For Michelle Fryar, walking into the Stockwell Community Hub in Knaresborough five years ago marked the start of a life-changing journey.

Michelle was searching for help and support. What she found was more than just a series of classes, it was a community.

“Coming to Stockwell has made me find me,” she said: “I needed help to prioritise myself. Now, I’m helping others and encourage anyone to get involved.”

Michelle started taking part in the Fit 4 Life project, circuits class, cook-and-eat-sessions and a gardening group.

Today she is a volunteer, helping to grow vegetables at the community garden and then using the produce in the cooking classes.

The 55-year-old added: “I self-referred myself to the centre because I needed help and support. I found that in abundance and I would recommend everyone to try it. I have got my confidence back and love the community spirit which is at the hub.”

Retired social worker Kath Braunton, aged 76, and her husband Peter found similar benefits. Earlier this year, her doctor referred her to a falls prevention group at Stockwell to address blood pressure and balance issues. Her husband Peter, who also had balance challenges, joined her.

Kath said the classes which they attend several times a week are “friendly, welcoming and beneficial” and she loves the fact that you can wear your own clothes, adding: “There is no need to wear Lycra.”

The couple are now sampling things they would never have tried before and seeing a massive difference in their strength and ability, stressing that gyms are accessible for all ages.

“It is important that older people take things into their own hands. If it has been transformational for us, it can be transformational for anyone,” she added.

Michelle, Kath and Peter’s stories highlight the vital role Harrogate’s three community-based leisure hubs play in promoting health and wellbeing.

The Harrogate area’s centres have now joined the new Active North Yorkshire service, bringing 12 years of award-winning services.

Last month, Brimhams Active was recognised at the UKActive awards for having led the way by delivering sessions aimed at helping people live longer and compliment existing healthcare provision. It was national winner in the equality, diversity and inclusion and the healthy communities award.

As of 1 December, four leisure and wellbeing centres in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Nidderdale, the three wellbeing hubs at Fairfax, Stockwell and Jennyfield Styan, Harrogate’s Turkish Baths, Starbeck Baths and the Little Explorers Day Nursery in Harrogate became part of Active North Yorkshire.

They joined the Selby and Tadcaster services that became part of Active North Yorkshire in September, and the services in the former Hambleton and Craven districts that were already operated in-house.

Changes for the Richmondshire Leisure Trust will come into play in spring 2025 with centres in the former Ryedale and Scarborough district and borough areas moving over by summer 2027.

Our executive member for leisure, Cllr Simon Myers, highlighted the focused approach in the Harrogate area where the service has been about reaching the people who need it most.

He said: “Active North Yorkshire is focussed on supporting everyone in the community to be active, with an increased emphasis placed on improving the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the county’s communities.”