A NEW project to encourage men to come together and share skills and friendship is being launched in Ryedale.

‘Men in Sheds’ is an initiative specifically for men to encourage them to put their practical skills to good use and to be more socially active. Next Steps Mental Health Resource Centre in Church Street, Norton, is looking for volunteers to join the project and help men who may feel isolated or are experiencing loneliness.

Manager Leisa Taylor said they wanted to do something that was aimed at men where they could get together and share skills as well as friendship. She said: “We are looking at doing different things over a three- to four-week period for a morning each week. It could be anything from wood etching to fishing, any skill they would be willing to share with men.”

Anyone interested in getting involved, or would like more information, should phone Leisa on 01653 690854.

 

Are you a rotter?

Volunteers are being sought to join the North Yorkshire Rotters to advise people how to reduce waste, save money and be more environmentally friendly.

The Rotters are the county’s volunteer team of composters who attend community events and talks to promote home composting and the Love Food Hate Waste campaign.

Anyone interested in volunteering can find out how to get involved at a volunteer information session on Saturday, from 10am to noon, at the Forum, Meeting Room 1, Bullamoor Road, Northallerton, DL6 1LP.

Information can also be found at www.letstalklessrubbish.com Alternatively, phone Jeff Coates, North Yorkshire Rotters volunteer coordinator, on 01609 797212.

 

Seagulls targeted

A CAMPAIGN is being mounted in Scarborough to curb the town’s fast-growing seagull population.

The council’s environment and economy committee has been told in a report that some tourists have said they will not return to the resort because of the early morning screeching of the herring gulls, fouling of footpaths and the fear of being attacked by them.

Now the council is to go into schools in the town urging youngsters not to feed the birds, and asking fish and chip shop owners to put warning notices in their shops and in the food trays.

In addition special gull-proof litter bins are to be provided.

 

Council campaign to tackle loneliness

THE number of 90 year olds in North Yorkshire will rocket in the next 15 years, members of the county’s Ryedale Area Committee will be told today.

The number 15,000 – many of them in Ryedale – will be a 122 per cent rise, says County Councillor Shelagh Marshall, the county’s older people’s champion.

She said that reducing loneliness and encouraging social inclusion of old people was a priority in North Yorkshire.

A survey carried out by the University of York for the North Yorkshire Older People’s Partnership recommended that GPs should offer social prescriptions to patients who they believe could be suffering from the effects of loneliness.

Village agents have been set up in four villages in North Yorkshire and the county council has established a Stronger Communities Team to work in Ryedale and other districts.

“There are deprived areas and unknown number of people suffering the effects of loneliness,” she said.

 

Council secures a slice of Government cash

RYEDALE has secured Government money to help fund projects in the district.

Councillor Linda Cowling, the leader of Ryedale District Council, told councillors that £322m had been awarded through the Government’s Growth Deal to the York and North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Council and the Department of Transport. “It will be used to benefit the infrastructure of Ryedale and major investment projects, which are so necessary to help our future economic prosperity,” she said.

Coun Cowling praised the council’s staff and the Local Enterprise Council for the achievement.

“On top of that we have recently been awarded funding to access the feasibility of increases in employment land in Pickering and Kirkbymoorside,” she said.

“We are working with and supporting local businesses to grow employment in our district.”

The council, said Coun Cowling, was one of the most successful authorities at delivering affordable homes.