Feeling Inspired?

Inspire is a unique programme of workshops, lectures and events in York for 2012, offering exclusive access to some of the city's most famous spaces with tuition provided by experts in their fields, from artists to photographers, bakers and historians.

Your free time is precious, so we think you should spend it having fun. Whether you fancy wine tasting in a spectacular venue, photographing a beautiful sunset or creating beautiful
handmade crafts for your home, our Inspire Living workshops will spark your imagination.

You’ll also find author events, drop in sessions at exhibitions, and lectures that delve into the history of York’s mysteries.


Find out more by visiting www.feelinginspired.co.uk

Tee off in 2012

Adult beginners and improvers golf lessons at Heworth Golf Club

If you’ve ever fancied having a go at golf but don’t know where to get started these five coaching lessons for beginners are ideal for you.

There are also lessons available for improvers who want to develop their game.
Heworth Golf club are offering five coaching lessons for £20 for beginners and improvers.  You’ll be given expert tuition in groups of 8 from the club professional.  All your equipment will be provided for you as part of the 5 week course.

Dates:  Sat 11,18 and 25 Feb and 3 and 10 Mar 2012
Times: 9am to 10am Improvers, 10.30am to 11.30am Improvers and 12noon to1pm Beginners For further information or to book a place contact Will Saville or Robin Lavin, City of York Council.  Will.saville@york.gov.uk or robin.lavin@york.gov.uk  01904 553377

Poles at the ready!

Nordic Walking is an enhancement of ordinary walking – it makes something we can all do…. twice as effective!
Nordic Walking uses poles to in order to add two major benefits to walking

·   The use of poles means the upper body muscles are used as well as the legs

·   The poles help to propel the walker along – this means he/she works harder than usual yet the support given by the poles makes it feel easier!

Nordic walking is suitable for most fitness levels and abilities. Suitable from 18 yrs and upwards.

Course 1: 29 Feb to 21 Mar, 10am to 11am at Rowntree Park

Course 2: 10 and 17 Mar (intensive course) 10am to 12.30pm at Rawcliffe County Park

Cost: £20

To register your interest and reserve a place contact Fiona Barker on 01904 553377 or e-mail fiona.barker@york.gov.uk

 

Derwent river ramble

Tues 7 Feb, 10.30am to 2.30pm approx, meet at The Swordsman Inn, The Square, Stamford Bridge.

This circular walk starts in Stamford Bridge where England beat Norway in 1066 and traces the route of the Derwent, treacherously diverted by ice 20,000 years ago.

Your walk leader Derek will no doubt share local history and wildlife information along the route. A lunch stop will be had at half way before returning back along the river Derwent.

No booking required simply turn up at the start time and venue - cost: FREE
For further information contact Fiona Barker on 01904 553377 or e-mail Fiona.barker@york.gov.uk.

For the full timetable of health walks visit www.york.gov.uk. All ages and abilities welcome, under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Stories for all

York Festival of Storytelling celebrates the real, spoken and performed tradition of storytelling for young and old with some of the best storytellers from all over Yorkshire.  With events for tiny tots, senior citizens, signed events for the deaf, viking tales, a ghost/history tour, puppet shows, Celtic tales and so much more, there is something for everyone in the community. 

Events take place Fri 3 and Sat 4 Feb at The Friend's Meeting House, Friargate. 

For times and price details and to book tickets, please go to www.yorkstoryteller.co.uk to the festival page.

Let's get Eng-AGE'd

Eng-AGE is the City of York Council’s Physical Activity and Sport Programme for the Over 50s offering community sessions across York. These classes and activities are fun, sociable, great value for money and take place across the city every week.

This day will showcase all that Eng-AGE has to offer under one roof, with activities ranging from Tai Chi to Badminton, Zumba Gold to Pilates and more. Eng-AGE offers you a great opportunity to keep active whilst socialising and making new friends.

Come along to Energise, Cornlands Road and find the new activity for you that helps you keep fit and healthy throughout 2012!

