York Carers Week Starts

York is celebrating the work of carers next week as part of national Carers Week (9-15 June).

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Carers Week is a UK-wide annual awareness campaign, which aims to improve the lives of carers and the people they care for and in York it’s a chance for unpaid carers to take a break and join in one of the many activities on offer.

On Monday 9 June at CVS (Priory Street) from 10am to 3pm carers can have a free health check, visit information stalls and hear short talks.  There will also be some live music, a free lunch and complimentary therapies.Please call York Carers Centre on 01904 715490 to book a place.

On Wednesday 11 June York Carers Centre have a stall in the reception area of York Hospital and a bus in Parliament Street where carers can call in. York Carers Forum are also holding a Carers Service at 1.20pm in York Minster, all welcome. At 5.30pm at City of York Council West Offices there is an information sharing meeting for carers who look after an adult on the autistic spectrum.

On Friday 13 June young carers are launching their new play at York St John University.

Carers will also be able to brush up their web skills thanks to a free six-part course offered by Explore York Libraries and Archives and the Tinder Foundation, in partnership with York Carers Forum.

Running from May to September, Explore Digital Care is a free six-part course for local carers.  Each carer who enrols on the course will be invited to attend six free lessons in using different aspects of the internet, including staying safe online, using email, searching the internet and using various carers resources and forums online, amongst other things.
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Huntington Stadium – concert doubts

 

Huntington Stadium

Huntington Stadium

The York Council has yet to confirm whether the Huntington Stadium can be used as a venue for a “10,000 capacity” concert on 4th July.

Ticket sales for the event – headlined by Russell Watson – are reported to be “sluggish”

Objections to the license application for the site had to be with the council by last Thursday, but no response has yet been published.

Increasing the capacity of the Stadium from just over 4000 to 10,000 will present major transport and logistical problems.

The Council has however announced that the Stadium will become a “spectator hub” for an event on 6th July.

It replaces the planned “hub” on Monk Stray which was dogged by procedural problems, and eventually had to be abandoned amidst a torrent of objections from residents.

It is unclear what the residents of Huntington will make of the likely impacts these major events will have over what would, in any event, be a busy shopping weekend in the Monks Cross area.

We said a few months ago that the Council – despite allocating a jaw dropping £1.6 million to fund the Tour de France Grand Depart event in the City – had underestimated the skills and manpower necessary to maximise the success of such an event.

 Those doubts still remain

Scarecrows set to defy rain as……………..

1300 hours train to Woodthorpe cancelled

 

Scarecrow in rain

The scarecrow contest is going ahead today at the Foxwood Country Fair (1:00p – 4:00pm).

However, because of the rain, most events are being moved indoors to the Community Centre (Bellhouse Way)

The “ride on” railway unfortunately won’t be able to operate between Foxwood and Woodthorpe (wet leaves on the line)

Volunteers are asked to arrive a few minutes early to help prepare the park if the rain passes over and allows us a fair afternoon for some outdoor events.

Although a flying display by the Owls may not be possible today, they will be attending the event and giving a static display of preening and posturing in the main hall!

Join sporting and comic celebrities and Swimfit at Energise

 

David Williams and Kerianne Payne

David Williams and Kerianne Payne

Energise is encouraging York residents to get back in the water this summer for British Gas SwimBritain 2014.

Supported by a host of big-name swimmers including fellow London 2012 medallists Ellie Simmonds, Michael Jamieson, Rebecca Adlington, Keri Anne Payne and comedian David Walliams, SwimBritain is a series of fun team relays that are taking place this September which hopes to inspire 500,000 people across Britain to swim more regularly – and get fit!

Swimmers can take the challenge in 2 ways.

SwimBritain1000 is a four-person relay where each team member swims 250m four times around a specially-designed course in a dedicated 50m pool.

SwimBritain500 is a shorter distance where team members use the same course, swimming half the distance (125m four times) and the nearest participating venue to York is Ponds Ford in Sheffield.

Rebecca Adlington, who retired from competitive swimming at the age of 23 last year as Britain’s most successful swimmer, said: “I may have retired from professional swimming but I will always love being in the water and a challenge like British Gas SwimBritain is brilliant as it’s really inclusive – not just for professional swimmers. Swimming offers everyone a full range of health and fitness benefits so the more people we can encourage to swim regularly, the better. It’s a full body workout without any stress on the joints. A gentle half hour swim can burn up to 200 calories, so I’d love to see as many people as possible joining in and giving SwimBritain a go.”

Swimfit at Energise costs £3.85 for adults with a York Card and £4.80 without. There is no need to book in advance.

Registrations are now open. For further information on venues, how to sign up your team and get training plans and tips, visit swimbritain.co.uk/challenge