IN THE last five months the number of sites on CommuniGate has doubled, and the number of people visiting the sites has risen dramatically. JON BUTLER looks at the diverse appeal of the free Evening Press website and what it has to offer

IF YOU still have not logged on to CommuniGate - the ultimate electronic communications tool for our community - then here is a taste of what you have been missing!

CommuniGate has been created by the Evening Press to offer free websites to charities, clubs, and non-profit-making organisations. Now there are websites out there worthy of your attention and covering a vast array of pastimes, sports and good causes.

Over the past few weeks we have mentioned many of these sites and you can still read these stories at your convenience by logging on to ThisIsYork.co.uk. The sites themselves are neatly sectioned off into dedicated categories, as follows.-

- Animal Welfare

- Bands

- Charities and Voluntary Groups

- Churches

- Clubs and Societies

- Family History

- Leisure and Lifestyle

- Parish Council News

- Religious Groups

- Residents' Groups

- Schools and Education

- Sports Clubs

- Training and Employment Charities

Within these sections you will find camera clubs, amateur dramatic groups, fishing clubs, playgroups, rock bands, gardening clubs, rambling associations, community magazines, parish councils, church groups, and even the Society of Friends of King Richard III. One of the latest sites to appear has been taken from Bucharest to enable Romanians living in York to correspond with home!

The most popular area, however, has proved to be sports clubs. Football, cricket, tennis, swimming, karate, running and cycling are all well represented and you can find out all the latest scores and league information from these well-maintained sites.

A new area only just started, has created a lot of interest. This is our Family History section. To find out more follow the link from the home page of ThisIsYork.co.uk. Your own family tree may blossom with a site on CommuniGate to help you trace your ancestors.

The enthusiasm of the site owners on CommuniGate has been exceptional.

Their efforts are being rewarded with more and more of you visiting their sites.

Become part of the Communi-Gate community by visiting ThisIsYork.co.uk today.