoenix Trust, which supports the spiritual and mental well-being of prisoners through the practices of meditation and yoga. Recalling a typical day, she described navigating the wings of a prison to seek out inmates available for yoga, then laying out mats for the group. She said her classes begin with an invitation to the boys to take part in whatever parts they enjoy, but with permission to stop or sit out any part they are uncomfortable with."To actually get young people on the mat you have to break down quite a few barriers and reassure them that this is actually a practice that they can engage in," she explained. According to the Prison Phoenix Trust, yoga classes improve the emotional self-regulation of young has found breathing techniques and mindful movement during yoga can reduce stress and anxiety, and move young offenders away from being hyper-vigilant in stretching may also help to address any negative body-image issues associated with past compiled by the Trust reported 82% of participants of yoga courses held in two prisons, in 2023, saw improvements in their mental found "low" mental well-being, relative to the general population, decreased from 73% to 5% among participants; "high" mental well-being increased from 0% to 27% among yoga attendees; and those experiencing "moderate" mental well-being increased from 27% to 68%. Former prisoner Sue, who lives in West Yorkshire, found prison yoga sessions gave her the mental strength to cope with her received a four-year sentence in HMP Styal, in Cheshire, after being caught dealing heroin to fund her own drug 30-years sober, Sue maintains prison time was, in fact, a blessing, marking a clean break from the chaos of her former life. She recalls how taking a blanket into the showers and sitting there in silence, focusing on her breath, helped her deal with difficult thoughts. She currently works with the Prison Phoenix Trust to train yoga teachers like Ms Nicholson."The simplicity of following your breath, of holding a yoga pose, enables total acceptance of yourself," said Sue. Ms Nicholson was presented with the community champion award at the British Wheel of Yoga's (BWY) Heart of Yoga Awards earlier this month."Emma's story is a testament to the potential of compassionate intervention - proving that with the right support, young people can find paths to self-understanding and positive change," said BWY's O'Reilly. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
The secret button on your washing machine that can slash your energy bills by £72
WASHING machines are a busy household's best friend, but they can be a drain on your wallet. Luckily, experts have revealed a handy little tip to help make your laundry cheaper. 1 You can save around £72 a year on your energy bills by flicking the spin button before popping wet clothes in the tumble dryer. Miele kitchen appliance expert Ryan Adams, director of Ati Harrogate has revealed why this handy tip can save big money. 'Placing wet clothes directly into a tumble dryer forces the appliance to work much harder. "Running a second spin cycle in the washing machine to remove excess water and untangling items before drying helps the clothes move freely in the drum, reducing strain on the dryer. 'Including a thorough spin cycle before tumble drying can help households potentially save between £29 to £72 annually.' And that's not the only tip guaranteed to save you some cash - Ryan also has strong views when it comes to mixed washing. We often chuck all sorts of clothing and bedding together, but one mixture to avoid is washing towels and bed linen. This combination can also cause damage to your washing machine drum too. Ryan said: 'Washing towels and bed linen in the same load can cause excessive strain on a washing machine. "The added water weight often exceeds the recommended load capacity, potentially damaging the drum shaft and bearings. "Additionally, these items tend to form a single heavy ball during the cycle, which can bounce around and harm the machine's internal parts.' Another tip is to always check pockets, as coins can wreak havoc on washing machines and driers. "These items can bang around inside the drum, leading to expensive repairs. A quick check of pockets before starting a load can save your machines and prevent unnecessary costs.' Finally, another thing to keep in mind when you're next working through a pile of dirty washing is to remember to empty the lint trap. Ryan said: 'Neglecting the lint trap can have serious consequences. "A clogged trap reduces airflow, forcing the dryer to work harder, which not only wastes energy but also risks overheating the appliance. 'Regularly cleaning the lint trap before each drying cycle makes it more efficient and safer, preventing fire hazards.' More ways to save on laundry bills It's not just eco settings that can slash your energy bills when doing the laundry. Make sure you only run the machine when it's fully loaded. Cutting down on a half full cycle each week adds up to significant savings over a year. Consider using colder washes more frequently. A large part of the energy consumer by a machine is to simply heat the water. When drying clothes, try to ditch the tumble drier where possible. Drying clothes outside is easy and quick in the summer. When temperatures are cooler, consider investing in a heated clothes airer which use far less energy than a drier. And put your clothes on an extra spin cycle first to wring out as much water as possible. If you do use a tumbler drier make sure all lint is removed from the filters, which can impact the efficiency of the machine and means it has to work harder and use more energy. Popping an old tennis ball in a tumble drier with your laundry can help clothes to separate out and dry faster to help you use less energy. 