York CVS training and events
4 November - York VCSE Social Trading Network
Wednesday 4 November, 10am – 11:30am, Denham Room, Priory Street Centre
We are inviting all VCSE organisations in York who derive income through trading, or would like to do so to join the York VCSE Social Trading Network.
Trading includes contracts, selling services, charity shops, selling goods – anything apart from grants and fundraising activities.
During the first meeting on 4 November, attendees will identify the issues to address and what they would like the network to focus on.
If you have any questions about the network, please email [email protected]
5 November - York VCSE Children and Young People’s Network
Thursday 5 November, 10am – 11:30am, Denham Room, Priory Street Centre
For VCSE organisations working with children and young people across York, or delivering services that impact children and young people.
We are inviting all VCSE organisations in York who are working with children and young people across York, or delivering services that impact children and young people living in York.
During the first meeting on 5 November October, attendees will identify the issues to address and what they would like the network to focus on.
If you have any questions about the network, please email [email protected]
11 November: ASK THE EXPERT - Payroll and employment: A guide for VCSEs
Wednesday 11 November 2026 | 10:30am – 12:30pm | Priory Street Centre | Free
With several important payroll and employment changes on the horizon, we’re hosting a free seminar for York’s VCSE sector with payroll and employment specialists, Azets and Ware & Kay Solicitors.
The session will look at what’s changing, what these developments could mean for employers and, importantly, what you can start doing now to prepare.
Places are limited to two people per organisation.
17 November: ASK THE EXPERT - Buildings, leases and responsibilities: A guide for VCSEs
Tuesday 17 November 2026 | 10:00am–12:00pm | Priory Street Centre | Free
Join York CVS and SJP Law for a free training session exploring property law for Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations.
Delivered by Philip Lewes-Ogden, an experienced corporate and commercial solicitor at SJP Law, the session will cover leases, licences to occupy, renting rooms, security of tenure, Community Asset Transfer and legal structures for owning or leasing property.
The presentation will be followed by an opportunity to ask questions, with one-to-one conversations available from 11:00am–12:00pm.
The training is open to VCSE organisations based and operating in the City of York, including York Outer, or with beneficiaries in York.
Places are limited to two people per organisation.
2 December - York VCSE Homelessness Support Network Meeting
This meeting is for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and key partners working with and supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in York.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions about this event.
10 December - Active bystander training for the VCSE sector
Build your confidence to recognise and respond to unwelcome behaviour with practical Active Bystander Training for York’s VCSE sector.
Delivered by Laura Harris from North Yorkshire Sport, this free session will help you recognise when to take action, understand what you can do and feel confident about how to respond.
The training will explore unwelcome behaviour, the human science behind how we react in different situations, and the 5 Ds Toolkit – a practical approach to active bystandership.
Free for eligible York VCSE organisations. Places are limited to two people per organisation.
Location: Priory Street Centre, York
Cost: Free
3 February 2027 - York VCSE Homelessness Support Network Meeting
This meeting is for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations and key partners working with and supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in York.
Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions about this event.
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.
28 October - STEW Another Serving: Supporting grassroots projects in York
York Together is inviting local people to enjoy an evening of food, community and fundraising at STEW – Another Serving, hosted at Bluebird Bakery.
The event brings people together to support grassroots projects across York, with three local people each given four minutes to pitch their ideas.
Guests can enjoy a homemade stew, hear about the projects and vote for the idea they think will make the biggest difference to York. Funding raised through ticket sales will be shared between the projects, with the majority going to the one receiving the most votes.
It’s a lovely opportunity to connect with others, discover local initiatives and have a direct say in supporting community projects.
Wednesday 28 October, 6.15pm – 9pm
Bluebird Bakery, Acomb
September-November - York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub - 100% funded leadership programme: Thrive At Work - Inclusive Futures
York Workshop Dates: 20th Oct, 10th Nov
Format: In Person at PATCH (Academy Room, The Bonding Warehouse, Terry Ave, York, YO1 6FA
Time: 10:00am – 15.00pm
Cost: FREE for businesses in York and North Yorkshire
Booking link (select SME cohort programme): Click here to register
Thrive at Work – Inclusive Futures is a fully funded Employer Support Programme* designed to help organisations create more inclusive, supportive and high-performing workplace cultures whilst reducing sickness absence. Delivered through four interactive workshops, the programme equips leaders and people managers with practical skills to support employee wellbeing, improve communication, understand mental health and neurodiversity, and embed inclusion into everyday practice. Available through employer cohorts across York, Harrogate and Scarborough, or as a tailored in-house programme for larger organisations.
