THE Ukip candidates for MP positions in York have been announced.
Ken Guest, from Leeds, has worked as an executive manager in the international oil and gas industry for 35 years, and now lives in York.
He will stand for York Central. Paul Abbott, who runs Micklegate Post Office and is involved in Micklegate Traders Association, is standing for York Outer.
New live-in mental health unit opens its doors
Kay Lawn, ward manager right, and Carol Redmond, left, with some of the staff outside the new Mill Lodge now home to the Lime Trees unit
A NEW mental health unit in York will mean more children and young people can get help while staying near to their family and friends, health bosses have said.
Mill Lodge in Huntington – a former unit for elderly people – has been re-opened as an inpatient unit for children and young people with severe mental health difficulties following a £1.2 million NHS investment.
The 16-bed unit was opened to replace Lime Trees in Shipton Road, which had become outdated and too small for the level of demand it was facing and had been criticised by inspectors for failing to provide sufficient privacy for inpatients.
Lime Trees remains open to outpatients.
Professor Barry Wright, clinical director of services,said: “We are very proud to be making significant improvements for young people who need residential care. We are constantly striving to improve services for young people with serious mental health problems.”
“We have listened carefully to young people themselves in designing a facility which will take us into the 21st century.
We thank the community for all their support with this. ”
Archbishop visits school’s teenagers in award scheme
THE Archbishop of York met a group of more than 60 students in is youth award scheme.
Dr John Sentamu met 67 Year 12 students from Archbishop Holgate’s CE Academy who are undertaking the Post-16 Young Leaders Award developed by his Youth Trust.
He spoke to the students about his faith and ministry followed by a question and answer session.
Teacher Sam Wilde, said: “It is my hope that the Archbishop's words will inspire and encourage our students to think about what life might hold for them, what paths they might take and the differences that they can make”.
Dan Finn, Director of the Youth Trust, said: “The Young Leaders Award encourages learners of all ages to develop leadership skills and to serve others around them.
"It’s great that Archbishop Holgate’s have chosen to offer the Young Leaders Award as part of its Post-16 education, in addition to the Key Stage 3 Award in school.”
Selfie needed to apply for top police force job
A police force recruiting for a new deputy chief constable has requested applicants submit a "selfie" in order to apply for the role.
Humberside Police advertised for the £117,078-a-year senior post on its website. The Chief Constable said it was "vital candidates embraced new technology".
But a marketing expert has said the force should not have used "the tactic" for a very "serious role" that commands a degree of respect in the community.
Emma Pearson-Kendall, director of Fred Marketing, said: "You would hope in a role this serious people would take it seriously.
We have created a recruitment advert that reflects our aims and ambitions as a force”
Chief Constable Justine Curran Humberside Police "I think it would be better maybe if they were saying this [area] was a great place to live and work and all the opportunities here, focusing on that rather than how the applicant looks."
Ms Pearson-Kendall said she hoped the selfie was not being used to "discriminate" against any potential candidates.
"I wouldn't do it and I probably wouldn't recommend that clients do it," she said.
Chief Constable Justine Curran said the force had "invested heavily in new technology in a bid to modernise the way we work".
She said: "We currently have a vacancy for a Deputy Chief Constable which is a key role within the force and as such it is vital that potential candidates understand the importance of embracing new technology within Humberside Police at the point of applying for the role.
"This is why we have created a recruitment advert that reflects our aims and ambitions as a force by encouraging candidates to get involved from the outset."
Crowd-funding scheme launched to back wind turbines
Steve Milner, whose wind turbine company hopes to raise crowd-funding cash
A WIND turbine firm from Wetherby has launched a £2.5 million crowd-funding investment.
Earthmill says its scheme enables individuals to invest in farm-scale turbines and follows an earlier success in raising £1.25 million in just eight weeks last year.
Managing director Steve Milner said investors who came on board in the first month were guaranteed an interest rate of 7.5 per cent per annum over three years, with 7 per cent for those who invested later in the scheme.
Investments started from £50 and loans would be secured against ten already operational farm-scale turbines, which include ones in Driffield and Wetwang in East Yorkshire.
Mr Milner said: “There is a growing recognition that the medium-scale individual wind turbines being installed by farmers are a positive addition to the landscape.
"Not only are they built on a more human scale than wind farm turbines but they are adding to the power generated by renewables and reducing the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels.
