Chocolate giants Nestl today gave a £100,000 Millennium present to the children of York.

Following in the tradition of York's famous Rowntree chocolate dynasty, who pioneered Britain's welfare system, Nestl's cash boost is set to play a major role in the spiritual and moral development of the city's youngsters.

It will enable the recipients of the multi-thousand pound donation, the York Schools and Youth Trust (Yo-Yo), to strengthen links between the church and schools in the city in the countdown to the 21st century.

Yo-Yo, established almost two years ago to bring children into more regular contact with the church through schools, already employs a full-time worker, former teacher Dave Godfrey.

Now the Nestl donation will mean that the trust will be able to expand its work, probably taking on another full-time worker to go into schools.

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, patron of Yo-Yo, said the church was "very concerned" about the values, standards and moral and spiritual foundations of our young people.

"And this is one way in particular we can make a real difference," said Dr Hope.

"If we do not concentrate our efforts on our children, what hope is there for the future?"

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Mick Bradley, received the donation on behalf of the city and the trust at a ceremony at Bishopthorpe Palace today.

Peter Blackburn, chairman and chief executive of Nestl UK Ltd, who handed over the cheque, said the company, which received 17,000 requests every year, was glad the money would be used for multi-denominational activities.

"We have been thinking long and hard about how we would mark the Millennium and it seems to us that York Schools and Youth Trust is a very good way of benefiting the community in the long term," he said.

And Canon John Young, chairman of the trustees of Yo-Yo, said: "We're absolutely delighted to have this very generous gift.

"We already have a full-time schools worker in post and that costs us about £25,000 per year.

"We're also setting up a "seed corn plant" fund giving money to local churches who want to employ youth workers whether it's full time or part time.

"This money will obviously enable us to continue our work and develop it over the next few years."

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