ONCE again, members of the Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation carried out the extreme litter pick around the waterfalls walk in Ingleton. Ten volunteers spent several hours abseiling down the gorge and collected eight black bags of rubbish. Their haul included discarded cups, bottles, drinks cans and food wrappers. "It never ceases to amaze us that people come to see the beauty, then throw their rubbish away," said CRO member Andy Ive. The day was partly interrupted by a call to a rescue at Malham, but the team still raised some money with generous donations from walkers and the owners of Waterfalls Walk.

A YOUTH homeless charity is hoping it has found the recipe for success. SASH is trying to sign up independent Craven restaurants for its Eat, Drink, Give campaign. It was trialled in York in the run-up to Christmas and saw diners at participating restaurant being offered the chance to add a £1 voluntary donation to their bill to go towards the charity’s work across North Yorkshire. Twelve restaurants took part and, over six weeks, £10,000 was raised for SASH's work to prevent youth homelessness by offering emergency short-term and planned longer-term accommodation placements in the homes of volunteer hosts. Now the charity is hoping to expand its fundraiser to popular independent restaurants outside York. Any businesses interested in taking part should contact project co-ordinator Gary Hogg on 01904 652043 or 07419 372927.

THE Yorkshire Dales Sailing Club will be pushing the boat out on Saturday. It is taking part in the Royal Yachting Association Push the Boat Out initiative which aims to introduce the delights of sailing to more people. The club will hold an open day at its base at Grimwith Reservoir, near Hebden, between 10am and 6pm. It is a fantastic opportunity for people to experience sailing and windsurfing at little or no cost, with all equipment provided. There will be a range of ‘have a go’ and taster sessions. More than 65,000 people have discovered the sports of sailing and windsurfing through Push the Boat Out since its launch in 2011 and, last year, over 28,000 people attended Push the Boat Out events across the UK. All you need for the open day is a change of clothes, soft-soled shoes and a towel. For more information, email  e.caswell96@btinternet.com or call 07599 405771.

HAVE you ever thought of becoming a Samaritan? People consider volunteering for the Samaritans for lots of different reasons - and, if you’re thinking of joining the 100 or so people who man the phones and support the Samaritans of Pendle, Burnley, Craven and Rossendale, there’s a chance to find out more. The charity will run an informal information session at its base in Market Square, Nelson, on Saturday from 10am to 11.15am. Just turn up on the day and you'll receive a warm welcome. “Becoming a Samaritan volunteer is very rewarding, whether you’re answering the telephones and replying to emails from those in need of support or helping with the day-to-day running of the branch,” said Ian Hartley, director of the Samaritans of Pendle, Burnley, Craven and Rossendale.

IT seems that journalists covering the recent Tour de Yorkshire were given a particularly warm welcome. Yorkshire Provender - recently named a finalist in the The Grocer Gold Awards - provided copious amounts of Tomato and Red Pepper Soup with Wensleydale Cheese at the three media centres in Settle, Doncaster and Scarborough. A spokesman for the company said it had decided to take part because the race was set against the unique and beautiful backdrop of Yorkshire from which it sourced local ingredients for its many of delicious soup recipes. And Sir Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “I am sure the journalists who came from far and wide to cover the race were extremely impressed with the spread laid on for them."

IT is 500 years since the postal service was formalised - and Craven Herald readers are being asked to help mark the occasion. Throughout its history, the postal service has given people the chance to share accounts of momentous political events, or of tiny, intimate, but life-changing family events. Now historian Lucy Worsley has joined forces with the Royal Mail to hunt out long-forgotten letters that might help to re-tell history through the words of the people who lived it. "I’m champing at the bit to start piecing together a hidden social history of our country," says Lucy. "If you find something brilliant in your own family letters, you can upload it either through royalmailgroup.com/lettersofourlives or by sending a photocopy to Freepost RTSA-BEGA-AAZB, Letters of our lives, Riverside House - Riverside Estate, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Medway City Estate, Rochester, ME2 4FN."

LIFE'S a beach for Acorn Stairlifts worker Martin Ridsdale. While Britain shivered in an unseasonal wintry blast, he was promoting the Steeton company's products in Hawaii. He toured the islands with a sprinter van and FastTrack system, a mobile warehouse carrying pieces with which an installer can build a bespoke curved stairlift rail onsite. Acorn company secretary Dave Belmont said: "We have FastTrack vans in use by our subsidiaries all over the world, but Hawaii is the most remote place so far. It just shows how our unique FastTrack system allows us to go to places other firms cannot reach!" Multi award-winning Acorn is one of the biggest stairlift suppliers in the world, exporting to over 80 countries – including the USA, where it is the market leader.

ARE you brave? Yes. Scared of heights? No. Well, St Oswald's Church at Arncliffe has the chance of a lifetime for you. On Saturday, September 24, it is holding a sponsored tower abseil to raise money for re-pointing work. Quite a few brave souls have already said they will take part and further volunteers should contact Tony on 01756 770124 or Patsy on 01756 770269.