York CVS training and events
27 May - VCSE Training: How to Best Utilise Student Volunteers in York
Learn how to effectively engage and support student volunteers in York’s VCSE sector
We are excited to offer this training session on how to maximise the potential of student volunteers within your organisation.
This session is ideal for anyone in York’s voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector who wants to better understand the dynamics of student volunteering. It will provide key insights into the opportunities and challenges of working with students from York St John University and the University of York.
Training Content: This session, led by Jonny Stansfield from York CVS, Ben Rickett from York St John, and Jacqui Fountain from the University of York will help organisations:
- Understanding the Volunteer Landscape in York
- Aligning Volunteer Opportunities with Student Interests
- Flexible and Inclusive Volunteering Opportunities
- Effective Training and Support
- Creating a Structured Volunteer Program
- Building Partnerships with Universities
- Leveraging Technology and Social Media
- Measuring and Communicating Impact
Eligibility:
This training is free and open to VCSE sector organisations based and operating in York.
Contact details:
For more information about this training, please contact the York Volunteers Centre team at York CVS via [email protected].
3 June - Volunteer Management Forum - Volunteers' Week Special
Wednesday 3 June, 10:30am – 12:30pm, Priory Street Centre, York
A special VMF for Volunteer Managers and those in York’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector who work with volunteers.
This event is designed for individuals with volunteer management responsibilities within York’s Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector. It will take place on 3 June 2026 at the Priory Street Centre in York.
The forum offers a valuable opportunity to:
- Discuss challenges and issues affecting the volunteer management sector.
- Share experiences and learn from others managing volunteers in York’s VCSE sector.
- Network and exchange ideas in a supportive environment.
Forum Agenda:
- Supported Volunteering: This forum will focus on sharing information about the Supported Volunteering Project and it’s work in partnership with the Yor Community Wellbeing Hubs. Discussions will include how we can work together to support volunteers and ensure local volunteering opportunitites are accessible, as well as the benefits of Mental Halth First Aid Tranining for staff and volunteers.
- York CVS Volunteering Project Updates: This forum will include updates on the Diversity in Volunteering and Quality Mark projects.
- Sector Discussions: Each forum includes updates on volunteer management trends and news, opportunities to ask questions, and discussions around sector challenges.
- Worry Monster Session: Submit your concerns or questions anonymously to be discussed as a group.
The event takes place over lunch, so feel free to bring your own. Tea and coffee will be provided.
Venue and Accessibility:
The forum will be held at the Priory Street Centre. For details about the venue, including accessibility information and nearby parking, visit our Venue Website.
Eligibility:
This free event is open to individuals with volunteer management responsibilities within VCSE groups based in York, UK.
Contact Us:
For questions or suggestions, contact the York Volunteer Centre at Volunteering@YorkCVS.org.uk.
if you have questions about the supported volunteering project please feel free to contact Sadie Harvey at [email protected]
VCSE sector training and events
The training and events below are hosted by various organisations and may be relevant for your voluntary, community or social enterprise (VCSE) sector organisation.
For more York events, please visit Live Well York’s website.
17 May - York Health and Arts Mela
Sunday 17 May | 10am – 5pm | York Museum Gardens | Free
Join the award-winning vibrant multi-cultural celebration of healthcare, wellbeing, arts, food, entertainment and awareness.
30 May - 12 June - York Festival of Ideas
30 May – 12 June
Led by the University of York, the York Festival of Ideas takes place over two weeks and presents a diverse programme of over 200 mostly free in-person and online events designed to educate, entertain and inspire.
May - July - Latest free Cancer Champion Awareness sessions
Humber and North Yorkshire Cancer Alliance’s free cancer awareness sessions can teach you about what to look for, cancer prevention, the national cancer screening programmes, and much much more.
If you have any questions, please email the team at [email protected] or call 07519 120809.
Dates for the virtual sessions, which lasts 90 minutes:
- Friday 1 May at 2:00 pm
- Thursday 14 May at 3:00 pm
- Tuesday 19 May at 11:00 am
- Wednesday 3 June at 12:00 noon
- Monday 15 June at 09:30 am
- Thursday 25 June at 10:00 am
- Tuesday 7 July at 1:00 pm
- Friday 17 July at 10:00 am
21 May - Unlock Social Investment Opportunities - Enterprise Works
Thursday 21 May | 10:00–12:30 | Innovation Centre – Heslington
Ready to explore new ways to fund and grow your impact? Join this high‑energy session designed to cut through the complexity of social investment and show you what investors really want. Led by Brendan Hegarty, Loans Officer at Social & Community Capital, the session combines expert insight, myth‑busting, and real‑world examples from across the sector.
You’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and practical next steps to decide if social investment is right for your organisation — and how to get ready.
Perfect for ambitious social enterprise and charity leaders ready to power their next stage of growth.
23 May - Africa Day celebration in York
Saturday 23 May 2026, 10am – 4pm | Homestead Park, York
Join the Africa Day Celebrations in York on 23 May. Hosted by York African Community, the 3rd edition of this event will celebrate African culture through include dance, music, art, crafts, exhibitions and more.
23 June - Move Beyond “Silver Bullets” in Social Enterprise Innovation - Enterprise Works
Tuesday 23 June | 10:00am – 12:30pm | Innovation Centre, Heslington
Working on complex social challenges? Join this dynamic, hands-on workshop designed to help social enterprise founders move beyond single solutions and take a smarter, systems-led approach to innovation.
