POTTERY, silk painting and sports and trips are among activities on offer by a playscheme run by Richmond After-School Club during the summer holidays.

Sessions for children aged four to 13 take place in the balcony room at Richmond sports centre, Garden Village, from July 22 to August 30, from 8.30am to 5.30pm. The cost is £14.50 per day for the first child and £12.50 for subsequent children, or £62.50 for a whole week. Children should take a packed lunch. For further details and booking, contact Sarah Gruffydd on (01748) 825856.

VOTING VENUES: Libraries in North Yorkshire are to act as voting stations for the Blue Peter book awards. This is the third year that the children's TV programme has held the awards and again there are two categories - best book with facts and best storybook. Voting takes place until August 31 and forms are available in all local libraries. It is also possible to download voting forms from the website at www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc. Winners will be announced in the autumn.

HOSPICE BOOST: A Middlesbrough hospice is to benefit from a £500 donation from Hambleton District Council. The authority sanctioned a grant to the Teesside Hospice Care Foundation at a cabinet meeting. The money will go towards an appeal to cover the cost of refurbishing the in-patient unit.

CONSERVATION WORK: The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers is holding two courses in North Yorkshire next month. A summer tree identification session takes place on Saturday, August 3, and wildlife gardening tips will be given on Tuesday, August 6. The events take place at Kiplin Hall, near Scorton, and are free to attend. Places can be booked by calling (01748) 811970.

CONCERT DATE: American singer Beth Orton will perform at York's Barbican Centre on Friday, October 4, as part of her UK tour. The show starts at 7.30pm. Tickets, priced £15, are available from the box office on (01904) 656688