Windmill Nursery

The Windmill Nursery at the Riccall Regen Centre has received the final stage payment of the £7000 grant awarded by North Yorkshire County Council to improve its outdoor play provision.

The grant from North Yorkshire’s Early Years and Childcare Service is part of a £2.2million initiative to support private, voluntary and independent settings in making improvements to their outdoor provision in order to provide quality outdoor play. Windmill Nursery has now completed its work on its outdoor play area. New fencing, equipment and a garden area have been provided.

Nursery manager, Christine Gardiner, said that ‘the new facilities have enabled us to develop further our outdoor play, so that children can really benefit from the experiences that can be provided outdoors’.

As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum for the under fives, children are expected to play and learn outdoors for at least 50% of their time whilst in childcare. Windmill Nursery is a small nursery in a very secure and welcoming environment at the Riccall Regen Centre. It caters for up to 18 children from 3 months to 5 years old and is rated ‘Good’ in all areas inspected by Offsted.

Riccall Regen Centre Duke of York award

Riccall Regen Business and Community Centre has gained the prestigious Duke of York’s Community Initiative Award for the third time, in recognition of its excellent work in providing a range of facilities and events to cater for all parts of the community in Riccall and the wider area.

By the people for the people! The award was presented to Steve Beck, the Centre Manager (top photo), by HRH The Duke of York at a ceremony at Huddersfield University on 9 April.

Riccall Regen Centre was the only organisation in North Yorkshire to gain the 2010 award. At the award ceremony, special mention was made of the Centre’s internal marquee, a unique facility in the area between Selby and York, for hosting special events.

Riccall Regen’s chairman, Edward Wilkinson, said that ‘everyone associated with the Centre was delighted with the award, which lasts for five years and was previously gained in 2000 and 2005’. He added that ‘the award was a credit to all the hard work put in by the staff, volunteers and directors over the ten years since the Centre was opened by The Duke of York in 2000’.

(Bottom photo, from left to right, Noel Shouksmith (Director, Riccall Regen), Howard Adamson (Director, Riccall Regen), Jane Mundon (Finance Officer, Riccall Regen), Steve Beck (Centre Manager) in front of the Riccall Regen Centre display stand at the Awards Ceremony).

Nursery Funding for Outdoor Play Area

In the summer, the Windmill Nursery at the Regen Centre, Riccall was awarded £7000 from North Yorkshire County Council to improve its outdoor play provision.

The grant from North Yorkshire’s Early Years and Childcare Service is part of a £2.2million initiative to support private, voluntary and independent settings in making improvements to their outdoor provision in order to provide quality outdoor play. Windmill Nursery has now completed its work on its outdoor play area. New fencing, equipment and a garden area have been provided.

Nursery manager, Christine Gardiner, said that ‘the new facilities have enabled us to develop further our outdoor play, so that children can really benefit from the experiences that can be provided outdoors’.

As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum for the under fives, children are expected to play and learn outdoors for at least 50% of their time whilst in childcare.

Windmill Nursery is a small nursery in the Riccall Regen Centre. It caters for up to 18 children from 3 months to 5 years old. It recently received a ‘Good’ Offsted report’

Recent Duke of York assessment

Assessors from the Duke of York’s Community Initiative have recently visited Riccall Regen. The assessors – John Isles and the Rev. Brian Hunt – spent time going through a variety of documents relating to the constitution and work of Riccall Regen, and then met with directors, the Centre Manager, other staff and volunteers, as well as representatives of several user and community groups.

Following from their visit the assessors will make a recommendation in respect of the awarding of the Duke of York’s Community Initiative to Riccall Regen for a further 5 years. A decision is expected in the New Year.

Fantastic Flower and Veg Show 09

A big thank you to everyone who entered the show, sponsored the classes and helped on the day.

Overall, the number of flower entries was down this year but that was probably due to the inclement (very wet) weather we have had in recent weeks. There were lots of vegetables with some very fine entries. Also a tasty selection of Baking entries. Handicrafts and photos were also reduced in numbers but nevertheless some excellent craft entries, including a turned wooden goblet produced by Jack Coverdale which won the “Best in Show” trophy. Well done Jack.

There was a good turnout of people looking round the exhibits and I received some very positive comments on the Show.

Good news also for the continuation of the Show in future years. As I announced earlier this is the last year I will be organizing the show (after being involved for around 15-16 years). I am grateful to the individuals who approached me on the day to offer their support in running it from next year. I will be arranging a meeting in the New Year to pass on information and look forward to a very successful show for many years to come continuing a well established village event.