The programme covers:
Workshop 1: Starting Conversations That Matter
Develop coaching and active listening skills, build confidence in supporting colleagues, and learn how to approach difficult and sensitive conversations. Delivered by ILM7 Executive Coaches.
Workshop 2: Understanding Mental Health and Neurodiversity
Recognise signs of poor mental health, understand how to provide effective support, and gain an introduction to neurodiversity and neurodivergent strengths and challenges in the workplace. Delivered by Occupational Therapists.
Workshop 3: Creating Inclusive Working Environments
Explore sensory processing, identify workplace barriers, and discover practical adjustments that help employees perform at their best. Delivered by Occupational Therapists.
Workshop 4: Embedding Inclusion into Everyday Practice
Understand imposter syndrome, build resilience and confidence, and learn how to embed inclusion into workplace processes, procedures and recruitment practices. Delivered by ILM7 Executive Coaches.
Learning Outcomes
- Improve confidence in supporting employee wellbeing
- Develop coaching, listening and communication skills
- Understand mental health and neurodiversity in the workplace
- Create more inclusive working environments
- Explore practical workplace adjustments and support strategies
- Embed inclusion and wellbeing into everyday practice
*This project is supported by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, using funding from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Get Britain Working Economic Inactivity Trailblazer.
October-December: Free Cancer Champion Awareness Training sessions
Would you recognise the signs and symptoms of cancer?
1 in 2 people will develop cancer at some point in their life. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer and detecting it early can save lives.
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 more.
Join over 9,200 others and sign up for a free virtual awareness session. They can also provide bespoke sessions for a team, group or organisation. Please visit their website for further information.
If you have any questions, please email the team at [email protected] or call 07519 120809.
Dates and times for the upcoming virtual sessions, which last 90 minutes;
- Friday 23 October at 12:00 noon
- Tuesday 3 November at 10:00 am
- Monday 23 November at 11:30 am
- Wednesday 16 December at 1:00 pm
October-December - Leading in Uncertainty: peer support sessions for small charities
Wednesday 7 October 2026, 10-11.30am
Tuesday 3 November 2026, 10-11.30am
Tuesday 8 December 2026, 10-11.30am
IVAR’s Leading in Uncertainty sessions offer leaders of small UK-based charities, community organisations and social enterprises a space to connect, reflect and talk openly about the challenges they are facing.
These online peer-support sessions are facilitated by IVAR’s expert team and provide an opportunity to meet other leaders who understand the realities of running a small organisation, share experiences and explore how funders can better respond to current challenges.
The 90-minute sessions bring together a small group of charity leaders for open conversation and reflection.
10 November - Junction Point CIC: Building A Resilient Social Enterprise From Foundations To Funding free webinars
Choosing the Right Legal Structure for Your Social Enterprise
Tuesday 10 November, 12:15pm – 1pm
Junction Point CIC is hosting a free, 3-part lunch-and-learn webinar series titled Building a Resilient Social Enterprise: From Foundations to Funding.
Recurring 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, or the people who access your services.
Monthly - Say Aphasia - Peer-led support in York
Say Aphasia 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.
Monthly - Social Prescribing Stroll
Join us for a social stroll with the York CVS Social Prescribing Team.
Each stroll takes place in a different local area of York, giving you the chance to explore the neighbourhood, discover local services and community spaces, and have a chat with the Social Prescribing team along the way.
It’s a relaxed opportunity to get out, meet people and find out more about what’s available in your local area.
There’s no need to book – just come along and remember suitable footwear and a coat if the weather looks rainy.
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Check here for updates on Social Stroll events
Free Domestic Abuse awareness sessions - IDAS
IDAS is offering free, tailored domestic abuse awareness sessions for staff and volunteers working in community organisations, charities, businesses and voluntary organisations supporting residents.
Sessions can accommodate up to 25 participants and can be adapted to meet the specific needs of your organisation. They typically last between one and one and a half hours and can be delivered at your chosen location.
Sessions are available Monday to Friday, with flexible timings to help make attendance as accessible as possible.
The session will cover:
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What domestic abuse is
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How to spot the signs of domestic abuse
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Different types of domestic abuse
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How to access local and national support
Book a free session
To arrange a session for your staff or volunteers, email [email protected].
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]