York chosen to lead on national safeguarding children arrangements

York has been chosen as one of only 17 areas of the country to trial new safeguarding arrangements for children and young people.

The Government has introduced a new guidance around safeguarding children this month, which sets new legal requirements for Children at risk of abuse or neglect to be protected through improved partnerships between local police, councils and health services.

York has been chosen as an ‘early adopter’ under the new guidance: an area which will work with the National Children’s Bureau to implement new local safeguarding arrangements before they are established across the rest of the country.

The 17 areas will develop new and innovative approaches to set up partnership safeguarding processes and share best practice with other areas, before they adopt new arrangements in the next 12 months.

The work of City of York Safeguarding Children Board was assessed as ‘Outstanding’ in an independent review by Ofsted in December 2016.

The focus of York’s work as an early adopter will be to fully engage schools with the new safeguarding arrangements. This will build on and extend the existing strong partnership between the city’s schools and the Safeguarding Children Board. Schools play an important role in keeping children safe and the work being undertaken will ensure that they remain central to the city’s safeguarding arrangements.

Simon Westwood, chair of City of York’s Safeguarding Children Board, said: “I’m really pleased that York has been chosen to help shape the future safeguarding children arrangements in this country. It’s testament to the hard work and dedication of all the organisations who have worked together tirelessly over a number of years to help protect children and young people across the city.”

Safeguarding Week 2018 in York

From the 25 to the 29 June, York will be promoting Safeguarding Week 2018, organised by the  Safeguarding Adults Board and Local Safeguarding Children’s Board in collaboration with a variety of local organisations. This is an opportunity to raise awareness and share in a city wide conversation about the work of safeguarding partnerships across the region and the prevention of dangers concerning vulnerable individuals in the 21st century.

This year the Safeguarding Adults Board. and City of York Council have chosen to focus awareness on financial abuse. Over the course of the week, there  will be a variety of opportunities to learn about available support and preventative measures you can take  at events across the city and via our social media channels.

Cllr Carol Runciman, Executive Member for Adult Social Care and Health said:
“It is so important for all of us to educate ourselves as to the risks of financial scams and the realities of financial abuse. Safeguarding Week is an opportunity to inform our residents of how to protect themselves and their loved ones from the devastating effects of this kind of abuse and to safeguard the most vulnerable in our communities.”

Financial abuse can show itself in a multitude of ways; from financial control within a relationship, to the targeting of vulnerable individuals from organised crime groups in the form of financial scams. It is important to stay informed and educated in order to notice when something doesn’t look quite right.

The month of June also marks Scam Awareness month, an annual opportunity to both raise public awareness and stand against crimes and predatory practices which impact the lives of millions across the country.

Visit citizensadvice.org.uk for more information and resources on preventing, spotting and reporting scams.  (more…)

Nominations open for the 2018 York apprenticeship graduation and award ceremony

City of York Council is inviting nominations for the eighth York Apprenticeship and Graduation award ceremony. The ceremony highlights outstanding apprentices and employers of apprentices in the city.

Submissions for the high profile city-wide event must be submitted by Friday 19 October. The winners will be announced at the ceremony held at the Grand Opera House on 27 November.

Led by City of York Council in partnership with The Guilds of York and training providers, the annual York Apprenticeship Graduation and Awards Ceremony has been a growing success.

Over the last year over 1400 York employees have benefited from apprenticeship training as businesses have created jobs and taken on new apprentice recruits or supported the professional development of their existing staff.

There are five categories for the awards:

  • Apprentice of the Year aged 16-24 (Smaller Employer)
  • Apprentice of the Year aged 16-24 (Larger Employer)
  • Apprentice of the Year aged 25 or over
  • Smaller Employer of the Year (<100 employees)
  • Larger Employer of the Year (>100 employees)

Last year’s apprentice winners were Sam Sugden (Electrical Engineering with Anderson Green Ltd), Joe Boothman (Business Administration in Public Health at City of York Council) and Lee Russell (Agricultural Business Management at RG Brader). Employer winners were Fera Science Ltd and The Smile Rooms. (more…)

Footpath pitches, gardens and broadband works

We understand that the damaged goal posts on the Foxwood Park will be realigned by the Council. The damaged is understood to have been caused by plant. 

Nearby we’ve asked for the goal posts on the Grange Lane Westfield park to also be realigned. There is a long outstanding request for the to be repainted. Kick about sessions at Energise and on Chesney’s Field are due to start at the end of June. They are being organised by the York City FC Foundation

A new safety surface has been provided on the area used for children’s activities at the Foxwood Community Centre

Foxwood residents are asking for volunteers to help on Saturday morning to put the final finishing touches to the, increasingly impressive, community garden on Bellhouse Way

Finally Talk Talk have given an undertaken to make good the damage caused to verges and paths during their recent excavation works (see below for programme)

 

Westfield school modernisation contract let

Westfield school

The York Council has awarded a contract to F.Parkinson to refurbish the kitchen and dining room, replace roof coverings and replace single glazed windows at Westfield primary school

The contract is valued at  £576,675.
The Council says that the decision was based on cost (60%) and quality (40%).
The tender exercise was carried out in conjunction with Commercial Procurement Consultation category. The opportunity was issued out via YorTender York Councils web portal. This scheme was approved at Cabinet Executive on 15/03/18.

What’s on in York: Acomb FunRun 2018

May _27Fun Run

Carr Infant & Junior School :

Sun 27 May :

9.00am – 12.00pm :

Free

Hosted by Carr Infants and Junior School, this is a FREE event for the people of Acomb and the surrounding areas consisting of: 2km Junior Indiviual run around the perimeter of the enclosed school fields for 4-14 year olds – we have a capacity of 100 participants for this event. A ticket will be required for each runner. All finishers of this race will receive a medal.

  • 1km Fun Run for all around the perimeter of the enclosed school fields in which parents, grandparents and any family members of all ages are encouraged to join. Parents and family members wishing to take part in the fun run for all please select a ticket per individual for this event.All finishers will receive a certificate.

The event is FREE to participate, however booking is required.

9:00am : Registration opens – sign in and collect your race day number

9:45am : Group Warm Up

10.00am : 2km Junior Individual run starts

10:30am : 1km FunRun for all starts

12noon  : Activity Village closes

There will be an Activity Village located adjacent to the finish line. This will include; Activities and Information Stalls. Complimentary bottle of water for all participants.

This event is for ages 4-14 years old and family.

For more information or to reserve a place please visit our website.