MORE than one hundred people attended the Step Into Autumn Tea Party and Fundraiser Event on Saturday, September 21 at Skipton Town Hall, raising a total of £924 for Skipton Step Into Action's (SSIA) Wellbeing Hub & Café.

The event was hosted by the Rotary Club of Skipton and Craven, in collaboration with SSIA.

SSIA had received the news in August that the main funder of its Wellbeing Hub & Café had prematurely ended their contract.

The funds raised from the Skipton Town Hall event will support the Wellbeing Hub & Café in the short term, while a new long-term funding source is sought.

The Wellbeing Hub & Café offers a safe and warm space, key worker support, skill-building sessions, creative arts, a listening ear, a hot meal, and information and advice every Saturday afternoon and Wednesday evening, and has been running since 2022.

It is designed to offer a sense of community and connection that benefits guests and volunteers alike.

For some, it is their only opportunity during the week to share a hot meal with others.

It is therefore an especially useful resource for those who are isolated, lonely, or experiencing difficult times.

SSIA CEO, Charlotte McKeown, said: "This event is a wonderful opportunity for local people to connect and enjoy each other's company through singing, bingo, and a delicious afternoon tea.

"It is a real privilege to partner with The Rotary Club of Skipton Craven who share our passion for community."

Rotarian David Squire, lead organiser for the event, said: "Once again, it was a pleasure for The Rotary Club of Skipton Craven to organise and fund this event, which was run in conjunction with SSIA, and brings together over 100 otherwise lonely and vulnerable members of the Craven community for an enjoyable afternoon tea, a couple of games of bingo, entertainment, and a grand raffle."

One attendee commented: "We enjoyed the afternoon immensely and had a fantastic time.

"It was brilliant and I was amazed to see how many people there were from our community."

Thanks were extended to the volunteers who organised the tea party and fundraiser; Morrisons Community Champion, Claire Reed, for donating the flowers; and the businesses which donated prizes to the grand raffle, including Thornton Hall Country Park, Whitakers Chocolates, Coniston Hotel, Herriots Hotel, and Bettys & Taylors Group.