Concern for future of ward-funded activities

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed concern that a ‘ban’ on allocating ward funding could lead to planned summer holiday activities for young people being axed.

Cllr Stephen Fenton at the York Knights session held at York Acorn ARLFC on 30th May

In recent years, Lib Dem councillors in wards across the city have jointly commissioned York Knights Foundation and York City Football Club Foundation to deliver free activity sessions for young people, which also included the provision of drinks and snacks. These sessions are open to all. When the council budget for 2023/24 was passed in February, Lib Dem councillors protected ward funding so that schemes such as these could continue.

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe’s Lib Dem councillors have now been told by council officers that they cannot allocate some of the 2023/24 ward budget to fund activities for young people in the July / August summer holiday period. It is understood that this ‘ban’ has been imposed as the incoming Labour administration plans to propose an ‘emergency’ budget in July, meaning that ward funding is in limbo.

Dringhouses & Woodthorpe councillor Stephen Fenton has called on the new administration to commit to retain the full ward funding allocations agreed in February, so that ward schemes and projects can go ahead.

He said “The summer holiday sessions run by the Knights and York City have been very popular, and at a time when family budgets are stretched, the ability to offer free-of-charge activities is more important than ever. It would be such a shame if we had to axe the planned summer programme because of a ban on allocating the ward funding that was agreed back in February.

“At this time of year, ward councillors would ordinarily be inviting local voluntary and charitable organisations to apply for ward funding to support local projects that benefit the community. It now looks as though we won’t be able to do this, unless there is a commitment from the new administration to protect ward funding.”

FREE Easter holiday activities with York City Knights

This Easter holiday, York City Knights Foundation will again be offering free inflatable arena activity sessions for young people. The sessions are open to all children and young people aged five and upwards, with food and drink provided. There’s no need to book – just turn up.

Sessions in the west of York are listed below:

  • Monday 11 April, 1.30 to 3.30 – Woodthorpe Green
  • Thursday 14 April, 1.30 to 3.30 – York Acorn, Thanet Road
  • Thursday 21 April, 10 to 12 – York Acorn, Thanet Road

More information is available at https://yorkcityknights.com/future-knights/

FREE summer holiday York City Knights activity sessions

A packed programme of free activities for young people has been arranged by York City Knights Foundation, with the support of Westfield and Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committees.

There will be weekly sessions at Woodthorpe Green (Mondays from 12 noon to 1.30pm) and at Acomb Green (Fridays 2.30 to 4.00pm) plus extra activity sessions at both venues as well as at Chesneys Field, Westfield Primary School and the Revival estate. Register at www.yorkcityknights.com/future-knights

Details of all of the sessions are shown on the posters below.

York City Football Club kickabout sessions also get underway from 30th July, which will take place at Woodthorpe Green, Chesneys Field and the Knavesmire. Further details HERE

Half-term activities for local young people

York City Knights Foundation are running free activity sessions for local young people during half-term week.

The sessions will take place on Wednesday 2nd June:

  • 10am to 11.30am – Westfield Primary School
  • 2.00pm to 3.30pm – Woodthorpe Green

The sessions are open to boys and girls aged 5 years and over. Booking is essential with limited availability. For more information and to book go to https://yorkcityknights.com/future-knights/

Free half-term holiday fun for young people

York City Knights Foundation will be running some free outdoor activity sessions for local young people in west York over the half-term holiday. The dates and times are listed below.

Pre-booking is essential, via the Knights website at https://yorkcityknights.com/future-knights

Processes are in place to make the sessions Covid-compliant with spaces limited to meet current Government and RFL guidance, and as such booking is essential with limited availability. Once booked on, parents/ carers of participants are asked to download the Clubforce App which will help the Knights to follow Covid- 19 protocols.

What’s on – free sports activities for young people

The Dringhouses & Woodthorpe and Westfield Ward Committees are funding a number of outdoor activity sessions for young people from 27 August to 4 September.

York City Knights Foundation will be running the sessions at the following locations:

  • Thu 27 August – Revival estate
  • Fri 28 August – Acomb Green
  • Tue 1 September – Woodthorpe Green
  • Fri 4 September – Chesney Fields

There are two sessions on each date – 1.30 to 2.15 and 2.30 to 3.15. Children can book onto either session 1 or session 2 but unfortunately not onto both sessions.

Booking is essential in order to comply with track & trace requirements. To book a place, go to the York City Knights Foundation website HERE

CANCELLED – Easter holiday activities for young people

The Westfield and Dringhouses & Woodthorpe Ward Committees are funding Easter holiday activities for young people in the area.

The sessions will be run by York City Knights Foundation and York City FC Foundation – dates, times and locations are set out on the posters below.

If there are any changes to these plans, we will post an update.