THE Archbishop of York visited hospital staff and patients in support of the “amazing work” of the NHS. Dr John Sentamu visited surgical and medical wards at York Hospital to speak with staff and patients, and spent time with the Chaplaincy Team and volunteers at the hospital.

Speaking ahead of his visit the Archbishop said: “Our NHS staff do an amazing job delivering safe, effective and sustainable healthcare. I want to thank them for all that they do along with the volunteers and I am looking forward to joining them on the wards.

“I am also delighted to be licensing The Rev Martin Doe as the senior chaplain. Those in hospital, and their families, need the very best care in body, mind and spirit and our chaplains play a crucial role in providing that support”.


Dozens of firms to attend jobs fair

JOBSEEKERS in York are invited to a jobs fair at the York Railway Institute on Thursday, March 19 from 10am-3pm.

The event has been organised through City of York Council, York Learning, Job Centre Plus and Learning City York, to bring local employers together.

There will be 60 businesses currently recruiting in York at the event including; Hiscox, PMP recruiting for Nestlé, City of York Council, CGC Events Ltd, McDonalds and York Chocolate Story.

There will also be learning providers and other agencies offering free advice, and a quiet area to fill in application forms.

Cllr David Levene, cabinet member economic development, said: “The York Jobs Fair is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who is looking for work or those residents who could benefit from the expertise on-hand to develop their skills and ultimately, future careers.

"The recent announcement that the number of Jobseekers Allowance claimants has fallen by 44.5 percent in the last year is good news, but there’s more work to be done. This event, which looks to support residents looking for job opportunities, is a direct way we can help.”


Community to sign up for wildlife crime fight

POLICE in North Yorkshire have urged the public to "get serious about wildlife crime" this week.

North Yorkshire Police has 16 specially-trained Wildlife Crime Officers who, along with their regular duties, speak to schools and community groups, Farmwatch and Rural Watch, and the Great Yorkshire Show.

Tuesday marked World Wildlife Day, with the theme "It's time to get serious about wildlife crime", and police have used the international event to remind the public of their responsibilities, and get involved with local Watch schemes.

Sergeant Martin McLachlan, who holds the portfolio for wildlife crime at North Yorkshire Police, said: "We take all reports of wildlife crime extremely seriously, and World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to highlight our commitment to tackling this criminality.

"We are also very grateful to local Watch scheme volunteers for their support, and I would urge anyone who wants to join us in the fight against countryside crime to get in touch."

The term ‘wildlife crime’ includes a wide variety of offences, from unlawful trapping of wild animals to disturbing cetaceans, and more information is available by phoning 101, or at northyorkshire.police.uk/wildlifecrime.


Women’s project visit

A CITY councillor and prospective MP have visited a women’s project that supports ex-offenders as they reintegrate into the community.

The Yacro women’s project accommodates women and helps them develop their skills, mirroring the Yacro male supported scheme in Walmgate.

Cllr Julie Gunnell, who championed the rights of vulnerable women during her year as Lord Mayor, and Labour candidate for York Central Rachael Maskell visited to learn more about the project’s work with some of the city’s most vulnerable women.

Cllr Gunnell said: “Without this project many of the women would very likely end up homeless. Some women come from backgrounds where they have endured dreadful experiences, and this project offers them hope and the prospect of moving on from a past they would far sooner forget. I’m very proud to support this project and its aims.

She added: “Due to the complex and chaotic lifestyles of many women referred to the project, some have very little or no experience of how to live in a community setting or how to socialise within a group, often through no fault of their own.”


Children In Need cash to help disadvantaged youngsters

MORE than £114,000 has been awarded to charity projects around York by the BBC's Children In Need.

The fundraising campaign announced this week that £114,363 would be split between two projects based in York.

Island N1 will be given £73,856 which will go towards mentoring sessions and group support activities to disadvantaged local children, which will help develop confidence and self-esteem and improve emotional well-being.

The Riding Lights Theatre Company has also been given £40,507, which will be used to deliver a weekly youth theatre session for young people with additional needs, helping to improve their creative skills and confidence.

Elizabeth Myers, Children in Need's regional manager of the north, said: "We are delighted to be awarding funding these projects which will go on to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people in the area."


RAF man’s £1k mission

AN RAF signalman is to spend time throughout March raising cash in memory of colleagues who have died in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

Corporal Adam Tatman, 31, aims to raise £1,000 for Help for Heroes by cycling 632 miles on a gym bike – one mile for each of his military colleagues killed.

He will tackle his personal challenge while deployed during his ninth operational tour in the Middle East, and hopes to complete 22 miles a day in between his RAF commitments.

Cpl Tatman, who is with 90 Signals Unit, based at RAF Leeming, has served in the air force for more than ten years but chose to support Help for Heroes rather than an RAF charity because of family ties with all three services.


MP calls for increased defence spending

YORK Central’s MP has spoken out against £618 million of defence cuts proposed by the government.

Sir Hugh Bayley, who has served as President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, said the UK faced new and challenging security threats from Russia and jihadists in the Middle East.

He spoke in the Commons about the annexation of Crimea and the intervention in eastern Ukraine, and said Britain and its Allies needed new capabilities and strategies.

He said: “I do not think that many members of the public would recognise that the Major Conservative Government substantially reduced defence expenditure in real terms, that the Labour Government maintained it and that this Government have substantially reduced it.” He called for defence spending to be increased.