About HIP

FORMATION OF HARROGATE INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS

It is only within the last few years that there has been a major resurgence of interest in our long-standing twinning links.

A town ‘twinning committee’ of interested volunteers was re-established in 2013 and has steadily built momentum, with increasing numbers of visits between Harrogate and its twin towns.

In 2017 Harrogate International Partnerships (“HIP”) was formed, to provide a more formal structure for developing awareness and opportunities for exchange visits with our international partners, and to provide support to twinning groups by way of advice, support and grant funding.

HIP is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. As a not-for-profit organisation, it is run by a board of Trustees who are also the company’s Directors, and the organisation has no employees. The Trustees have professional, educational, civic and/or business backgrounds and voluntary management experience. They give their time freely, and all share a passion for the promotion and development of international partnerships for Harrogate. No grants or donations, salaries or benefits are paid to Trustees, and any travel or other personal costs they incur for their own benefit are entirely self-funded by that Trustee (including the costs of any foreign travel to the twin towns).

Awards of grants of donations must support the Charity’s objectives.

BENEFITS OF TWINNING

Twinning provides the opportunity to integrate more closely with the local community and to develop lasting contacts and friendships. There are civic and historic links to be celebrated, but also opportunities for sharing ideas and insights for the future, developing new links, understanding business synergies, and enhancing the international and cultural standing of Harrogate and each of its twin towns.

TRUSTEES

Dennis Richards OBE – Chair