Cost: Full day £5 (9.30am to 4pm) or half day (morning or afternoon) £3

For further information or to register your interest please contact Catriona Sudlow on 01904 553377 or by email at catriona.sudlow@york.gov.uk. Promotional leaflets are also available at local leisure facilities and libraries.

Beware of dragons

Join us for tales of dragons, and then try your hand at making your own dragon mask.

These sessions are for 5 to 8 year olds.  A parent or carer must stay with children at the event to help with the craft.

Both sessions take place on Thur 16 Feb 2012

For the session at Explore York: tickets available from Explore York Library Learning Centre, 10am to 11.30am Tel. 01904 552828 email exploreyork@york.gov.uk.

For the session at Tang Hall Library 2pm to 3.30pm: tickets are available from Tang Hall Library Tel. 01904 552655 email tanghall.library@york.gov.uk.

Cost: £2 per child - Places are limited so prior booking is advisable.

Move your mental health

A weekly Wellbeing Circuits based exercise class for people with a mental illness who want to improve their mood and mental health through exercise.

Starts Thur 2 Feb to Thur 5 April 12noon to 1pm at York St John University Sports Hall and costs £3 per session.

For more information contact Katie Ellis katie.ellis@york.gov.uk, 01904 553377

No need to book, just turn up!

Go organic

Learn how to grow your own fruit and vegetables using organic, environmentally friendly techniques and enjoy fresh produce from your plot or garden all year round.

The course is every Thursday and starts Thur 23 Feb for 6 weeks at Joseph Rowntree School, New Earswick.

Cost: £60 (concessions available)

For further information and to book a place please visit our website at www.yortime.org.uk or ring our helpline on 01904 552806.  Alternatively, you can visit our booking office at York Explore Library on Mondays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm and Wednesdays between 12 and 6pm.

Finale of fire

This is a finale event not to be missed! See the magnificent torchlit Viking procession! Behold the final battle between clashing Viking war bands and the spectacular long ship burning when it receives the body of a fallen warrior! Marvel at manifestations of Norse mythology engulfed in flames and wonder at fire juggling and the amazing firework display!

Sat 18 Feb, doors open 5pm, battle commences 6pm ending at 8pm

Adults: £10, £7.50 concessions, £30 family of 4, £35 family of 5 - pre-booking essential: 01904 645505 or book on line at www.jorvikbookings.com

Tricks and tracks

Come along to this FREE workshop and find out how animals avoid getting eaten either through camouflage or scaring off predators and have a go at searching for animal tracks in the park.

Venue: Hull Road Park, Thur 16 Feb 10.30am to 12noon

Open to all ages.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Please book your place by contacting Rachel Bell on 07584 205240 or rachel.simpson@york.gov.uk.

Dive into the worlds biggest splash

Do you accept the challenge?  Start training now for the main events taking place at Energise and Yearsley Pool and raise money for either Marie Curie Cancer Care or Sport Relief.

Fri 27 April,1.30pm to 4pm and Sat 28 April at Energise, Cornlands Road and

Sat 28 April, 4pm to 7.30pm and Sun 29 April, 2pm to 5.30pm at Yearsley Pool

Swimming events include Individual 2.5K, individual 5K or team 5K for Marie Curie Cancer Care or the Individual Big Splash Mile, or Big Splash Mile for Sport Relief.

Swimathon Weekend 2012 is the perfect way to start the New Year and a new you.  Whatever your ability, swimming is a great form of exercise, and is relaxing for the mind and body. Swimming also helps to build endurance, muscle strength and cardio-vascular fitness.

Help us beat our fundraising target of £20,000

To register go to www.swimathon.org

Pool Timetables available @ www.york.gov.uk/fit or for further details call 01904 552424

Survival skills

Learn the basics of map reading, learn how to use a compass then navigate your way round the course to practice your new found skills.

Tues 14 Feb, 1.30pm to 3pm at Clifton Backies

Open to children over 8.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Please book your FREE place contact Jenny Cairns on 07833 436832 or Jennifer.cairns@york.gov.uk.

Feathering your nest?

As part of National Nest Box week come and make a home for the birds to nest in this spring - all for FREE!