4 ways to keep your energy bills low Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips. 1. Turn your heating down by one degree You probably won't even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70. 2. Switch appliances and lights off It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills 3. Install a smart meter Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used. 4. Consider switching energy supplier No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you've let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven't browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Harrogate College redevelopment approved despite parking concerns
Plans for the £22m redevelopment of Harrogate College have been approved.A North Yorkshire Council planning committee unanimously voted in favour of the rebuild at a meeting on Tuesday, despite concerns about main college building will be demolished, with a new hub built on Hornbeam Park's business estate set to train students in green technology.A previous version of the plans was approved last year, but later quashed following a judicial review. The owner of Hornbeam Park Developments had appealed against the initial ruling on the grounds an environmental impact assessment had not been revised plans for the rebuild included a changed car park layout with spaces for 110 vehicles and a new drop-off and pick-up area with a one-way system, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Speaking ahead of the meeting, some claimed there was still a shortage of parking space linked to the Waddington, of Hornbeam Park Developments, said: "This isn't about opposing investment - we want Harrogate College to thrive and for students to be given the best further education experience to help them succeed - but these plans just don't add up."The scheme in its present form is simply madness and a waste of public funds."Speaking at the meeting, councillor Robert Windass said he had a "great deal of sympathy" for those concerned about parking. 'No perfect solution' He continued: "No matter where you want to build in the middle of an existing estate, whether it's housing or a building of this size, there's going to be some disruption."There always is, there always has been."Councillor Monika Slater said: "There isn't a perfect solution, but the measures the college is proposing to put in place seem really, really comprehensive and well thought out."Funding of £20m has been secured from the Department for Education for the redevelopment, with a further £2m provided by college operators the Luminate Education after the meeting, Danny Wild, Harrogate College's principal, said: "The new campus will enable increased breadth and quality within the curriculum on offer at the college, allowing us to better support local and regional skills needs."As the only general further education college in the area, I'm excited to see the benefits these new facilities will bring local young people, adults and the economy."Construction work is due to begin in the coming months, with the new buildings set to open during the 2026 academic year. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tower Works Street Fest to return to Leeds during summer months
A street food festival is set to return to Leeds this summer. The team behind the North Leeds, Harrogate, Ilkley, and Ripley Castle Food & Drink Festivals will bring the Tower Works Street Fest back to Mustard Wharf, in Leeds, this summer, following its debut last year. The market will be hosted in Verona Square, among the surrounds of Tower Works and its three Venetian towers. It will run every first weekend of the month (including the preceding Friday) during June, July, August, and September, with the first three days of activity being Friday, June 6, Saturday, June 7, and Sunday, June 8. In the words of a spokesperson, attendees can expect "a jam-packed line-up of some of the best street food and drink vendors, artisan markets, independent bars, and groovy tunes, as well as plenty of furniture to lounge on." Tower Works Street Fest production manager Michael Johnston said: "The vibe was incredible last year and we can't wait to bring back this event at the picturesque Tower Works, making it even better than the last. "With top-notch international food and drink vendors from across the north to host the festival each month, it's shaping up to be another belter." More details will be made available at
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Harrogate's Burrell pens deal and is made captain
Harrogate Town defender Warren Burrell has signed a new two-year contract with the League Two 34-year-old has made more than 350 appearances for the club in all competitions and has been named captain ahead of next takes over from Josh Falkingham who will no longer hold a playing role with the club."I'm delighted, the club means a lot to me, I've been here a long time now and I'm glad that journey is continuing," Burrell said."To be captain is a proud day for myself and my family, it means a lot to me wearing the armband and I hope I can do it justice because Falks was a great captain and a great leader."
