NEWS

A Wetherby charity boss is setting a dashing example he wants others to follow, by signing up for the town’s 10k race to raise vital funds for older people. Mark Dobson says Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) desperately needs more runners to raise money for the charity to help plug a fundraising shortfall. The plea follows a year in which the charity has delivered unprecedented levels of support to older people across Wetherby and surrounding villages, but in which many supporters have had to cancel their usual fundraising activities. Mark, Chief Operating Officer at WiSE, said: “The Wetherby…

Wetherby shoppers have bagged more than £225 for a local charity at the heart of helping isolated, older people through the pandemic. Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) will benefit from the cash windfall thanks to Co-operative members, who selected the cause for support after hearing about its memory café for those living with dementia and their carers. The café, currently suspended due to Covid-19, normally offers wellbeing support to up to 20 service users in Wetherby and nearby villages. Mark Dobson, Chief Operations Officer at W-iSE, said: “They say every penny counts and this fantastic amount raised is…

A Wetherby charity’s funding boost means it can enhance the range of food it delivers as part of a massive community effort to aid those who are self-isolating or shielding this winter. Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) is adding fresh produce like milk, bread, fruit and vegetables to the parcels its army of dedicated volunteers deliver to people of all ages in Wetherby, Harewood and surrounding villages. The move follows successful bids by the charity for grant funding from local and national government and local councillors. Mark Dobson, Chief Operating Officer at WiSE said: “For months now our…

An older person from Wetherby says weekly phone calls have given her the strength to keep going during the pandemic despite being isolated and housebound. The lady, who wishes to remain anonymous, began speaking to telephone befriender Christine Hardman from Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) when lockdown first hit last spring. She says the charity’s support has given her a vital lifeline during a time of incredible isolation, anxiety and stress. She said: “I started speaking to Christine soon after the first lockdown in March last year. I now speak to her every week and it’s something I’ve…

Wetherby’s leading older persons charity is urging residents to remember they are not alone, as it springs into action to support those who are shielding, vulnerable or needing help. Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) is again stepping up its key services to support people in Wetherby and Harewood, regardless of their age, during the third pandemic lockdown. The charity, which will act as an operational hub alongside local authorities, will work with local volunteers to help deliver food and medicine, plus carry out other important tasks to help vulnerable people cut off from the outside world. WiSE’s Chief…