You’ll gain practical frameworks, work through real challenges with peers, and leave with a clear action roadmap that balances quick wins with long-term, systemic impact.
Perfect for founders ready to strengthen strategy, spark innovation, and scale impact.
25 June - Yorkshire Funders Annual Conference
Thursday 25 June | 9.30am – 4pm, Horizon, Leeds LS10 1JR | Tickets: £70 Member, £140 Non-member
A full conference including In Conversation with ……… David Holdsworth (Chief Executive, Charity Commission).
3 July - An introduction to barriers to education attendance
Friday 3 July | 1pm – 4.30pm | West Offices, Station Rise | Free
City of York COuncil Educational Psychology Service (EPS) are inviting staff who support the education, engagement and attendance of children and young people in York to attend this free training session.
Please note: You will need to create a MyLo account to access the training
May - June - Funded Sensory Impairment Awareness training
Tuesday 19 May, Tuesday 16 June, Tuesday 30 June 2026, 9:30am – 13:30pm
The Wilberforce Trust is offering funded places for their well-regarded Sensory Impairment Awareness training. During the session you will explore the main eye conditions which cause visual impairment and the subsequent impact. You will have an opportunity to use visual impairment simulation glasses, learn the correct method of guiding and experience what it is like to guide and be guided. There will also be an opportunity to look at the causes of hearing impairment, alternative methods of communication and complete an exercise in lip reading.
Monthly - Peer-Led Aphasia Support in York
Aphasia Support in York provides a welcoming, peer-led environment for people living with aphasia, which is a communication disability often following a stroke or brain injury. The group serves as a vital “safety net” once clinical speech and language therapy has ended.
When: 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm, 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month.
Where: Gateway Centre, Front Street, York, YO24 3BZ.
Accessibility: The venue has wheelchair access, disabled toilets, and disabled parking nearby.
Cost: We focus on making our sessions accessible to all.
The groups are unique because they are peer-led, run by people who are living with aphasia themselves. They focus on rebuilding confidence and social connections in a safe, non-judgmental space where there is no pressure to speak perfectly. Carers and partners are highly encouraged to attend.
Contact us:
If you have any questions about any of our training sessions or events, or if you have a suggestion for future training, please get in touch with us at [email protected]
Safeguarding Week 2026
15 June - York’s Drug and Alcohol Service: Change Grow Live
Monday 15 June | 2pm – 3pm | MS Teams
Overview of York’s drug and alcohol services, including our local offer and focus on hidden harm, particularly the impact on children affected by parental or family substance misuse.
Also covers local trends and a brief overview of harm reduction, with a spotlight on key substances: alcohol, cannabis, THC/spice, and ketamine.
16 June - Working with Dads
Tuesday 16 June | 11:30am – 12:30pm | MS Teams
Participants will be encouraged to consider how we work in partnership with dads to achieve positive outcomes for their children.
The session will share experiences of dad’s working with professionals in the safeguarding arena and help us think about positive and practical ways to better include them in all aspects of our work.
16 June - Family Group Decision Making
Tuesday 16 June | 2.30pm – 3.30pm | MS Teams
An overview of Family Group Decision Making and what it means for our work with children and families in York.
17 June - Domestic Abuse
Wednesday 17 June | 11am – 12pm | MS Teams
This session will provide an overview of domestic abuse, including the different forms it can take, and the signs professionals may notice when someone is experiencing abuse. It will also explore the experiences of people with learning disabilities, considering additional vulnerabilities and some of the barriers individuals may face when accessing domestic abuse support.
The session aims to increase awareness and understanding of how domestic abuse may impact people with learning disabilities and autism, and to support professionals to respond appropriately and confidently.
18 June - Preparation for Adulthood and Learning Disabilities
Thursday 18 June | 2pm – 3pm | MS Teams
This session provides an overview of York’s evolving Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) model, focusing on how we are strengthening outcomes for young people with SEND as they move towards adulthood. It will highlight our strategic direction, operational delivery, and the impact of multi-agency collaboration across education, health, and social care.
18 June - Learning from Multi-Agency Case Reviews and Audits
Thursday 18 June | 3.30pm – 4.30pm | MS Teams
This session will provide an overview of national updates including recent publications from the National Panel and will also cover thematic learning and practice recommendations from local case reviews in York that have been conducted when a child dies or is seriously injured and abuse or neglect are suspected.
19 June - Private Fostering
Friday 19 June | 12pm – 1pm | MS Teams
The aim of this workshop is to raise awareness of private fostering. We will achieve this by discussing the definition of private fostering, exploring differing scenarios to put the definition in practice, and feeling confident in your responsibilities when you identify a private fostering arrangement.
Jess will share her experience and expertise of Private Fostering both within the Social Care and Education settings, linking the procedures to frontline practice.
Jess will talk about some of the lessons learnt through the death of Victoria Climbié and how The subsequent Laming Report prompted a strengthening of the legal framework around private fostering.
We hope to inspire professionals to feel confident in recognising private fostering arrangements, know what to do and how to support children and young people in these arrangements.
19 June - Transitional Safeguarding
This session explores the principles and practice of transitional safeguarding, focusing on how services can effectively support young people as they move from adolescence into adulthood. It will highlight the unique risks faced by those approaching 18, particularly where vulnerabilities such as exploitation, mental health needs, or instability remain present beyond childhood frameworks.
The session will encourage practitioners to think beyond traditional service boundaries and consider developmentally appropriate, person-centred approaches that ensure continuity of care and protection. This session is informed by the new Transitional Safeguarding Practice Guidance introduced in March this year.