Even if you haven't filled in your census return yet, the chances are that your ancestors did.

This means that if you are researching your family tree, there is a wealth of information out there, but how can you be sure you haven't missed something? JON BUTLER takes a look at how CommuniGate can help.

The Internet has proved to be a gold mine of information for people researching their family history.

Many new leads and interesting facts have been discovered about the past through this new medium. If you have tried your hand at genealogy you will be well aware how interesting the subject is and how vital the census returns can be to your research.

The problem is that the details of each census are only released a hundred years after they were taken.

That means that every keen genealogist is about to get the chance of discovering a little bit more about their forebears with the release of the 1901 details.

Of course there are many other sources other than the census, but the chances are that no matter where you have looked you will not have gathered all of the information available to you.

On the other hand the chances that someone else has that missing piece to your jigsaw are very real, and that is where CommuniGate can help.

By establishing a network of free websites on CommuniGate for every surname with a known connection to York and the Ryedale area we can collate everybody's research and produce results that will save the individual hours of work.

Perhaps we can even connect families up to the present-day through old photographs like the one above, published on your own family site.

If you would like to be involved or know more then in the first instance e-mail Jon Butler at jon.butler@ycp.co.uk or call him on York 567143 for further details.

Also on CommuniGate this week...

The Saturday Kids Club at Elim Church, in Swinegate, York, is kicking off the summer term with lots of fun and games for children aged five to ten years old. Penny Hutchinson told CommuniGate, "Our aim is to provide a safe place for parents to leave their kids while they go shopping. We have games, refreshments and crafts with everything from glass painting to pottery"

The club is open from 10.30am to noon every Saturday. To book a place, you can call Penny on 767283 or 767764. For further information visit their site at www.communigate.co.uk/york/saturdaykidsclub

Apology...

We omitted the telephone number of the Dringhouses Out of School Club we featured two weeks ago. To book your child's place call 07970 899757.