If anyone would like to volunteer to help in any way – sponsoring, judging or helping on the day please get in touch.

Once again thank you – the show couldn’t happen without your hard work.

Table top success

Thanks to everyone who made last Sunday’s Table Top and Car Boot sale a great success.

Local traders came down early to set up their busy stalls and we had a steady flow of bargain hunters through the door all day.

Looking forward to the next one!

Last Night of the Proms

Riccall Parish Council is presenting its eighth annual ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concert at the Riccall Regen Centre on Friday 26 June from 7.30pm. The concert is the curtain-raiser to the Riccall Carnival weekend and features Barlby Foot-Tappers and the award-winning South Milford Brass and this year is in the new Riccall Regen Big Top. All proceeds go towards developing recreational facilities in Riccall. Tickets costing £3 for adults and £2 for children are available from the Riccall Regen Centre.

The photo shows Riccall Parish Council chairman, Cllr Brian Keen (draped in flag), with fellow councillors practising their flag waving for the concert! Cllr Keen said that ‘the ‘Last Night of the Proms’ concert is always a great night of fun and music to suit all ages and tastes’.

Further details from Cllr Howard Adamson on 01757 248174.

Nursery Celebrations

The Windmill Nursery at the Riccall Regen Centre has a double cause to celebrate. It has received a grant of nearly £7000 from North Yorkshire CC to update its outdoor play area. Also, it has been given a good Ofsted report for providing strong provision in all areas examined.

Nursery Manager, Christine Gardiner, said that the revamped outdoor play area should be ready later this month and would greatly improve the facilities available to the children.

Christine was extremely pleased with the Ofsted report, which said that ‘the needs of the children are met highly effectively as staff recognise the uniqueness of each child.’

The Nursery was praised for being ‘well led and managed’ with a staff team that is ‘enthusiastic and trained to a high level.’

The Windmill Nursery will be holding an ‘open afternoon’ as part of the Riccall Carnival Fun Day from 1pm to 5pm on Saturday, June 27.

Auction of Gifts and Promises

Gifts totalling over £2000 in value have been donated to help the Riccall Regen Centre in its fund-raising to enable it to offer even better facilities to the local community.

These will be auctioned at the Centre in Riccall at 7.30pm on Friday 5 June. Bids can also be made via this website (click on the banner advert on the site homepage or HERE to see the listings), where full details of all the gifts can be seen.

So, if you would like a family rail ticket to London, tickets for Prime Minister’s questions, two days in a luxury timber lodge, a fully catered children’s party for 25, a SATNAV system, a pen from 10 Downing Street, a year’s subscription to National Trust or entry to many houses, museums and sporting events throughout Yorkshire, Riccall is the place to be this Friday.

Telephone 01757 248849 for more details.

Generous contribution from Drax Power

Riccall Regen has received a cheque for £500 from Drax Power towards the installation of an internal marquee facility. The marquee – The Riccall Regen Big Top – enables the Centre’s sports’ hall to be offered as a luxury venue for wedding receptions, birthday parties, concerts and a wide range of social and business functions. The Big Top will be formally launched at 8pm on Friday 15 May, when local singing legend, Billy Bills, will perform in concert. Tickets are now available at £5 each.

Riccall Regen Chairman, Edward Wilkinson, said he was extremely grateful for the generosity of Drax Power and that the new marquee, coupled with the existing bar and catering facilities, would provide the area with an unique and luxury venue for events, at a price that people can afford. Melanie Wedgbury, Head of External Affairs at Drax Power, said that they hoped that the donation would help towards the continued development and service that Riccall Regen provides for the people in the Selby district.

The photograph shows from left to right, Riccall Regen reception staff Jane Munden and Justine Hodgson with the Drax Power checque.

Roll up roll up for the Regen big top!

From May, the Regen Centre will be able to offer a marquee facility in its main sports hall (Outhwaite Hall).

This will provide a unique venue for the area and that special touch for weddings, parties, concerts etc.

Telephone 01757 248849 or email info@riccall.co.uk for more details of this exciting development.

New exciting spaces at the Centre

Riccall Regen Centre has received a grant of £2000 from North Yorkshire Council and a grant of £500 from Riccall Parish Council towards the cost of a new IT room, a formal meeting room (The Office) and an informal meeting area, which now houses the Riccall Community Archive.