“Investors who wanted to enter the wind turbine market used to need land, and between £250,000 and £600,000, to buy and install their own turbine. Crowdfunding is a brilliant way of enabling almost anyone who’s interested in wind power to get involved and directly benefit from renewable energy.”
Pantomime cast play the frame game
The Theatre Royal panto cast visit one of their sponsors, Viewpoint Opticians in Feasegate, York
THE stars of the Theatre Royal panto put in an appearance at a York optician.
Viewpoint in Feasegate is a sponsor of the production and owner Trevor Rowley, said he has been going to the pantomime with his family for more than 20 years.
He said: “It’s worked well on lots of levels. It’s nice to be a part of the community; I think it’s good to put back in the community.
"The theatre is a great cause, I really passionately believe in it.”
Eagle-eyed panto guests may have noticed the panto town of Tingly Bottom has its own Viewpoint opticians, an honour reserved for businesses involved in the production.
Panto dame, Berwick Kaler, said: “We’re not a commercial theatre as such, and we rely on sponsorship unfortunately.
“Businesses like Viewpoint, they put a few bob into it, it’s all local, the audience is local, nearly 50,000 people. It’s good for them; it’s good for the city.”
York Theatre Royal’s pantomime, Old Mother Goose, runs until January 31.
Award nominees wanted
NORTH Yorkshire Moors Association is seeking nominations for its biennial Conservation Award.
Chairman Tom Chadwick said the bids can be made by individuals, groups or organisations.
“The nominations should be projects which further the objectives of the National Park to conserve and enhance the natural environment of the moors,” Mr Chadwick said.
Winning schemes in recent years have included the creation of a wildflower meadow at Robin Hood’s Bay as well as the building of a wood side river corridor on the River Esk.
Entries should be submitted by the end of March and an award of £500 will be made jointly by the association and the National Park Authority.
Phone 01287 660195 or email tom andsuechadwick@btinternet.com for more information.
Dementia choir launched
A NEW choir for people with dementia and their carers is being launched in York.
Here Now Dementia Ltd has set up the choir which it says “is a fun, friendly, dynamic new choir with big ambitions”.
Supported by the JRF and led by vocal expert Ruth McCartney, the Vocal Flourish choir aims to challenge widely held low expectations of what people with dementia can do.
The choir will meet from 10am to noon from Friday, January 30, at Lidgett Grove Methodist Church in Wheatlands Grove, Acomb.
There is a charge of £3 per singer per rehearsal.
For more information, contact Emily Abbott on 07905 117108
Be health champion
VOLUNTEERS are being sought by Macmillan Cancer Support to help people in North Yorkshire.
These “health champions” will spread cancer awareness messages in their community and be part of Macmillan’s mobile information and support service.
Sebastian Johansson, Macmillan volunteering co-ordinator, said: “We want to help more people across North Yorkshire access cancer information and support, which is key in encouraging early diagnosis and prevention.”
Macmillan needs volunteers who are confident in speaking to members of the public and ideally have knowledge of or a willingness to learn about issues surrounding cancer. All volunteers will be trained and will be asked to be available for one to two days a month.
Health champions will join the mobile units – bright green buses – in town centre high streets, events such as county shows, workplaces and community events to run information stands.
To apply or for information contact Sebastian Johansson on 01274 987482 or email sjohansson@macmillan.org.uk
EU membership meeting
A YORK MP is hosting a meeting with businesses on Britain’s EU membership.
York Central MP Sir Hugh Bayley will host a lunchtime get-together of city businesses on Friday (16th January) at 1pm and will be joined by Richard Corbett, one of the Members of the European Parliament in Yorkshire.
Sir Hugh is concerned that the UK is losing international leadership potential, influence and respect in other countries because of the UK’s growing insularity, which he believes is not in Britain’s long-term interests.
He said: “We live in a global world and pay our way through international trade in goods and services. Our economy depends on high levels of inward investment and UK investment abroad, and we need to sit at the top table where international rules, regulations and decisions are made, and to be respected and listened to by other countries.”
“I fear our international isolation could get worse if the UK were to leave the EU. The EU has faults, but we will only change it for the better if we have strength and respect from other countries in EU institutions. I believe a case needs to be made for constructive engagement with the EU.”
Anybody interested in attending the meeting should contact Sir Hugh’s York office for details about the venue and to register their attendance at the meeting. Please phone York 623713 or email hugh.bayley.mp@parliament.uk.
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