The Minstermen Are Back Again For Summer Fun!

Once again, York City FC Foundation is providing free fun-filled football sessions for those aged between 4 and 14 funded by the ward committee. With training from York City’s top coaches for up to 1 hour sessions, your child will be ready to play in the National League in no time! You can book a slot at one of these sessions in advance to secure your place or simply turn up to join in with the fun! Check below to see the closest York City sessions near you with a range of different times and dates:

Woodthorpe Green Fun Fridays:

  • 4-5 and 6-7 year olds: 4th, 11th, 18th August from 10am-10:45am
  • 8-10 and 11-14 year olds: 4th, 11th, 18th August from 11am-12pm

Chesney Fields Manic Mondays:

  • 4-5 and 6-7 year olds: 31st July, 7th, 14th, 21st August from 2pm-2:45pm
  • 8-10 and 11-14 year olds: 31st July, 7th, 14th, 21st August from 3pm-4pm

Don’t worry if you can’t find a session you can attend here as there are many more across York which you can view at this link.

FREE summer kickabout sessions for local young people

Over the summer holidays York City FC Foundation is running a series of free kickabout sessions for young people in west York from 4 to 13 years of age.

The sessions, which are funded by the ward committees of Westfield, Dringhouses & Woodthorpe and Micklegate wards, will be held on Chesneys Field, Woodthorpe Green and the Knavesmire.

Details of the dates and times of the sessions – and links to the websites to use to book a place – are set out below.

Click HERE to book a place at Woodthorpe Green

Click HERE to book a place at Chesneys Field

Click HERE to book a place at the Knavesmire

York City kickabout sessions for Woodthorpe & Foxwood

The Westfield and Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committees are once again funding free summer holiday activity sessions for local young people.

York City FC Foundation will be running kickabout sessions at Woodthorpe Green and Chesney Fields on Thursdays from 23 July to 3 September from 10am to 12.45pm. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, pre-booking is required so that social distancing can be maintained. Places can be booked online HERE

Woodthorpe Green dates:

– 23 July

– 6 August

– 20 August

– 3 September

Chesney Fields dates:

– 30 July

– 13 August

– 27 August

Sports pitch consultation event on 24 January

Residents are being invited to have their say on plans to build eight new sports pitches on fields near Askham Bar.

The drop-in consultation event, which will take place between 4pm and 7pm at Askham Bar Park & Ride on Wednesday 24 January, will offer the chance for people to feedback on plans to build three 11-a-side pitches, two 9-a-side pitches and three 7-a-side pitches with relevant on-site facilities.

The event comes after the council’s executive in November agreed that officers should continue to work on plans for sports facilities on the land near the Ashfield estate.

Sensibly the Council has now stopped trying to link the new provision with the loss of football pitches at Lowfields 

This will help to provide much needed community sports facilities to the south and west area of York.

The council’s public heath team are also working with Bishopthorpe White Rose FC to prepare a club development plan that will help them thrive in the future and access grant funding.

The cost of these works will be funded from the Football Foundation, Bishopthorpe White Rose football club, local sponsorship and small grants, with the remainder from the capital programme agreed by City of York Council.

Cllr Ann Reid, interim executive member for leisure, culture and tourism said: “The playing fields at the Ashfield estate will allow residents to have access to great facilities to improve their health and wellbeing and we are really happy to be supporting Bishopthorpe White Rose Football Club who are growing significantly.

“As a council we want our residents to be active across the city and to help them improve their wellbeing, which is why facilities such as these are so important. We want to hear the views of the local community and all are invited to attend.”

Josh Wong, Club Secretary, Bishopthorpe White Rose JFC said: “The club has grown significantly and we struggle to accommodate training and matches for the 400 boys and girls who enjoy football with us.  We need to use five separate fields, some of which do not have basic facilities such as toilets and changing rooms. The new development will provide a home for our club, an indoor space for the community and enable all our players and other clubs in York and beyond to enjoy football on good quality pitches.”

Those unable to attend the event can email their views to AskhamBarEngagement@york.gov.uk or pop in to an exhibit at Bishopthorpe Explore library learning centre from 17 to 24 January.

Council news update

York City seek mature players?

walking-football-engage-day-2015

Aged 70, I’m at last playing football”- and you can too!

Following a successful pilot scheme between the council and York City Football Club Foundation a new opportunity is available to anyone aged over 50 who would like to step up to walking football.

Walking football is a popular, slower-paced version of the game where running is treated as a foul. This ruling makes it suitable for older people who would like to return to sport or take up a new challenge.

More

Have your say on the council’s key priorities for the next four-years

Whether it’s focussing resources on providing more housing, good quality jobs or ensuring that there is a focus on delivering key frontline services, the council feels it’s important that everyone has the opportunity to contribute towards these priorities and feedback their views.

York residents and businesses have until Wednesday 26 August to feedback on the draft proposals, which are based on the new administration’s priorities and the council’s statutory responsibilities.

The plan is built around three key priorities, including:

  • A prosperous city for all – where local businesses can thrive and residents have good quality jobs, housing and opportunities
  • A focus on frontline services – to ensure all residents, particularly the least advantaged, can access reliable services and community facilities
  • A council that listens to residents -to ensure it delivers the services you want and works in partnership with local communities.

Feedback can be made via a number of ways below, which will be bought back to an Executive meeting in September for final approval:

  • Online: www.york.gov.uk/councilplan
  • In person: drop by and see officers at West Offices on Wednesday 12 or Thursday 14 August
  • Drop-off points:  at libraries or Explore Centres until 26 August.
  • Social media: ‘tag us’ @CityofYork on Twitter or @CityofYorkCouncil on Facbeook using #councilplan
  • By post: send feedback to FREEPOST RTEG-TYYU-KLTZ, Business Intelligence Team, City of York Council, West Offices, York YO1 6GA.

