Welcome to
Ripon Community Poppy Project
Bringing the people of Ripon together in commemoration and celebration
2025 Events
VE DAY 80th ANNIVERSARY PROMS CELEBRATION
To be held in Ripon Cathedral on 8th May 2025.
More details to follow shortly.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Monday 2nd December 2024
To celebrate the 55th anniversary of one of our wonderful supporters, Econ Engineering, our team of volunteer knitters have created a giant Christmas jumper and hat for ‘Goldie’, one of Econ’s iconic gritters.
Measuring 32ft by 28ft, the creation is one of the Ripon Community Poppy Project’s biggest yet, taking 35 volunteers a total of 4,500 hours over the last 12 months to create using 1,130 balls of wool.
Goldie will embark on a 900 mile tour of the UK visiting schools located near Econ’s regional depots ahead of winter, to explain the important role Econ’s gritters play in keeping the roads safe, with students taking part in a festive competition to design their own jumper for Goldie.
Read the full Press Release below:
Read and listen more about it the launch:
Thursday 14th November 2024
We are delighted to announce the Ripon Community Poppy Project has been awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
This award is the equivalent to an MBE – and is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK – they are awarded for life.
Over the last 6 years, Ripon Community Poppy Project volunteers have dedicated thousands of hours knitting amazing displays, installations and organising events of commemoration and celebration.
Whilst this award is for the RCPP, thanks must also go to the businesses and individuals that support us financially and with time and services.
Thank you for your ongoing support!
Read more about the announcement on Your Harrogate HERE
Here’s a collection of photos from the announcement courtesy of Andrew Dobbs Photography
Our fabulous knitted tank is back from Llandudno!
The tank was on tour in Llandudno, North Wales where it was part of Llandudno The Longest Yarn – D Day Tribute – a large exhibition of creative knitting.
It was then displayed on Ripon’s Market Square to commemorate the end of the Second World War as part of the City’s remembrance events.
The tank is now back at the Claro Barracks where 21 Engineers are kindly looking after it for us!
Read more about the Llandudno event on the BBC
About Us
In 2017, Ripon Community Poppy Project was formed with three distinct aims.
- To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1
- To help increase the footfall within Ripon
- To help bring our community closer together
We put a post on Facebook, asking for people to help knit poppies, and overnight the post went viral, bringing in over 65,000 Poppies from around the world.
Following the successful commemorations of 100 years since the end of the First World War, Ripon Community Poppy Project became involved with doing displays for the UCI Cycling World Championships. Through the years we have always commemorated remembrance, The Queens Platinum Jubilee, The Kings Coronation, Easter celebrations. We also help at The Winter Wonderland.
This year we are Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day as well as the 75th Anniversary of The Royal Engineers gaining the Freedom of the City of Ripon.
We started a regular ‘Knit and Natter’ group on Monday mornings and today it is still going strong with up to 30 people attending. Anybody interested in joining us should just come along on a Monday morning to Hazel House between 9.00 and 11.00.
Since starting, Ripon Community Poppy Project has indeed become a true community group. We regularly enjoy support from many local business owners within the community, either providing equipment or financial help to make our projects work. Many charities offer help and support with the projects we do as well as lots of individuals getting involved.
We are so grateful for everybody’s help and support without which we just couldn’t do what we do.
How it all started…
We were proud to receive an award at the Ripon Civic Society Awards 2024 on behalf of all our volunteers.
Thanks also to all our sponsors and supporters – we couldn’t do it without you.