Feeling full of life

City of York Council and key partners in the city have launched a ground-breaking photography competition to get people thinking about ageing in a more positive way.

Age Concern, York Cares, York CVS, York Older People's Assembly, York Racial Equality Network, and other key charity and voluntary groups are supporting the competition, along with the University of York, York Press and the council, to help change attitudes towards ageing and promote a positive attitude towards older people.

The competition - 'Full of Life' - is asking residents of any age to send in photos of people aged 50 and over doing something they love in York - whether working, playing, volunteering, or socialising with friends and family. The aim of the competition is to generate a bank of photographs that can be used to show older people in a more positive light as well as highlighting the wide range of opportunities there are in the city for older people.
Along with the rest of the UK, York's population is ageing. By 2029, the number of people aged 55 and over in York will have increased by 33 per cent, and people over 85 by an incredible 83 per cent. 

Pete Dwyer, Director of Adults, Children and Education at the council said: "We want to challenge negative stereotypes of ageing and older people. We've been really heartened by the response to the competition and hope that we will get some really strong, positive images that will help us change people's perceptions of older people."

The best images will be used in publications and publicity material produced by the council and its competition partners to present a new and inspiring view of ageing and the huge contribution that older people make to the life of the city.
Submissions will be judged within five categories:

• Taken by photographers of Primary School age
• Taken by photographers of Secondary School/Further education age
• Taken by photographers aged19 years +
• Taken by photographers aged 50 years +
• Taken by professional photographers

Winners will be invited to a special reception and exhibition launch in June this year and get the chance to spend a day with the photographers at The Press, or be given an exclusive tour of the facilities at the University of York's state of the art Theatre, Film & TV department.
Submissions must be received by 12 noon on Monday 23 May. Photos can be emailed to fulloflifeyork@gmail.com or sent to Full of Life - Photography Competition, c/o York Cares, Careers Service, The University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD.
More information about the competition and how to enter can be found on:
https://sites.google.com/site/fulloflifeyork/

Catwalk York

When? 2-3 April 2011

Fashion Village – 9am-5pm both days

Catwalk York – 7.30pm-10.30pm (Saturday only)

Where?

Fashion Village – In a marquee located on St  Sampson’s Square

Catwalk York – The Guildhall, St Helen’s Square

Cost? £12.50 seated & £8.50 Standing

On the 2- 3 April, Fashion City York will launch with two city centre events;  Fashion Village and Catwalk York.  Fashion City York will deliver a series of events that build up to a programme of recurring activities to be held annually ahead of the spring/summer season.

Fashion Village A fantastic opportunity to see and buy the work of some of York’s best up-and-coming designers and boutiques. A marquee on St Sampson’s Square will contain a showcase of local designers, smaller brands and fashion associated businesses that wouldn’t normally get the opportunity to trade right in the heart of the city. Visitors will have the chance to see what makes York unique, and sample the incredible diversity of local fashion talent.

Catwalk York Set in one of York’s most beautiful historic buildings, this fashion show extravaganza will feature clothing, hair and make-up from York’s independent designers, boutiques, large brand stores and salons – displaying the best of York’s retailers. Guests will be treated to a dazzling show of two themed parts: ‘Best of High Street’ and ‘Unique York’.

For more information visit: http://fashioncityyork.co.uk 

Homecoming Girls

When? 28th April 2011 7.00pm - 8.30pm
Where? Dunnington Reading Rooms
Cost? £4 (YorkCard) or £5

Dunnington Reading Room will be welcoming local author, Val Wood, on Thursday 28 April, at 7.00 pm.

Val was born in Yorkshire and now lives in Beverley. She is a well-known local author of 15 novels in Hull and the north-east, and was the first winner of the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction.   She’ll be talking about her new book

Homecoming Girls, a journey of discovery as Jewel Newmarch, adopted as a baby, returns to her birthplace.

Tickets to hear Val Wood are available from Explore York, 01904 552815, exploreyork@york.gov.uk  or from Dunnington Library, 01904 488456, dunnington.library@york.gov.uk .

Trollope in town!

When? Friday 15th April 2011, 2.00pm - 3.30pm
Where? Explore York Library Learning Centre
Cost? £5 (YorkCard) or £6.50

An afternoon with best selling novelist Joanna Trollope, who will be talking about her latest books, Daughters in Law and The Other Family.

Bestselling author Joanna Trollope has been writing for over 30 years. She first wrote a number of historical novels, now published under the name of Caroline Harvey and has also written a study of women in the British Empire, Britannia’s Daughters.

Joanna has written several highly acclaimed contemporary novels, some of which have been televised, including The Choir, A Village Affair and Other People’s Children.

Joanna will be talking about her latest books, Daughters in Law and The Other Family, and will be happy to answer questions and sign books.  (Books on sale at the event.)

http://www.joannatrollope.com/

History, mystery or myth?

When? Saturday 23rd April 2011 10.00am - 4.00pm
Where? Explore York Library Learning Centre
Cost? Free


Come to our Mystery Quest Family Day and take part in exciting challenges solving the real life mysteries surrounding this ancient site. History, mystery or myth? You decide!

Something for all ages 0 – 100. Drop-in all day.

A fabulous Mystery Quest Family Day for the whole family to do together or intrepid souls alone. We’re steeped in intriguing stories round here – so what’s

history, mystery or myth? Meet the Questmaster to set off on your Quest to find out.  Discover what strange, intriguing and sometimes hilarious things have happened, and may be still happening, around  the ancient site of York Explore. Who is the resident ghost? You’ll use all your 5 senses to take various challenges to sharpen your taste, smell, hearing, sight and touch to decide your answers. 

With things to fascinate all ages, from the very young to grown – ups and grandparents too.

6 Questing families can also win beautifully illustrated sets of the Chronicles of Narnia books by CS Lewis. Plus an Easter egg hunt, storytelling, special café menu and more.

 Look out for more specially themed Family Days throughout 2011. These are usually on Sundays 11 – 4 but Quest Day  is a Saturday as we are closed on Easter Sunday. It's the place to be whether you've time to drop-in or stay all day.

Upcoming dates are:

1 May Royal York Day,  5 May Dr Who Day, 12 June Railway Day, 10 July Harry Potter Day, 24 July Games Day and 14 August Circus Day.

01904 552828 or see website for details www.york.gov.uk/libraries

Turn Back Time

When? 10 April 2011 11.00am - 4.00pm 
Where? Eye of York (Clifford’s Tower)
Cost? Free

One of York’s much loved ‘walk back in time’ experiences with a  display of Military Vehicles from the past, lovingly restored and preserved.

Hosted by Yorkshire Military Vehicle Trust,  one of the largest one day meetings of Military in the world. This unique event is held right in the heart of historic York. More information available on www.yorkshiremvt.co.uk

The Big Butterfly Count

When? Tuesday 19^th April 2011 1.30-3.00pm, Wednesday 20^th April 2011 2.00-3.30pm, Thursday 21^st April 2011 10.30 – 12.00pm.
Where? Hull Road Park, Rawcliffe Country Park, Clifton Backies Local Nature Reserve
Cost? Free

We need your help to spot, count and take a closer look at Butterflies. Learn how to use a sweep net and find out the best times and places to find butterflies.

Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes for the weather and activity. To book a place please contact Clair Merrifield on 07769 963127 or clair.merrifield@york.gov.uk