Rejoicing in Ripon: Companies rally to support Ripon community initiatives

It’s the big night of the year for members of Ripon City Netball Club on March 27, when trophies — including the Sylvia Grice MBE Award for Integrity 🏆 — in memory of the late and much‑loved mum of club founder Helen Mackenzie, will be presented at the Claro Lounge.

Integrity and inclusivity 💫 are among the foundation stones upon which the club has been built since its launch in 2014, providing girls and women of all ages and abilities with the opportunity to take part in the sport and enjoy the inter‑generational social interaction it brings 👭.

Community champion Helen — whose work on the netball court and in running the Back to Basics initiative 🍲 earned her a British Citizens Award in 2021 — is always quick to thank the supporters and donors who help financially and in kind, including Ripon BID members 🙌.

Morrisons’ community champion Angela goes the extra mile 🌼

She said:
“We are fortunate to live in such a community‑minded city where people genuinely care about each other — a prime example being Angela Stennett, the Morrisons Supermarket Community Champion for Ripon, who has gone out of her way to support Back to Basics.

“In addition to providing food items that can be used to make nutritious and delicious meals 🥘, she has donated things such as Easter eggs for the children 🐣 and toiletries for their families.
“Angela even gave slow cookers to the families that I help 🍲 and she goes the extra mile because she believes in the good that it does for those who are struggling to make ends meet.”

While Morrisons and other food businesses in Ripon have assisted Back to Basics, the same generosity has also supported the netball club Helen has nurtured over the past 11 years 🏐💛.

She added:
“TMR Foods gave us a gazebo in club colours 🎪 that match the smart new dresses bought with funding from our sponsors, and I would like, on behalf of our 75 members, to say a massive thank you to K.A Anderson, BJ Bain, The Claro Lounge, Core Fitness, Cowen and Morgan, Hays Travel and the Rotary Club of Ripon Rowels for everything they have done for us.” 🌟

Ella, whose family is helped by Helen’s Back To Basics initiative, is pictured lending a helping hand in the kitchen. Photo Helen Mackenzie

Some of the 75 members of Ripon City Netball Club in their smart new dresses. Photo Ripon City Netball Club.