More than 8,000 local children to take part in Walk to School Week 2019

More than half of York’s primary schools will take part in Walk to School Week 2019, which runs from 14 to 18 October.

The national, awareness-raising event is staged annually and aims to encourage children and their families to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school, rather than travelling by car.

Locally, in excess of 8,000 students from 28 different schools will get involved. City of York Council’s iTravel team will present the Jack Archer Award to the school with the highest proportion of its students walking, cycling or scooting throughout the week, as well as cash to spend on sports equipment, which has been donated by Age UK. The Jack Archer Award is now in its sixteenth year and Age UK has supported the competition since it was first launched as part of its intergenerational work to encourage children to be more active.

Councillor Andy D’Agorne, the council’s Executive Member for Transport, said: “It’s fantastic to see so many local schools getting involved in Walk to School Week and competing for the Jack Archer Award.

“The council is committed to promoting sustainable forms of transport and it’s important that children are encouraged to adopt these habits from a young age. In addition to the health and wellbeing benefits for the children themselves, walking, cycling or scooting benefits everyone by reducing traffic congestion and emissions, and improving air quality.

“Good luck to all the schools taking part!”

Residents of all ages can find out more about sustainable travel options by visiting www.itravelyork.info.

Acomb small business event

A special event aimed at supporting small businesses outside the city walls is being hosted by City of York Council and the Federation of Small Businesses this month.

The event takes place on Monday 14 October between 5.30pm and 7.35pm at Acomb Gateway Church, Front Street, Acomb, YO24 3BZ.

During the event, Tony Webster will be talking about how his fish and chips shop in Bilbrough has become a must-visit destination for Chinese tourists.

Sally Parker of Pick and Mix Marketing will be presenting a piece on how to make businesses stand out on social media.

The council’s skills team will also be on hand to share how apprenticeships can benefit small businesses.

Carolyn Frank, from the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “York is packed full of small businesses and I welcome the council’s work to further engage with the business community via events like this.

“I hope that businesses will grasp the opportunity to come along and help shape local policy, to network at the event with other business owners, and to explore how we can all work together to make York a better place to do business. No business is too small to have a voice and collectively the small business community across York and its hinterland is vital to its economic development as a world leading city.” 

Cllr Andrew Waller, Executive Member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: “We really want to support local businesses across York and help them grow and prosper. These workshops are a great opportunity for independent businesses to share their experiences, and talk through how we can better support them, and where appropriate to use this evidence to lobby for changes to help the high street to thrive.”

For information on how to register, click here

What’s on in York: Sarah Maine – Women of the Dunes

Fulford Library

October 10th @ 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm

 £5

Women of the Dunes was Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month in March 2019.
Join author Sarah Maine as she talks about her award-winning novels and their rugged atmospheric Scottish settings.

Sarah Maine was born in England but grew up partly in Canada, returning to the UK for university where she studied archaeology. She now works as a freelance researcher, lecturer and writer, combining an interest in the past with a love of travel and an outdoor life. She is the author of three historical novels set in Scotland, The House Between Tides, Beyond the Wild River and Women of the Dunes.

Tickets