Harrogate and District Soroptimist were delighted to welcome the award winners of the annual Charity Shop Christmas Window Competition to their meeting at the Crown Hotel on the 7th December. The Deputy Mayor of Harrogate Borough, Cllr. Robert Windass and Club President Val Hills, presented the Award Certificates and the Soroptimist Cup to the overall winner. The judging took place in three zones. Harrogate Town; Ripon with Boroughbridge and Knaresborough with Starbeck and Bilton. This year the judges were joined by Cllr Mark Flood, the deputy Mayor of Knaresborough and Linda Birkinshaw a local artist from Ripon.
This year’s winner of the Soroptimist Cup is Shelter, Harrogate.
Zone Winners – Harrogate Town
Gold Award: Shelter, Commercial Street
Silver Award: Martin House Hospice Shop, Commercial Street
Highly Commended. Saint Michael’s Hospice Shop, Cold Bath Road, Cancer Research UK, Oxford Street and Yorkshire Cancer Research, Oxford Street
Zone Winners – Ripon and Boroughbridge
Gold Award: The Salvation Army Shop, Ripon
Silver Award: OXFAM, Ripon
Highly Commended. Blue Cross, Ripon and Saint Michael’s Hospice Shop, Ripon
Zone Winner – Knaresborough with Starbeck and Bilton
Gold Award: Joint – Saint Michaels Hospice Shop, Church Avenue and MIND, Knaresborough
Silver Award: Saint Michael’s Hospice Shop, Starbeck
Highly Commended. Saint Vincents, Knaresborough, Sue Ryder, Knaresborough
President Val said “The Charity Shops did a wonderful job this year with their Christmas window displays. We were impressed by the creativity and spirit of Christmas that the staff and volunteers are able to produce from such limited resources. Charity shops are important to the organisation they represent. The money raised is significant in enabling the charities to continue their essential work. Well done everyone.