Skipton BID has created a digital campaign to support local business and service offerings available to the local community during the corona virus isolation.
As travel restrictions, shop closures and social distancing measures are imposed, Skipton BID has launched a digital campaign called #AtHomeInSkipton to support online trade awareness of local products and services that residents can access and purchase while isolating in their homes.
The #AtHomeInSkipton campaign has been designed to drive awareness in proactive and collaborative ways for people to care for themselves, their community and continue to support the businesses they trust. The local business community is invited to get involved with the new campaign by using hashtags in their own digital content, whether it’s a social media post or a YouTube video. In doing so, it becomes referenced under the relevant seven areas that Skipton BID has identified to continue supporting various sectors operating in Skipton.
Geraldine Thompson, Skipton BID Manager explains, “We have such a solid resource of expert advice, business services and wonderful retail diversity in Skipton and now more than ever is it important to support and draw on that offering. Business and health experts are seeking to reach out to residents and business owners to help them stay well and offer guidance through these uncertain times. And residents need that support too for their new daily lives, no matter how short or long term this period of isolation may be.”
With this new campaign during COVID-19, Skipton BID aims to support the community’s commercial resilience, as well as promote residents’ physical and mental well-being.

The seven areas Skipton BID has identified aim to create a digital reference guide for the local business and residential community to easily find appropriate products and services through this new lifestyle journey:
• Nourish: recipes, interviews and how-to video tutorials focusing on foods with key nutrients and easy strategies to support the immune system, reduce stress and improve wellbeing along with the hidden power of certain everyday store-cupboard ingredients. (restaurants, grocery suppliers, hotels, market stall holders)
• Live: the importance of establishing a happy home with household tips, maintenance advice, pet advice, gifts throughout the year, learning about interiors to improve social spaces in small homes, promote healthy sleep patterns, establishing new routines and rituals for living happily together.
(hardware and retail shops, market stall holders)
• Move: from at-home workouts to live meditation sessions or yoga poses and tips for boosting energy, or releasing pent-up energy when working and staying at home.
(fitness,and sport centres, health shops)
• Sustainable: adapted activities inspired by the nature and sustainable resources, gardening, with tips to try at home as we embrace this period of social distancing and endeavour to live more sustainably, making the most of whatever nature is around or available.
(nature, eco-shops, gardeners, architects)
• Connect: staying connected to reduce anxiety and loneliness when practicing social distancing and how to check in with others and remain community-focused, especially when it comes to those more vulnerable.
(counselling, charity workers and social support groups)
• Mindfulness: helping people shift energies and priorities from worrying about what can’t be controlled to focusing on the present moment, whether that is setting up a home working environment, tips on staying grounded or how to managing your finances.
(lifestyle coaching, financial advisors, wellbeing service providers)
• Social: creating a virtual bubble for Skipton, hosting real time events to allow and encourage the formation and interaction of online social groups such as teams, clubs, groups and neighbourhoods that would normally meet in real-world social places.
(pubs, cafes, tourist attractions and social or hobby clubs)

Skipton BID acknowledges that happiness is core to the residents and business providers of Skipton, with national recognition having been granted to the town over recent years. As we adapt to living in times of COVID-19, health becomes increasingly important. This relates to personal health, business health and environmental health.
Geraldine adds “I commend the many businesses that have been able to adapt and diversify their offering so quickly to cater for the public under the very challenging new social distancing measures. Everyone is keen to continue and support new daily needs and routines in all manner of ways possible for businesses and livelihoods to survive. We all need to boost our immune system, support local business and maintain a positive mindset. Collectively we can make a success of being #AtHomeInSkipton.”
For more information visit their website here.