Sport for all

Hull City Council's sports development team has earned a Count Me In award for its work to include disabled people in sport.
The team provide activities for disabled people including gliding, kayaking, swimming and wheelchair basketball.
The award was given by the English Federation of Disability Sport and Hull is only the third local authority in the country to achieve it.
Meanwhile, a former user of the scheme, who went on to volunteer for the service and mentor other disabled people, recently took part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, proving an inspiration to others.
"The sports development team is a shining example of how disabled people can be included in a wide variety of sports," said Cllr Kalvin Neal, who has responsibility for quality of life in the city.

At your service

Hull City Council's environmental health and bereavement services have retained their Charter Mark to show their excellent customer service for the people of Hull.
The Charter Mark is the Government's customer service standard for public service providers.
To retain the award the two services were independently audited and assessed.
Customers ranging from Hull school children and businesses were asked how they rated them.
The report said: "Hull City Council's environmental health and bereavement services are staffed by highly motivated individuals who are creating a better city through the services they provide." Environmental health receives 15,000 service requests each year.
The bereavement team arranges 2,200 cremations and 600 burials.
"The staff deserve recognition as they are committed to providing the highest levels of customer service," said Norma Cottis, the council's divisional manager for environmental health.

All mapped out

Residents and history enthusiasts can now travel through time – thanks to a new CDrom.
The disk includes 12 historic maps showing the development of Hull over more than 300 years.
The earliest known map of the city from 1530 is included and one from 1791 shows Hull's first dock.
"Hull has a very rich, varied and important history," says senior local studies librarian David Smith who helped produce the disk.
"It has grown from a small walled town to a bustling city and has seen many major historical events.
The disk shows these changes in our city's development." It is available from Tourist Information in Queen Victoria Square and the Local Studies Library at the Central Library, Albion Street, for £15.95.
For information on library services call 300300 or visit www.hullcc.gov.uk

Tourism hat-trick

Hull's reputation as a visitor attraction has been boosted thanks to the city's nomination for a top tourism award.
The city has been short-listed for the most group-friendly UK destination in the prestigious 2008 Group Travel Awards.
Hull is also represented in two other award categories - the best company or venue offering guided tours, (tourism partnership, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire) and best rail operator for groups (Hull Trains).
"This is great news and confirms that Hull is extremely welcoming to visitors," says Cllr Kalvin Neal, who has responsibility for quality of life.
The awards are the annual celebration for suppliers to the group travel industry.
The winners were to be named on June 20 at a gala dinner at London's Radisson SAS Hotel.

Hitting the target

A local bowmen has won an archery competition believed to be the oldest sporting event in the world
Guy Hair (43) won the annual Scorton Silver Arrow competition, which dates back to 1673, by being the first of 139 archers to shoot an arrow through the centre spot of a 4ft target from 100 yards.
"There's an element of luck really - there were far better bowmen than me on the day," said Mr Hair, who only took up archery 18 months ago.
This year's competition was held in its birthplace - Scorton, North Yorkshire.
But the win means that next year it will be staged at Mr Hair's archery club – The Bowmen of St Mary's - at St. Mary's College, Cranbrook Avenue.
It also means the original trophy, a solid silver arrow, can be displayed at Hull's Maritime Museum a month before the event next May.

Gift for school

Generous pupils from Trinity House School donated a share of profits from their youth enterprise to support a school in Africa.
The lads, who set up Trinity Prints to reproduce designs on anything from mugs to mouse mats, donated £75 to the Victoria Climbie Trust which founded a school in the Ivory Coast.
It was built in memory of eight-year-old Victoria who was murdered in London in 2000 with 128 injuries on her body.
Hull City Council is a member of the Hull Youth Enterprise Partnership, which brings together public, private and community organisations to promote youth enterprise.
It aims to create 1,200 local businesses by supporting young people aged 14-25 to start up and run their own ventures.
For more information please visit www.youthenterprise-hull.co.uk

Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed from all walks of life to work as custody visitors at police stations in their area.
The custody visitor's role is to carry out unannounced visits to police stations to check and report on the welfare of people being held in custody.
Applicants should be over 18, have the ability to work as part of a team, have effective communication skills (both oral and written), and be concerned for the welfare of others.
Volunteers are required to carry out a minimum of six visits per year and to attend regular meetings of their custody visiting panel.
Selection of custody visitors is made on merit and is regardless of political opinion, gender, marital status, ethnicity, disability, age or sexual orientation.
For more information call 307234 or email: victoria.wise@humberside.pnn.police.uk