Edward Wilkinson, Chair of the Regen Centre Board of Directors, said that the Centre was grateful for the support of both councils and that the new rooms will enable the Centre to offer the local and business communities the facilities that they are seeking at a cost they can afford.

Hercules wows Riccall

The Riccallish Allsorts latest Pantomime – Hercules – which was staged in early February and was a great success. The audience responded well to having an unusual and different pantomime story.

The chorus, choreographed by Sally Corbally, put huge energy into their main production numbers Comedy Tonight, YMCA and Venus.

The production was well cast, with Rhys Chamberlain as the nervous Gryphon trying hard to make friends with Mackenzie Crompton’s spoilt Princess Wanda. Neil Swain’s Dame injected pace and an edgy comedy to the show – you never feel entirely safe when Neil’s on stage – and Lisa Rowntree as Narcissus was the perfect comic partner for the dame.

Craig Hodgson as Hercules added muscle, and Richard Pike as the evil Cyclops was the pantomime Baddie. Even Elvis made a brief appearance – who was that?

Mike Maczuga and his band’s live music was welcomed by the audience, and Pat Davison stage crew kept the production moving slickly along.

Lucie Burton, Chloe Swain and Laura Dinnewell as the three fates added glamour to the show – although they were always happier after the fireworks had gone off!

Amy Dicks, Stephanie Fyfe and Emily Munden had their first main speaking parts as the Greek Chorus and rose well to the challenge.

Singing – dancing – comedy – pyrotechnics – a live band – it was a big production for us, and proved a great night out for the audience.

Whatever next?

Cooking up a thrifty feast

Around 30 amateur chefs joined Annie Stirk and Hillary Finney’s cookery presentation for an evening of chat, TV gossip, hints and tips, hands on demonstrations and food tasting.

Annie introduced the evening with a few tales of Richard and Judy, Gary Rhodes and other TV personalities, and shared interesting anecdotes about her illustrious cooking career.

Then the demonstrations began in a really engaging style with Hillary Finney offering hints and tips about cooking on a budget, using up leftover food and making use of those mystery items at the bottom of the freezer!

She prepared some impressive dishes for our captivated audience which included Lemon Roulade, Strawberry Cheesecake, various starters and some other great items. We all then had the chance to tuck in and taste these fabulous creations.

Finally, there was a very interesting question and answer session where Hillary took questions from the audience and everyone got the chance to pick the brains of our professional chef.

We received some great feedback and everyone who attended is getting sent all the recipies that were demonstrated on the night. Thanks to everyone from the Regen Centre who helped with the evening. We could have some more budding chefs in the area soon!

Hillary Finney’s website – www.harmonyhousecookeryschool.co.uk/

Information about Annie Stirk – www.celebritychefsuk.com/chefs.asp?id=21

New facilities at the Regen Centre

Riccall Regen Centre has received a grant of £500 from the Selby Eastern Area Community Investment Partnership (CIP) towards the cost of converting a redundant IT suite into three smaller areas – an IT room, a formal meeting room (The Office) and an informal meeting area, which will also house the Riccall Community Archive.

Bernard Farrall, the Vice Chair of the CIP, said that they were very pleased to be the helping with the further development of facilities at the Regen Centre. Howard Adamson, the Vice Chair of the Regen Centre, said that the Centre was grateful for the continuing support of the CIP and that the conversion will enable the Centre to offer the local and business communities the facilities that they are seeking at a cost they can afford.

Table top triumph

Thanks to everyone for coming down to Sunday’s table top sale which despite the looming rain was a great success. With lots of items at knock down recession busting prices, a prize draw to win a car and bacon butties for sale, we had a steady stream of happy people through the doors. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers that helped on the day.

We received lots of good feedback from both bargain hunters and stall holders, and trust that the improving weather will make March’s event even more popular.

We’ll keep you posted and look forward to seeing you all there!

Brand New Website Launched!

As you can see we have launched a fantastic new website! It has taken some time admittedly, but we think it is a lot easier to get round and find useful information on.

You’ll always find up to date information on the site homepage – both upcoming events and activities and also news items about the Centre, the village and our wide and varied community groups.

If you were on the old email mailing list we’ve transferred you over so you should continue to receive information. If you no longer want to get these updates, please click the unsubscribe button on the email.

Have a look round, see what we are up to and of course, we’d welcome any feedback!