York’s VCSE sector is at the heart of everything we do. We support and champion our members and the wider VCSE sector by providing information, guidance, training, networking opportunities and by representing the sector at a strategic level.  

During 2024-25 we worked with York’s VCSE sector in the following ways to provide the latest information, learning and tools to support their work with local communities in York.

Small Grants Funding

During 2024-25 we managed a series of small grants funds. We distributed approximately £225,000 to 66 VCSE organisations through the VCSE Health Inequalities Small Grants Fund, the Community Mental Health Transformation Fund, the Grassroots Kindling Fund and the VCSE Vaccination Capacity Building project.

York Volunteers is York’s Volunteer Centre. Through our online platform, engagement events, specialist training and Volunteer Management Forum, we promote the VCSE sector’s volunteering opportunities and champion volunteering across our city.

During 2024-25 we:

Supported 201 local VCSE organisations with the promotion of 359 volunteering opportunities – providing guidance and support on all aspects of volunteer management best-practice, role and policy reviews, and information to support and strengthen volunteer management practice across York.

42 representatives from VCSE organisations attended 5 volunteering development training sessions covering how to write a volunteering role description, managing volunteers, how to utilise student volunteers, and exploring the use of artificial intelligence.

Attended 4 outreach sessions through Job Centre Plus and York College. 26 radio appearances and a total of 14 local events / supported activities to engage new audiences, especially young people and promote the benefits of volunteering.

Volunteer Management Forum 

We brought 39 VCSE organisations together through 4 Volunteer Management Forum meetings, providing guidance, networking and peer support, and an opportunity for Volunteer managers to share ideas, challenges and experiences.

Watch the video below to find out what attendees think about the Volunteer Management Forum meetings…

York Volunteering Fair 2025

We welcomed 102 people to our Volunteer Fair which supported 42 VCSE organisations featuring more than 100 volunteering opportunities. Watch the video from the event below.

Together Community Commissioners (those with lived experience of poverty) and Civic Commissioners (system leaders with the power to make change) worked together to identify changes that would improve the lives of people experiencing poverty in York.

The Commissioners co-produced their findings by way of an Organisational Standards Charter which included four standards for all organisations to work to implement:

• We listen
• We are understanding
• We are respectful and friendly
• We are responsive, honest and care about getting you the right support

During 2024-25:

The Community Commissioners have been out and about talking about the organisational standards and why they were developed. The City of York Council officially adopted the organisational standards in March 2025, representing a meaningful move towards fairness, dignity and inclusivity in how services are designed and delivered.

Our work helps reduce loneliness, bring people together, and build a sense of community and belonging. Loneliness is one of the main issues our Social Prescribers support patients with – whether it is the reason they were referred or something that sits behind other problems.

During 2024-25:

Our Social Prescribing team managed the following groups to tackle loneliness and encourage a sense of community.

We supported 112 people to attend the Art Gallery Group run by the Social Prescribers once a month. The group acts as a stepping stone to integrate people back into the community and to build their confidence to attend larger, more regular groups without a Social Prescriber present.

We supported 28 people to attend a monthly social board game group at Castle Museum. The group is for individuals who were not ready to join other social groups that are already running in the city.

Case study: Building confidence

A client who attends the games group at the Castle Museum has shown a massive increase in their personal confidence and independence. For this client, it has the right balance of supervision at the group, giving them a sense of security while encouraging them to interact with others spontaneously.

This client has become more confident within the group, where they now lead some sessions and teach others different games. This has then encouraged them to take part in some of the courses on offer by Converge at York St John University, including attending the first session of their Art Summer School without anyone supporting, which is a massive step for this person in reaching their goals.

This client’s family has reached out to the Social Prescribing team to say thank you for the support as the increase in confidence has been visible to family members.

Healthwatch York helps shape health and social care services in York by making sure people’s experiences are right at the heart of decision making.

During 2024-25, Healthwatch York:

Heard from 1,792 people about their experiences of health and social care services which helped us raise awareness of issues and improve care.

Provided information and the latest advice to 4,745 people on topics such as finding an NHS dentist and getting help after a dementia diagnosis.

Published 13 reports about local experiences of health and care services including: Exploring access to GP services in York, Listening to Neurodivergent families in York, Core Connectors – young people’s experience of health and social care in York.

Social prescribing is an approach which links people to non-medical sources of support to improve their health and wellbeing. Our Social Prescribing team provides bespoke support, led by the person and their priorities – connecting them to community resources, groups and support services, learning and volunteering opportunities and peer support networks.

Our Social Prescribing team covers three areas:

Primary Care Link Workers – based within GP practices

The Extra Discharge Support Service – working with people who are being discharged from York Hospital

Proactive Social Prescribing – working with people with respiratory conditions.

During 2024-25:

The Primary Link Workers received 3,223 referrals and supported 2,382 individuals.

94% of people supported said they can now better manage their own health and
wellbeing.

75% visited their GP less in the 12 months after working with a Social Prescriber, compared to the previous 12 months.

Our Proactive Social Prescriber worked with 57 people to support them to better manage their condition and other issues they were experiencing to improve their health and wellbeing.

Extra Discharge Support Service

598 patients were supported through the Extra Discharge Support Service.

The VCSE sector multi-disciplinary team, including York CVS, Age UK York, York Carers Centre and North Yorkshire Sport, help patients to be discharged from York Hospital and provide ongoing support. Watch the video below to learn more about the service.

Established in January 2025, The Good Mental Health Project actively promotes positive mental health and supports suicide prevention and early intervention across York.

Our team works closely with targeted community groups, businesses, workplaces and education settings across York to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and help people feel more confident in looking after their own mental health and supporting others.

During 2024-25, The Good Mental Health Project Team:

Delivered 6 workshops attended by 120 individuals.

Attended outreach and public events to engage with carers, students, people experiencing menopause, and with individuals working within the construction and hospitality sectors.

Raising awareness is just the beginning. To turn insight into action, the project also convenes Community Action Networks; bringing together key people, organisations, and decision-makers in York to reflect on what we’re hearing from our workshops.

These networks create space for shared learning, collaboration, and strategic thinking, helping to shape local responses that are informed by lived experience and community voice. Together, we work toward collective, positive change that supports mental health across the city. 

The Good Mental Health Project is funded by City of York Council Public Health and delivered by York CVS. 

Championing Co-production in Health and Social Care across York 

Co-production puts people and their experiences at the heart of decision making. We work with communities across York to understand what good mental health support looks like to them. We are committed to seeking out unheard voices and bringing them into the conversation, making services more inclusive, accessible, and effective for everyone.

During 2024-25 the Co-Production Project directly shaped the new mental health hubs in the following ways: