Archbishop of York Youth Trust

The Archbishop of York Youth Trust was established by Dr John Sentamu, the 97th Archbishop of York, in 2009. The Youth Trust is founded on Christian values and is inclusive to all in its ethos and activities. We believe that every young person is unique, of great worth, and has the potential to change our communities for the better. We exist to empower young people to serve their generation, putting the needs of others before themselves, as displayed in the life of Jesus and people from many faith traditions.

Brainkind

We are the leading Disabilities Trust. 

We are a leading national charity offering specialist community-based and residential support for adults with an acquired brain injury .

Cancer Research UK (Yorkshire Region)

Cancer Research UK was formed 20 years ago, in 2002. However, our history goes back much further, to 1902, with the founding of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. We are the only cancer research charity researching all 200 different kinds of cancers. Supporters drive everything we do at CRUK. Its only thank s to your generosity that’s we’ve helped double cancer survival in the last 40 years.

Cash For Kids

Cash for Kids is a grant-giving charity helping the children that need it most across West Yorkshire, The Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate and York.

Our mission is to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and young people in our communities who are affected by illness, poverty, neglect or have additional needs. We believe that all children should be able to express their individuality, achieve their potential and live life to the full. Please help us to help them.

We work with local grass-roots organisations across the region that aim to make a difference to young lives, and directly support families who often have nowhere else to go through our regular grant rounds.

We commit that at least 80p from every £1 we receive goes back into our local communities.

Children's Heart Surgery Fund

Children's Heart Surgery Fund provide life-saving medical equipment for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit, parent accommodation for families and vital ward resources. We also fund staff training, scientific research and new clinical roles. Our board of trustees meets regularly to review major requests for funding, and the board includes pioneering medical experts from the Heart Unit.

Everybody's Cycling

We are a Community Benefit Society providing fun and practical cycling events, experiences and activities. Our aim is to encourage people of ages and abilities to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of cycling.

We were founded as a social enterprise in 2008 by Jim and Sally McGurn. They could see that the general public needed opportunities to try-out cycling in an enjoyable, traffic-free environment, so we developed specialised bike try-out events for city centres, schools, workplaces and community groups.

Jim and Sally have a son with Downs Syndrome and Autism, so they were keen to develop particular support systems for anyone with a disability wanting to take up cycling. However, they found that the products on the market gave poor choice, quality and affordability. There were also few comparative try-out opportunities. So Get Cycling began sourcing and retailing disability cycles: some new and others refurbished by us. This soon grew, but operating both events and retail under one roof became hard to manage, and confused customers. So all non-retail activities are now run by Everybody’s Cycling, a new, charitable Community Benefit Society, financed by over 90 community shareholders. All assets, staff and activities transferred in 2020. The two organisations support each other, but have separate boards, governance, finances and aims. Everybody’s Cycling aims to be particularly strong in Yorkshire, but operates nationally, too.

Explore York Libraries and Archives Mutual Limited

Explore provides the public library and archives service for the city of York.

We run 14 libraries including York Explore – our flagship library and home of the City Archive –  5 Reading Cafes, a mobile library, and a home library service.  We employ 90 people.  Explore inspires everyone to challenge their imagination, explore their potential and connect with each other, supporting and enriching our communities.

Explore came into being in 2014 as a mutual industrial and provident society with charitable status.  We have worked with the Cabinet Office and the Department for Culture Media and Sport to share our learning and expertise in the mutualisation of services and contributed to a toolkit on alternative delivery models for public libraries.

We are one third owned by staff and two thirds by our community members. As a member you own one share in Explore and can have a say in the development and delivery of the service. Anyone over the age of 16 can become a member.

We are firmly rooted in York with a board of directors who are all local people and understand the city’s needs. The Chief Executive and board oversee our work, monitor performance and set yearly plans and budgets. Our staff, community members, library users and partner organisations also have opportunities to get involved to help us develop and provide better, more responsive services.

We are registered with the Financial Conduct Authority and recognised as having charitable status by HMRC. We are governed by a set of rules which define what we do.

We have a contract with City of York Council. The initial contract period ran from May 2014 to 31 March 2019. After a competitive tendering process in 2018, Explore was the successful bidder and we were awarded a new fifteen year contract to run from April 2019 to March 2034.

Family Fund

Family Fund is the UK’s largest charity providing grants for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people. Last year, we provided over 150,000 grants or services worth over £48 million to families across the UK.

Our purpose is to improve the lives of low-income families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.

Our mission is to provide items and services to all low-income families in the UK raising disabled or seriously ill children, that they could not otherwise afford or access, and that help improve their quality of life, realise their rights, and remove some of the barriers they face.

Our vision is that all families raising disabled or seriously ill children have the same choices, quality of life, opportunities and aspirations as other families.

We provide grants for a wide range of items, such as washing machines, sensory toys, family breaks, bedding, tablets, furniture, outdoor play equipment, clothing and computers. It can be a struggle financially, emotionally and physically for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, and these grants help break down many of the barriers families face, improving their quality of life and easing the additional daily pressures.

IDAS

IDAS is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

Our services include refuge accommodation, community based support, peer mentoring, group work and access to a free, confidential out of hours’ helpline.

Our teams of accredited specialist workers (IDVA’s and ISVAs) support people through the criminal justice system in addition to providing emotional support and safety planning advice.

We recognise that most victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence are women and we provide a number of single sex services such as refuges to women and their children.  However, the majority of our services are accessible to anyone who is affected by abuse and we encourage male and LGBT+ victims and survivors to access our support.

For children and young people, we have developed one to one and group support. Our young persons’ RYPP (Respect Young Person’s Programme) also works with families where the young person is abusive.

We pride ourselves on our professional, responsive and innovative approach.  With over 40 years’ experience we have been at the forefront of developing new and unique services and were the first organisation in the UK to develop free online training and Live Chat support for survivors.

Our funding comes from the local authority, trusts, the Police Crime Commissioner, donations and grants.

Kyra Women's Project

Founded in 2013, the Kyra Women’s Project was the brainchild of Yvonne Copley. Yvonne was aware that after any intervention or when people are feeling vulnerable and alone, there is a need for support. Through research and after meeting with a range of organisations in York, she learned that many women had to wait a considerable length of time to receive the specialist intervention and support they desperately needed. This occurred at a time when they were vulnerable, often isolated and at risk of making poor decisions. In addition, a lack of support following formal specialist treatments diminished their effectiveness of primary intervention and outcomes.

Kyra Women’s Project began as a support centre for women, run by women, providing encouragement, companionship, information, training, and importantly, a sense of belonging.

Kyra supports women to help overcome challenges and make change in their lives. It acts as a support group to prevent a relapse in behaviour and develop new habits.

Marie Curie

Whatever the illness, we’re with you to the end Everyone deserves the right support at the end of life. We’re here for anyone with an illness they’re likely to die from, and their family and friends.

Information and support

Whatever your question, Marie Curie is here to help with practical information and support on all aspects of life with terminal illness, dying and bereavement.

Marie Curie's Support Line

Call us free on 0800 090 2309 to speak to a trained member of the team.

St Leonard's Hospice

St Leonard’s Hospice is an independent charity, providing specialist palliative care and support for local people with life limiting illnesses. We have an In-patient Unit, Sunflower Centre and Hospice@Home service. In this relaxed and friendly environment, every patient is recognised and treated as an individual. With our support patients are able to enjoy the best possible quality of life. Our care also extends to support families and carers.

In addition to a team of highly experienced doctors and nurses, we have specialists in a wide range of roles including complementary therapy, lymphoedema care, physiotherapy, social work, bereavement, occupational therapy and spiritual care.

Our care is free of charge to patients and their families but not free to provide. As a charity we rely heavily on the generosity of the public to raise just over £5.2 million each year to run St Leonard's Hospice. This equates to £595 for every hour of every day. Although St Leonard’s does get some public funding the majority of the running costs have to be raised from donations and fundraising by the local community - businesses, groups and individuals. Legacies are by far our greatest source of income.

St Nicks

St Nicks is the green heart of York: a centre for nature and green living, with an ambitious vision for York. The charity started as ‘Friends of St Nicholas Fields’ in the 1990s by transforming a former landfill site into a thriving Local Nature Reserve. We continue to manage it, with the help of many great volunteers, for the benefit of both wildlife and our visitors. The name of the site and the secular charity comes from the middle ages when the area was owned and managed by St Nicholas hospital and church. Please see the History pages for more details.

We are based at St Nicks Environment Centre which combines many green features. From this base, we run projects, events and services which help to make York more sustainable. The Centre is available for hire for meetings, seminars and other events. We hope you will visit us soon.

St Nicks is registered as ‘Friends of St Nicholas Fields’, charity no.1153739. We are partially funded by City of York Council and partly by grants from other sources whose support is gratefully received and acknowledged on this page. The rest of our income comes from membership, donations, fundraising events and other activities.

•  We are fully committed to making sure that our services, special places and the support we offer are as welcoming, inclusive and accessible as possible.  

• We want St Nicks to reflect a diverse society where we learn from each other and build a healthy respect for each other, both so that we can thrive together today and so that we can live together as sustainably as possible in the future. 

• We will strive to ensure that people of all backgrounds and characteristics are able to fully gain from and contribute to St Nicks, and we commit to listening to everyone in our community to make sure that this is the case, identifying and addressing issues as they arise.  

Talking About Loss

Talking About Loss is a warm, friendly, registered charity for like-minded people to talk freely about loss. Whether you have lost a child, parent, sibling, partner or a pet, having someone to talk to who knows what you are going through is a great comfort.

Our monthly meet ups include drop in wellbeing cafes, in beautiful villages in the heart of the Yorkshire Wolds plus events and activities at Uncleby Barn.

The Island

The Island is a charity in York providing islands of space and time for vulnerable children and young people in York.

The Retreat York

We're a York-based specialist mental healthcare provider, supporting people who require expert therapy to improve their mental wellbeing.

We specialise in tailored care which is personalised and effective, providing:

* Psychological and psychiatric assessment and therapy services locally, regionally and nationally

* Neurodevelopmental assessment and therapy services for adults, children and young people with autism and ADHD

Our mission is to deliver high quality, sustainable, renowned mental health and wellbeing services, alongside Autism and ADHD services, helping people to live well with themselves so that we all live better together.

As an independent charity, we provide care to people who refer themselves and those who are referred to us by GPs and other professionals. We can often help when others can’t, enabling people to recover and get their lives back on track.

Two Ridings Community Foundation

Two Ridings Community Foundation (TRCF) is one of 46 community foundations in the UK. We operate in York, North Yorkshire, Hull and East Riding. We receive money from individuals, families, businesses, charitable trusts and public sector bodies. We give this money to charities and community groups who show us that they work hard, at a local level, to reach the people who need it most.

• Two Ridings Community Foundation has delivered over £7.7million in grants since 2000, and in 2016/17 we awarded over £1.5m in grants. Please look at the IMPACT section of our website for a closer look at a few of the projects we have supported.

• If you are a local community group or charity, the APPLY section of our website gives details of our eligibility criteria and which funds are open for applications. Online application forms are available to download here, too.

• Our donors range from individuals wanting to support their local area, through businesses wanting to be recognised in their locality as supporting good causes, to national funders who value our local knowledge. If a donor would like their contribution to go to a particular cause (mental health projects, young people, loneliness etc.) or to a specific geographical location within our area, then we can work to ensure that the money is spent in this way.

• If you are interested in donating to us, or in setting up a fund that we could manage for you, you can either donate via our Mydonate page, or arrange to meet with us to discuss things further. The GIVE section of our website contains lots of useful information regarding the different ways individuals, organisations and trusts can make a difference by working with us.

York Cares

We match the skills and expertise of employers and their employees to community projects where they can have most impact. Our tried and tested programmes deliver tangible benefits for local people as well as workforce development opportunities for employers.

Our city is facing many challenges and our employers work closely with City of York Council and York CVS to address community needs. By working collaboratively, York Cares employers make an effective and strategic investment to help those who need it most.

Our inspirational employee-volunteers give over 10,000 hours of their own time each year to over 200 worthwhile community organisations and schools in some of York’s most disadvantaged areas.

York City Football Club Foundation

Vision 

York City Football Club Foundation was established in 2014 with the vision: “to support the local community by providing sport and physical activity; educational; social and healthy lifestyle opportunities, and ensuring that our contributions have a realistic opportunity of making a positive impact.` 

The fundamental aim of the Scheme has been to find ways of supporting the local community by providing opportunities for physical activity, social elements and enjoyment, as well as creating a pathway for development, talent and competition for all ages.  

Origins 

In 2007 York City in the Community (YCITC) was created by York City Football Club with a small team of coaches employed to embrace delivering football in the community, predominantly working within schools in the York area. The Football Club support for the programme has always been vital but over the years, the programme has grown immensely and developed a much wider focus by achieving charitable status as York City Fc Foundation. 

Impact 

The impactful work of the Foundation is aimed at improving community cohesion; reducing social isolation and loneliness; addressing holiday hunger and young people’s health; promoting social prescribing models and partnership working in numerous guises with national, regional and local organisations and services across the City. 

The Foundation also works hard to use their standing in the Community to raise awareness for relevant national campaigns including in recent years : Suicide Safer York; Cancer Champions and the homeless community and services in York. 

York Ending Stigma

Here at York Ending Stigma (previously known as Time to Change York) we are a group of York residents, employers, and employees coming together to share, as much or as little of, our mental health experiences through a variety of means to help end mental health stigma and discrimination in York. Our work includes projects on stigmatising language, the use of creativity (poetry, video, photography, blogs, art), radio interviews, and so much more, to change attitudes and beliefs towards people with experience of mental illness.

York Inspirational Kids

York Mind

York Mind is an independent provider of high quality mental health services in York and its surrounding area. Our wide range of services help individuals as they recover from a variety of mental health conditions. We are a leading local provider of services supporting individuals recovering from mental ill-health to achieve outcomes that will progress them towards recovery, social inclusion and integration in mainstream activity such as learning, volunteering or employment.

We believe that the condition does not define the individual. To that end, we campaign to raise awareness of mental ill health and combat the stigma surrounding mental health conditions.

York Mind aims to be an inclusive and accessible organization, emphasising the importance of acceptance and tolerance of the beliefs, opinions and wishes of our clients.

York Museums Trust

As an independent charity established in 2002, York Museum Trust’s (YMT) vision is ‘To work together with audiences and communities, to inspire, to share and to care for cultural heritage’.

Responsible for York Art Gallery, York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum and Gardens and York St Mary’s, the charity cares for over one million objects across collections as diverse as Geology and Fine Art, Social History and Archaeology.  All our collections are Designated as being of National Importance.

York Art Gallery

Built in 1879 as the venue for the second Yorkshire Fine Art and Industrial Exhibition, the building was purchased by the local authority and re-opened as York Art Gallery in 1892. Since that time, the gallery has developed an outstanding collection of paintings that range from 14th century Western European examples through to 20th century British work. Following a major redevelopment project, the gallery reopened in 2015 with a new Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) to showcase its important collection of British Studio Ceramics.

York Castle Museum

The York Castle Museum was founded by Dr John Kirk, a doctor from Pickering, North Yorkshire, and houses his extraordinary collection of social history objects reflecting everyday life in the county. One of its renowned displays is the reconstructed Victorian street, Kirkgate, that has been hugely influential in museum displays worldwide. The museum is housed in a former debtors’ prison and an adjoining former women’s prison, both of which are Grade I listed. The museum’s name comes from the fact it stands on the site of the former York Castle.

Yorkshire Museum and the Museum Gardens

The Yorkshire Museum is set in ten acres of botanical gardens, both of which were founded in the 1830s by the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. The museum currently houses a number of archaeological, geological and natural history artefacts from our extensive collections. Within the Museum Gardens are the ruins of the 13th century St Mary’s Abbey, a medieval Hospitium and guest lodge, and a 19th century Observatory.

York St Mary’s

York St Mary’s is a deconsecrated medieval parish church on Castlegate, close to the Coppergate Centre and the Jorvik Viking Centre. The bulk of the building dates to the early 13th century, with 14th and 15th century modifications and alterations. York Museums Trust have transformed this hallowed space into a unique venue for experiencing cutting edge contemporary art.

Yorkshire Air Museum

We are the Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial, one of the largest independent museums of aviation in the United Kingdom. A registered charity, we sit on the former site of RAF Elvington in North Yorkshire, a World War II airfield used extensively by Allied bomber crews.

Admission tickets offer free re-entry to the Museum for twelve months!