Your Rights And Entitlements

My Things Matter Pledge 

City of York Council have signed the National Youth Advocacy Service  (NYAS) " My Things Matter Pledge"  to ensure that your belongings are treated with dignity, Care and respect if you ever have to move. 

Full details of the pledge and the Council commitment can be found at My Things Matter Pledge 

Leisure Offer - Better funded membership for Children in Care and Care Leavers　

Better Gym offer a funded membership for children in care and care leavers in York.

The membership includes:

SWIM - available to children over the age of 4* * accompanying adults are required to pay

Young people can attend alone - please check swimming policy rules for further details [www.better.org.uk/lp/swim-safety-rules]

GYM - Available to young people over the age of 11

Young people aged 11-15 have junior gym membership - Please check timetable for junior gym times

FITNESS CLASS

Junior membership - access to junior fitness classes if available

16+ - Access to full Fitness Classes programme

LESSONS AND COURSES  - Limited lessons and courses are also available

Swimming at York Leisure Centre, Energise and Yearsley

Climbing courses at energise

ONLINE LIBRARY

Access to Better at home online library of 1500+ on demand fitness classes and workouts etc

Please ask your Carer, Social Worker or Pathway Worker if you would like a membership.

For more information please email speakup@york.gov.uk

Leisure Offer  - York Sports Village

York Sports Village offer one years free membership to Children in Care and Care Leavers aged 16+

Membership includes unlimited use of fitness classes, swimming pool, gym and Health suite facilities such as Sauna and Jacuzzi.

Booking is currently required for swim sessions - this can be done via telephone or the website www.york-sports.com

New members will be required to undertake a Health and Safety induction

Please ask your Social Worker or Pathway Worker if you would like a membership

Free Bus Pass

All young people in care and care leavers up to the age of 21 are entitled to a bus pass so that you can travel around York for free. If you don’t already have one, you can ask your social worker or foster carer to arrange this for you. If you live outside of York, you can still speak to your social worker about how we can support you to travel around the city by bus. You may also be entitled to a bus pass after you turn 21. This is if you are in education, training or an apprenticeship. Speak to your social worker or pathway worker for more details.

Violet Chambers Fund

Is there somewhere special you've always wanted to go ?

Maybe to see your favourite band? A day trip out somewhere amazing? A sporting event? A meal out somewhere fancy?

The Violet Chambers Fund is a sum of £20,000, donated by Violet Chambers to the City of York Council to be spent on children and young people in care. Children and young people in care can apply for up to £100 of the fund to go towards a meaningful or memorable experience. The money cannot be spent on anything that the local authority should already be providing for you!

So far, applications have included trips to London, fancy meals at restaurants, go-karting and paintballing!

Who can apply for it?

Any child or young person aged 7 - 17  who is Looked After by the City of York Council can apply for up to £100 from the Violet Chambers Fund, or someone can apply on their behalf.

For more information or to request an application form contact speakup@york.gov.uk

Useful websites

Help at hand from the office of Children's Commissioner for England provides free support,advice and information to children in care, leaving care, living away from home or working with children’s services.