Friday 17 Feb, 10.30am to 12noon at Little Hob Moor, Acomb

Open to all ages.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Please book your place contact Jenny Cairns on 07833 436832 or Jennifer.cairns@york.gov.uk

Mediterranean cookery for men

A fun, practical cookery course, for beginners and the more experienced, offering healthy, tasty Mediterranean dishes,  with ingredients readily available in York.

For further information and to book a place please visit our website at www.yortime.org.uk or ring our helpline on 01904 552806.  Alternatively, you can visit our booking office at York Explore Library on Mondays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm and Wednesdays between 12noon and 6pm.

Cost: £65 - NB: The costs of the ingredients for each class - depending on the recipes – will be  between £10 - £15 per class

Starts  Wed 22 Feb for 6 weeks, 5.30pm to 7.30pm at York High School, Cornlands Road, Acomb

Knitting - beyond the basics

In this course you will learn more advanced knitting techniques including: knitting in the round, cabling, colourwork (fairisle and intarsia), and how to add embellishments such as bobbles, button holes and beads. You will also learn how to choose the right yarns (colour, thickness and fibre) for your knitting projects. By the end of the course, you will have completed a knitted project of your choosing. With the skills you learn, you will be able to pick up a knitting pattern and start making your own woolly creations for your friends and family!

Dates: 2 Feb to 15 March 2012
Day: Thursday
Times: 7pm to 9pm
Venue: Joseph Rowntree School, New Earswick, York, YO32 4BZ 
Duration: 6 weeks
Cost: £55 (consessions available)
Tutor: Helen Owen

For more information contact us on 01904 552806 or email us at adult.education@york.gov.uk or visit us at www.yortime.org.uk and book online.

If you go down to the woods today....

Come down to Acomb Woods on Tues 14 Feb, 10.30am to 12noon and meet new friends and join in with the many activities for FREE.  No need to bring anything, just come prepared to get muddy!

Open to all ages.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Please book your space by contacting Jenny Cairns on 07833 436832 or Jennifer.cairns@york.gov.uk.

Fayre is fair

The York Festival of Fair-trade, 27 Feb to 11 Mar 2012

During the Festival there will be over a hundred events including sales, tastings and events at churches, schools, community groups and at the city's universities.

The highlight of the Festival will be the three day York Fair-trade Market, held in partnership with City of York Council, which will take place on Fri 9 to Sun 11 Mar.  Parliament St will be filled with a wide variety of colourful stalls selling Fair-trade food & drink, crafts, clothes, bags, jewellery and fashion accessories.

At the market on Sat 10 Mar there will be a day of entertainment including the infectious sound of samba, music and dancing from around the world.   

Fair-trade ensures that producers in developing countries are paid a fair price for the goods that they produce. 

Fair-trade groups, as well as guaranteeing a steady price, also pay producers a premium and establish long term trading relationships. This can save the producers from bankruptcy and homelessness and enables them to afford to send their children to school, buy medicines and contribute financially to community projects.

Fair-trade benefits some of the World's poorest countries. It offers a long term solution and a way out of poverty. York has a long and proud history of campaigning alongside the World's poor.  York is a Fairtrade City.   

Contact Details:  York Fair Trade Forum, c/o York CVS, 15 Priory Street, York, YO1 6ET

E: yorkfairtrade@yahoo.co.uk

Dress to impress

A dressmaking class that caters for all abilities...those who wish to simply make their own clothes at home... as well as those who want to progress onto more advanced courses.  For more information phone 01904 552806 or visit www.yortime.org.uk/learning

Every Monday starting Mon 20 Feb (no classes in Eater holidays or on May day) – Mon 14 May at Tang Hall Community Centre, Fifth Avenue.

Cost: £85 (consessions available)

Touchy feely

Touch Rugby League is fast moving, evasive and involves minimal contact. It is a game played all over the world by men and women of all ages and skills levels.

The game really does involve minimal contact and is all about playing the game on the field and also the social atmosphere afterwards!

Cost: £3 a session.  For more information please contact Nick Settle on 07786701264 or email: nicholas.settle@york.gov.uk