Two years ago the groups involved in Ryedale Charities Together found themselves with enough funding to re-invigorate the joint Legacy Strategy they had instituted a number of years before.
In November 2009 they ran their first Will Week. Ryedale Area Committee funded the cost of publicity and the scheme was generously supported by local solicitors.
RCT aimed not only to raise funds, but also public awareness of our small, purely Ryedale charities and encourage people to think about leaving a local legacy.
During the course of the Will Week, Mrs K [‘Bunty’] Dimond, who was very keen to benefit the Ryedale community, made a will leaving £100,000 to be divided between the seven charities in the group.
Probate for this was granted at the end of 2010.
This amazingly generous gesture has made an enormous difference to the charities involved – not least, in raising morale after recent news of substantial funding cuts.
It has eased the pressure on all the charities and allowed one to obtain match funding. It has removed from Ryedale Carers Support some of the enormous stress of obtaining the funds needed to manage the 130 volunteers providing regular and much-needed support to carers throughout Ryedale. Finally, it should enable Ryecat to fill a notable gap in their current provision and purchase an adapted vehicle in order to develop a wheelchair-accessible car service for both volunteer driver and self-driven respite journeys.
At the latest RCT meeting all the members toasted [in non-alcoholic drinks!] the memory of a wonderful, public-spirited benefactor.
