As part of Small Charities Week, Friday 18 June is Small Charity Big Impact Day. The day will be led by the FSI and Social Value UK, and sponsored by PolicyBee. It’s a day dedicated to raising awareness of the incredible impact that UK small charities have locally, regionally, nationally and internationally!
Here in York we have so many amazing small charities who go above and beyond to support our communities. We see first hand the difference they make, how dedicated and passionate their staff and volunteers are, and the huge impact they make locally. We have highlighted a few small charities who are making a big impact in York below, but we would need to create a whole website to showcase the extent to which small charities are making a big impact in York!
We would like to say a huge thank you to York’s voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector for everything that you do for our city and beyond!
Foxwood Community Centre
“Through the ongoing pandemic Foxwood Community Hub has had to adapt to new ways of working, we have risen to this challenge, with the development of our twice-weekly surplus food sessions and more recently with the addition of our weekly outdoor coffee mornings.
Since July 2020, we redistributed at least 6,000kg of surplus food to members of our local community, both through our sessions and by making over 280 deliveries of surplus food to individuals who have been unable to attend in person. In addition, our sessions have been fighting school holiday hunger by distributing over 350 free grab a bag lunches to local children.
Although the initial focus of our sessions was to provide access to food, we soon came to realise these sessions have become a focal point for a community coming together, helping individuals of all ages reduce feelings of isolation. We also do what we can to bust boredom with the additional resources and activities we provide for the local community.
As a small charity, we have only been able to achieve this through working with at least seventeen other organisations/groups, and with the support of an amazing team of volunteers, who have provided us with over 800 hours of their time since July 2020!”
Image: Two women stood with facemasks on next to a crate of packaged food. In the background is a metal and wooden fence.
MySight York
“MySight York supports local people with sight loss to ‘live well’. Our specialist advice, emotional support, and befriending and social activities help people to regain their independence and make confident choices about their lives.
Over the past year we have continually adapted to meet changing needs. We have supplied over 500 pieces of specialist equipment direct to people’s homes. We have created online and telephone groups to connect people to each other and to vital services. Our telephone befriending project, Keeping in Touch, has connected over 100 potentially isolated clients with trained volunteers for a regular friendly phone call. Our Sight Support specialist at York Teaching Hospital has continued to support patients from the point of diagnosis. And we have launched a major survey, aiming to discover our members’ views, opinions and priorities.
We know that these services have been needed, and valued. As Jean told us…
‘It’s been really helpful just to keep in touch with other people. It’s nice to know there’s someone out there for you. MySight York has given me my positive attitude.’
We are now looking to the future, using the experience of the past year to plan for whatever the next 12 months may bring…”
Image: Male (Peter) stood with a cap and high-vis jacket next to a bike and a woman (Jade) stood with a facemask on outside the MySight York Office. Peter is a Home Connections volunteer, who deliver specialist equipment to a client’s home.
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.
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.
We have 6 core programmes, each with a different focus which means that our employee-volunteers make a difference in many areas of the local community from supporting primary school pupils with their reading, to contributing to the wellbeing of older people, to supporting the maintenance of the York’s much loved green spaces.”
Image: Six adults stood (socially distanced) around an empty flower bed which they have cleared in Rowntree Park. This is part of York Cares’ current Big Community Challenge at Rowntree Park, the photo is of several Board representatives and a member of CYC’s Eco Team.