Good News

Local York charity, Keep Your Pet, is running an auction of ‘promises’ which offers bidders the chance to win days out and experiences donated by local businesses. The proceeds will enable the charity to continue offering short term assistance to older or vulnerable pet owners living in the York and Selby area. So if someone falls ill or needs to go into hospital, they know that their pet will be taken care of. The prizes up for grabs include: •A family voucher for Beningbrough Hall •A day out for two at Castle Howard •Annual membership for two at the Yorkshire Arboretum •A family voucher to travel on the North York Moors Railway •An afternoon tea at a Bettys of choice •Guitar lessons •Family pass for the Yorkshire Air Museum

Shadow is one of the dogs who has stayed with a foster carer through Keep Your Pet.

New prizes are being added daily on www.keepyourpet.co.uk. The auction closes on 19 July, and bids should be emailed to stephen. marshall2@hotmail.co.uk.

Haxby & Wigginton Youth & Community Association is offering local residents and small groups free use of the sheltered seating area in the garden at Oaken Grove Community Centre throughout summer. Use of this space will be offered free of charge, although prior booking will be essential to avoid disappointment. Community Services Manager, Lisa Wellington, said, “We have missed the vibrancy of events and activities at the centre. We hope that by inviting groups to make use of our garden area, it will enable individuals to meet and reconnect with one another.” The gazebo seats up to six people, although groups could choose to sit elsewhere in the garden and use more seats where needed, providing any remaining restrictions are being adhered to.

The gazebo at Oaken Grove Community Centre

Anyone interested in booking should contact info@hwyca.co.uk or ring 01904 769176 between 10am and 2pm, Monday to Thursday.

The Great British Spring Clean 2021 takes place from 28 May - 13 June, and City of York Council is appealing to local residents, schools, businesses and groups to roll up their sleeves and get involved in tidy-ups across the city. During the Great British Spring Clean, the council will lend a hand by providing bags printed with a large ‘V’ for volunteer, collecting bagged litter and providing equipment to help make jobs quicker and easier. Cllr Paula Widdowson, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change, said: “We all love our city, and the annual spring clean gives us a great way to enjoy the sunnier seasons. This is our chance to show some love and spruce up for the summer. Litter is ugly and the cleaner we can keep our city the more we all enjoy it. So get involved, whether it’s your school, your park, your street or your favourite green spot, you can arrange a litter pick. Let’s all show some pride and do our bit to make Our City shine.” Andrew Lowson, Executive Director of the York BID, said: “The street cleansing teams, funded by York businesses, are working really hard with local authority staff to keep the city clean, especially with all the additional outdoor seating. Support from the general public is much appreciated as, whether you are a business, resident or visitor, we all want York looking its best.” To request help, or register your event, visit www.york.gov.uk/ GBSpringClean or call 01904 551551.