Show off your photography skills!

There is just under a month left to enter 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. 

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 in June. Submissions must be in by 23 May 2011. More information about the competition, prizes, and how to enter are at: https://sites.google.com/site/fulloflifeyork/

Time travel with the Tardis

Sun 15 May 11am to 4pm

Let our Tardis bring you to a time and place where Dr Who fans rule. Come dressed as your favourite character or invent an alien he's yet to meet. Or maybe it’s time to get that Stetson.

There are free activities all day for all ages 0 – 100+.  Sample the special alien menu and time traveller meal deals in the cafe. Make your own bow tie and alien masks. Learn all about the real life UFO sightings in Yorkshire.

Join Dr Who scriptwriter Daniel Blythe for ‘The What, Why & Where of Doctor Who’.  Here you’ll spend an entertaining and enlightening hour discovering what’s true and what’s not about the Time Lord and all his adventures. Starts at 11.15pm, 1pm and 2.15 pm for an hour. £3 per family. Book early to avoid disappointment, ring 01904 552828.

Ahead of the Day make sure you see our website, or ask in your local Library or Explore Centre, for details of our invitation to write your own 300 word Dr Who story set in York www.york.gov.uk/leisure/Libraries/children/drwhomay11/  We give you the opening lines. You can do it just for fun or send it in and join the competition. It’s open to all ages including adults, in three age sections 0 - 11, 12 - 17 and 18+. The three winning stories will be picked by Daniel Blythe, and announced and read out by him on Dr Who Day.  We’ll also put them on our website so you will be famous!

Get your footy boots on

A new 6 a side football league kicks off for 10 weeks, followed by a 5 week cup competition.  City of York Council’s sport and active leisure team are organising a new league, taking place on the outdoor astroturf at Energise on Thursday nights from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

The league will last for a total of ten weeks, followed by a 5 week cup competition, with a maximum of 12 teams taking part.  Each team can have a maximum of 8 people on the night (although there’s no limit to the number of people in the squad). Each match will be 40 minutes and all 12 teams will play every week.

The league will be affiliated to the FA with qualified referees provided.  The cost is £25 per team per week.  £50 deposit per team is required up front but will be refunded when all the games are played

Teams will be accepted on a first come basis.  Anyone interested in registering or finding out more should contact Will Saville, sports participation officer on 07786 701248 or email will.saville@york.gov.uk

Ouse this?

Sat 28 May, 11am to 4pm at Yorkshire Ouse Sailing Club, Main Street, Naburn

Ever wondered what it would be like to sail on the River Ouse?  Then just turn up with a change of clothes and a towel, we will provide all the equipment and tuition totally free - light refreshments included.

Open Your Ears – Open Days!

Open to any young people of school age, yorkartsacademy offers opportunities to join bands, orchestras, choir, rock band, steel bands, African drumming, song writing, rock bands, jazz band, big band, brass & woodwind group and percussion group …..and loads more! For a complete list visit our website www.york.gov.uk/education/arts/

We also have musical sessions for children aged 3-5, and 6-8, and African drumming and steel bands for adults.

On Sat 7 May, at Canon Lee School, take the chance to join a ukulele workshop – open to any age, children and adults, no experience necessary. The two sessions are 9.45am to 10.45am and 11am to 12noon.  If you don’t have your own ukulele we can loan you one. Please contact us to book your place(s) in advance.

Playing their instrument or singing in a group at yorkartsacademy can really improve children’s confidence and social skills, as well as their musical abilities. They will be able to meet a whole new circle of friends of different ages and from different schools. We offer regular performances, which can really raise a young person’s self-esteem.

Many groups need some previous instrumental experience, but other groups need no previous experience at all.

For students already learning an instrument with York Arts Education, membership of their first session is free.  Concessions are also available. Groups run weekly during term time.

Come along and see what’s on offer at one of our open sessions, and our staff will be able to offer any advice or guidance to help you and your child make the best decision for them.

For more information, visit www.york.gov.uk/education/arts/music/Performing_arts_centres/

or call our office on 01904 554660 for information on yorkartsacademy

No window cleaning involved!

Sat 7 May at Canon Lee School, Rawcliffe Drive, Clifton Without

Take the chance to join in a ukulele workshop – open to any age, children and adults, no experience necessary.

There will be 2 workshops running during the morning, 9.45am to 10.45am and 11am to 12noon.  If you don’t have your own ukulele we can loan you one. Please contact us at the telephone number below to book your place(s) in advance.

While you’re at Canon Lee, why not have a look around our yorkartsacademy, which offers young people opportunities to join bands, orchestras, choir, big band, brass & woodwind group and percussion group …..and loads more! For a complete list visit our website www.york.gov.uk/education/arts/

We also have musical sessions for children aged 3-5, and 6-8.

For more information, visit www.york.gov.uk/education/arts/music/Performing_arts_centres/

or call our office on 01904 554660 for information on yorkartsacademy

These boots were made for walking

6th  annual sponsored walk to raise money for Crohn's and Colitis UK - Sun 22 May

This event has become a regular in the York Events Calendar.  As well as the walk, which commences from the Hospitium in the Museum Gardens at 12 noon, there will be live music, face-painting and dancing…..something for all the family.

To register, phone 0845 4348510.