Every year Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District hold their charity shop window competition. Our intrepid teams of judges brave the elements to walk the streets, and decide who has the best shop window. The shops are scored on visual impact, creatively in their use items and materials from the shop to create their display, and how it reflects the spirit of Christmas.
It is also a great opportunity to recognize the importance of the charity shops. Not only as places to raise vital funds for their charities but also to recycle donations of goods to prevent them from ending up in landfill. Many of the goods were also of excellent quality. It was noted that some of our judges were eyeing up the items used in the displays and may have visited the shops at a later date!
Award Ceremony
The awards took place on the 3rd December at The Crown Hotel in Harrogate. The Mayor of Knaresborough, Councillor Helen Westmancoat presented the certificates. This is always a super occasion to celebrate the staff and volunteers who work so hard to raise money for their charities, and it was great that there were representatives from all the winning shops present.
The District is divided into three areas:
Knaresborough with Bilton and Starbeck:
Gold: Sue Ryder
Silver: St Michael’s Hospice, Knaresborough
Harrogate Centre:
Gold: Martin House
Silver: Oxfam on Montpellier Parade
Ripon and Boroughbridge:
Gold: St Michael’s Hospice in Boroughbridge
Silver: Martin House, Ripon.
The cup for the overall winner was awarded to St Michael’s Hospice Shop, Boroughbridge.
Thank you to everyone who took part, Mayor Helen, our Sorptimist judges and most importantly the staff and volunteers at all the charity shops across Harrogate and District.