York Police step up Halloween patrols

North Yorkshire Police is supporting a national campaign to raise awareness about anti-social behaviour (ASB) during the Halloween and Bonfire Night period.

Under the Association of Chief Police Officers’ “In Focus” banner, the week of action runs from Monday 28 October until Tuesday 5 November 2013.

Haloween

Police Officers, Special Constables and Police Community Support Officers will be carrying out a large number of activities, including:

•Delivering posters to shops to prevent young people buying eggs and flour and fireworks

•Delivering “No trick or treat” posters to vulnerable and elderly people to display in windows

•High visibility patrols in areas where ASB has been an issue previously

•Visiting schools to educate young people about ASB and the dangers of fireworks

•Targeting known ASB offenders so that they know we are watching them

•Identifying insecure properties and offering crime prevention advice

Social media is also being used to provide information and advice to local residents, as well as promoting the activities taking place during the week of action.

To receive the updates you can follow North Yorkshire Police on Twitter @NYorksPolice using the hashtags #ASB or #InFocus.

Specials activity in York

On Monday 4 November 2013, around 25 Special Constables in York will be carrying out targeted patrols in the city focusing on ASB and burglary hotspots.

The night before Bonfire Night has often seen an increase in the levels of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage by juveniles taking part in Mischief Night. The team of specials will carry out high-visibility patrols to prevent and detect criminal damage, as well as offering reassurance to vulnerable people.

The team will also be checking properties to make sure that they do not present an opportunity for burglars. If they find an insecure property the officers will leave crime prevention advice.

York
•Monday 4 November 2013, Special Constables on high visibility anti-social behaviour and Beat the Burglar patrols

•Engagement with repeat victims of anti-social behaviour and persistent callers from the same period in previous years in order to offer reassurance

•Distribution of “No Trick or Treat” posters to local residents who are either repeat victims of anti-social behaviour, live in a anti-social behaviour hotspot areas or are vulnerable

•Delivering “Flour and eggs – not for sale” posters to local retailers

•Leaflets to local businesses regarding the sale of fireworks and alcohol to youths

•Engagement with known anti-social behaviour offenders so they know the police are watching them

•Engagement with students at York University and St Johns College regarding noise nuisance from late night parties

•High visibility patrols in the anti-social behaviour hot spots including the mobile police office to offer reassurance

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Touch Rugby League World Cup tournament at Energise on Sunday 24 November

City of York Council is encouraging residents to enter a brand new touch rugby competition ahead of the Rugby League World Cup which starts this week.

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

City of York Council, in partnership with Energise and York City Knights, will host a Touch Rugby League World Cup tournament at Energise on Sunday 24 November, just one week before the World Cup final, and is inviting teams of six to sign up and take part.

Entries to the six-a-side competition cost just £12 and allows for a maximum of two substitutes.

Registration closes on Monday 18 November. To register, teams should contact Dean Sharp from City of York Council’s Sport and Active Leisure Team on 01904 553377 or by emailing dean.sharp@york.gov.uk.

Concern over 20% Illuminating York price hike

Liberal Democrats have raised concerns that ticket prices for this year’s Illuminating York Festival have significantly increased despite the 2012 event being branded a “disappointment”.

Illuminating York 2013

Illuminating York 2013

The Labour run City of York Council introduced charging for the – previously free – event last year. There were complaints about the £5 admission charge while Vic Reeves’ ‘Wonderland’ production received a backlash of negative comments and poor reviews.

However, the admission charges and £26,000 contribution from council funds meant the event made a £16,000 ‘profit’ which Labour promised would be “invested in next year’s event”.

Many hoped that this promise would see a return to the previous free admissions policy.

However, this year’s event, which will runs from October 30th – November 2nd, sees admission charges for the overall festival for adults increase from £5 to £6 and for under 16s from £1 to £5, with under 5’s still going free.

This means that a family of four, with two school-age children, would see their ticket costs rise by a whopping 83%.

The increase has been described as contrary to the Labour Leaders statements about the need to control the cost of living

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Unwrapping the Chocolate City – Discovering the Chocolate Makers 19th Oct 2013

This hands-on workshop takes a journey through York’s confectionery industry as it developed from a Medieval trading city to become the home of the world’s most famous chocolate bars.
Location: The Mansion House

Time: 11:00 – 13:00

Cost: £17.50 Adult, £12 Child

Learn how to make the products that made York the Chocolate City and join us for a journey through York’s confectionery industry as it developed from a Medieval trading city to become the home of the world’s most famous chocolate bars.
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Roger McGough to appear at York Literature Festival 2014

Roger McGough

Roger McGough


One of the UK’s most famous and respected poets, Roger McGough, has been confirmed as one of the headline acts at York Literature Festival 2014, supported this year by City of York Council. McGough will perform at Joseph Rowntree Theatre on Friday 28 March 2014 at 7.30pm.

McGough is well known as a champion of poetry, and is the current presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please. He was one of the Mersey Poets, alongside Brian Patten and Adrian Henri. As a member of pop group The Scaffold, he penned the lyrics for number one hit Lily The Pink in 1968. He also contributed to the script for The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine film. His work has appeared in over 50 books, and has included writing for children and autobiography. He is an honorary fellow of Liverpool John Moores University, fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and President of the Poetry Society. McGough was made an OBE in 1997 and a CBE in 2004.
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Small Changes, Big Savings – Acomb Explore money event on Monday 14th October,

People across York are being invited to boost their financial know-how in a series of events designed to help people make savings, get more out of the internet and make the banks work better for them.

A series of seven Small Changes, Big Savings sessions are being held at different venues across the city during York’s Housing Week, from 14-18 October, which is looking at ways to overcome poverty.

The ‘Small Changes, Big Savings’ events held across the city will be at:

• •Acomb Explore on Monday 14 October, 9:30-11:30am

•Bell Farm Social Hall on Tuesday 15 October, 10am-12 noon when we’ll be launching our anti loan shark charter

• •Clements Hall on 15 October 1:30-3:30pm;

• •Sanderson Court on Wednesday 16 October, 9:30-11:30am

• •Foxwood Community Centre on Thursday 17 October, 9:30-11am

• •Tang Hall on 17 October, 2-4pm

• •Burton Stone Community Centre, on Friday 18 October, 1-3pm.

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New adult education courses announced for York

A Mary Poppins view of York from the top of the Mansion House and a residence fit for an Archbishop are two of the many hidden and unusual venues waiting to be discovered by participants on the new Inspire programme of workshops, lectures and events.

The collection which includes a Masterclass in rooftop photography in the city centre and a Contemporary Floral Displays workshop at Bishopthorpe Palace, make use of some of the special places which York and its surroundings have to offer. The venues are all hand picked to inspire creativity, promote learning or better understand the subject matter of the sessions.

The Autumn / Winter Inspire listings include other new and exciting venues, such as the Yorkshire Arboretum at Castle Howard where a watercolour painting workshop will take place outdoors with the Artist in Residence. York Medical Society in Stonegate, whose rooms are set within a beautiful Grade 2 listed building dating back to about 1590, is the venue for a new Discover Mindfulness workshop and other interesting Inspire venues include the Victorian kitchens of the Mansion House, Middlethorpe Hall and the Theatre Royal.

Each workshop, lecture and event is delivered by enthusiastic and qualified coaches or instructors who are specialists in their own field. Many have experience in working with schools, universities, private businesses, charities and other local organisations to share their expertise and experience.

Booking is now open for a range of courses and more will be added throughout the season.

Anyone interested in finding out more should visit http://www.feelinginspired.co.uk/, email hello@feelinginspired.co.uk or call 01904 552806