City of York Council will be providing a series of free New Year programmes to help support parents and carers after the Christmas period.

Christmas can be a fun time for families, but it can also be a time that places a great strain on relationships in families too.

The programmes are called Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities and are designed to support parents and provide them with fresh ideas on dealing with a range of children’s behaviour.

The programmes will take place in the New Year at the following locations:

• Hob Moor – at Hob Moor Children’s Centre, Green Lane, Acomb starting Tuesday 10 January, 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Haxby – at Oaken Grove Community Centre, Reid Park – starting Monday 9 January, 9.30am – 12.30pm

Over 600 parents in York have already enjoyed the programme, funded by the Department for Education (DfE), over the last five years and it is hoped that more will be able to take part before March 2012.

The ain emphasis of the programme is on:

• Enhancing relationships between parents and their children through anger management and solution building
• A range of techniques to get children to work with you, rather than against you
• Activities to help mothers and fathers understand how their own family backgrounds influence their behaviour
• Encouraging parents to access community resources

The programmes are free and run for a whole term. To find out more about this, and the range of other programmes available in York, parents can access the Parent’s Zone at www.yor-ok.org.uk

To contact the Family Information Service direct, phone: 01904 554628, text: ‘parent’ to 07624 802244 or email: fis@yor-ok.org.uk

Askham Lane road closure

Despite assuring residents that repairs to a failed sewer at the junction of Askham Lane and Cornlands Road would be completed by 29th November, nearly 10 days later the work is still going on. Diversions are in place which send traffic along Moor Lane from the A1237 and then by a circuitous route into Acomb and beyond.

But the normal “roadwork’s between” dates signs have never appeared and residents have been left in the dark about progress.

Emails to the Council produce no response.

Sewer repairs are important and this particular location has had more than its fair share of problems over the years. We understand that the sewer is located some distance down no doubt making working conditions difficult.

……..but that is no excuse for not keeping residents up to date on progress.

Westfield Primary

A phased approach to dealing with –what the Council describes as a “myriad building issues” at Westfield Primary (including roof and ceiling replacements, electrical work and asbestos removal) has been agreed in principle with the school. Initial cost reports are due this month with work to be scheduled as soon as possible thereafter. Phase two of this programme remains scheduled to take place in 2012/13.

Our Lady’s and English Martyrs Primary School

This voluntary aided scheme costing £4.7 million has been developed with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough (which is contributing £1m to the scheme). Work commenced on site at the end of July 2011, and the completion of the new school is on schedule to be completed in early December 2011, with the landscaping, external works and the demolition of the old school due to be completed by mid-April 2012.

The Council says that tghe new buildings represent significant improvements to York’s primary school provision. They enable federated schools to be brought together on single sites in high quality buildings offering exciting new learning opportunities.

Santa will be in attendance with goodies for the children. There will also be games, face painting, home made cake stall, refreshments and everything to ensure a fun day is had by all.

The event is organised by the Community Foundation and all monies raised will go to local charities.

Have a funday out and help local people to help the Community in these difficult times .
ENTRANCE FREE!!!