Number of York jobseekers falls again

National statistics released today have revealed the number of residents claiming Job Seekers Allowance in York has fallen for the fourth consecutive month.

The number of claimants in York has fallen by 49.8 percent in the last year. There are now 791 claimants in York, a fall of 98 from last month and of 1,577 from June 2014. Today’s figures also showed a 58.2 per cent fall in the Youth unemployment count since June 2014.

The claimant count represents 0.6 per cent of the working population and contrasts to the regional average which stands at 2.4 per cent. The figures are also much lower than the national average which stands at 1.7 per cent.

Councillor Keith Aspden, Deputy Leader of City of York Council said: “It is pleasing to see that partnership working across the city is helping to keep unemployment low and defy the national trend which has seen the number of jobseekers increase in the last quarter. The new Executive is committed to building on this and as part of our Emergency Budget we are boosting support for small local businesses. I am also working with officers to increase the number of apprenticeships in the council and across York.

Adult learners offered more than ever before

York Learning is offering its widest range of adult learning opportunities ever with its new Learning 4 Everyone programme which is being rolled out across the city.

On offer for the first time too is the widest ever selection of courses from learning partners across the city, such as the University of York and York College. The WEA which features in the brochure has reported an enormous amount of interest following their inclusion in the brochure.

The new programme can be picked up from libraries across the city and holds information on over 300 courses taking place over the coming months.

More

Vote proposed for Business Improvement District

Plans for a ballot to take place in November to allow city centre businesses to decide on a proposed Business Improvement District (BID) will be put to the cross-party Economic Development and Transport Policy and Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday 22 July.

Then, on Thursday 30 July, Executive will consider the report which recommends approval of the continuing development of a Business Development District as well as approve a ballot in November 2015 when city centre businesses will be asked to vote on whether they would like to form a BID.

The initiative, led by City Team York, a group of local businesses chaired by Adam Sinclair, would see businesses predominantly within the inner ring road come together to form a BID company to decide how they pool resources to benefit the local economy.

More

Public Health report on Dementia Published

City of York Council has published the latest monthly chapter of its Director of Public Health annual report for 2015 which focuses on dementia.

The council’s Director of Public Health is legally required to produce an annual report on the health of the local population.

More

Low awareness of ‘non-lump’ breast cancer symptoms puts over 70s’ health at risk in York

City of York Council is supporting Public Health England’s ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign launched today which is aimed at women aged 70 and over.

  • just under a half of women aged 70 and over were able to name a symptom aside from a lump
    • latest annual figures show 15 women aged 70 and over died from breast cancer in York in 2013

More

Get fit playing football in York

 Residents are being invited to net the chance to take part in a new football course to get them ‘Footy Fit’.

Footy fit

The new course, run by City of York Council in partnership with the York City Football Club Foundation, kicks off at Burnholme Community Sports Hub, starting on 3 June at 6.30pm and will run every Wednesday for ten consecutive weeks.

The aim of ‘Footy Fit’, which is open to all adults who want to reach their fitness goals, is to gradually improve fitness using football drills and regular games.

This fun and friendly class is ideal for all abilities and a great way to get back on the ball. All ages and levels of fitness are welcome and all attendees need to do is dust off their boots and put on some shin pads.

Equipment will be provided and the course will be led by a York City Foundation Football coach who is also qualified in building strength and conditioning.

The course costs just £30 for ten weeks and sessions will last one hour. To book a place please contact Dean Sharp on 01904 553377 or e-mail dean.sharp@york.gov.uk. Places are limited for the course and booking is essential.

Football & Rugby stadium in York to have 7000 capacity?

The Councils Cabinet is to consider an update on the much delayed Community Stadium at its meeting on 7th January.

The Council is seeking an operator who will design, build, operate and maintain the stadium. They will also manage and maintain the Councils other Leisure facilities such as the successful Energise sports centre on Cornlands Road.

Given the Council somewhat varied track record on Leisure centre management (the Barbican was costing taxpayers £800,000 a year until it was privatised), the Council is probably correct to seek a professional organisation to manage the Stadium.

Athletics layout - Heslington West click for original

Athletics layout – Heslington West click for original

Discussions with 2 preferred bidders are expected to continue until March. Their plans will be kept secret until later in the year.

The Council says that “All submissions were able to meet the basic minimum criteria set of 6,000 capacity all-seat stadium, community hub within the financial parameters of the project”

However designing the stadium so that it can be expanded in capacity later is described as having “major cost implications” and it seems that the initial capacity may be increased to over 6000 with “some terraced standing space”.

That is likely to please many football supporters but it would be at the expense of later expansion capability.

It seem likely now that a stadium with a capacity of 7000 will be provided but with the capability of expansion to 10,000 only if Championship (or Super League) promotion is achieved.

The report confirms that the costs of running the stadium will be covered “through a mix of the rentals from the sports clubs, the community hub tenants and other commercial income streams brought forward by each bidder. This will include full maintenance and lifecycle costs as part of a 13 year operational contract”.

The Council are now talking about opening the stadium in spring 2016.

Final Tenders

May 2014

Planning & Project Agreement Live

January 2015

Work starts on site

February 2015

Stadium Opens

February / March 2016

The £2 million athletics facility at Heslington West is expected to be opened in September 2014. A copy of the design specification for the athletics facility can be viewed here.

The Cabinet report includes a list of the risk factors that must be addressed. Not least amongst these is the need to meet the requirements of the Football Foundation who loaned York City £2 million in 2005.