Member News Subjects
Leeds shopping centre and Yorkshire art organisation team up to raise breast cancer awareness during National Self-Check Month
Yorkshire art organisation Sand in Your Eye has partnered with White Rose Shopping Centre to showcase an impactful display highlighting the importance of breast cancer awareness: seven unique nude torsos, each sculpted from ice and snow. Created to illustrate the statistic that one in seven people will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their life…
Sustainable Property through Architecture and Design
Approximately 45% of greenhouse gas emissions in West Yorkshire are generated by buildings, and it is this aspect where those in the industry and even homeowners can make a difference. The tightening up of UK Legislation requires all new buildings meet set emissions targets, however we have Europe’s oldest building stock and the biggest challenge…
Sir Stephen Fry urges people to support York Against Cancer and spread the word about the importance of early diagnosis in prostate cancer
In a video to York Against Cancer this prostate cancer awareness month, Sir Stephen Fry has urged people to support the charity and spread the word about the importance of early diagnosis in prostate cancer. Sir Stephen Fry was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer in 2017. In a video for York Against Cancer, he…
York supports LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week
City of York Council’s fostering team and One Adoption North and Humber, the regional adoption agency for York, North Yorkshire and Humber, are showing their support for LGBTQ+ Adoption and Fostering Week (2-6 March) by lighting up the city walls in rainbow colours. Led by charity New Family Social, this year’s campaign, Now’s the Time is calling…
Bradford research praised as teenage pregnancy rise prompts warning
A national expert has warned of complacency over teenage pregnancy after rates increased for the first time in 14 years, adding the University of Bradford is playing a crucial role in understanding and tackling the issue. Alison Hadley OBE, Director of the Teenage Pregnancy Knowledge Exchange and a leading figure in shaping national policy for…
Refurbished apartments to welcome returning tenants
Five completely refurbished blocks of apartments in Bell Farm are almost ready to welcome new and returning tenants. 40 apartments have been updated significantly to make them considerably more comfortable, safer and more affordable to run. While this major work was underway, tenants were moved to alternative accommodation. A number of former residents have chosen…
Bradford-led research could cut cement CO2 emissions by 40%
The University of Bradford is set to play a central role in a ground-breaking international research project which could dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry. Working with a Post Doctoral Research Fellow from Tianjin University, China, and the Holcim Innovation Center, France, Bradford researchers will help develop a new concrete technology capable…
Bradford Hospitals Charity launches Easter Appeal
Bradford Hospitals Charity is calling for donations to help brighten the day for patients spending Easter Sunday (5 April 2026) in hospital. The charity, which supports Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, hopes to lift spirits across its hospital sites. They’re asking the public to donate chocolate eggs, small treats, and comforting gifts to patients….
York seeks to tackle childhood inequalities with new Centre of Excellence for early childhood development
Proposals that would see York become a Centre of Excellence for early childhood development, helping to tackle childhood inequalities, will be considered for approval by the council’s Executive next month (3 March). The proposals reflect the authority’s ambitions to support communities and reduce inequalities in child development, including health and wellbeing, school readiness and healthy…
Comic artist raises £25,000 for Bradford mental health charity in memory of her brother
Award‑winning British comic book artist and author Zoe Thorogood has donated £25,000 to local mental health charity Bradford District and Craven Mind. The donation was made in memory of her brother James, who died by suicide in 2024 at the age of 23. In the wake of her brother’s death, Zoe turned to her art…
City of York Council set to expand smoke control area to improve air quality and health
City of York Council is set to approve plans to expand the Smoke Control Area (SCA) to cover the entire city, in a major step towards cleaner air and healthier communities, at a meeting next week. Currently, 80 per cent of York’s households are within an SCA. The new citywide approach will ensure consistent rules…
City of York Council to begin engagement on introducing wheeled recycling bins
City of York Council will begin talking with residents on proposals to move from kerbside recycling boxes to wheeled recycling bins, aiming to make recycling easier, safer and more efficient for households across the city. The proposed change forms part of the Council’s wider transformation of waste services. It would support future national recycling requirements,…
Dame Judi Dench urges people to support York Against Cancer through the “Quintessentially Bond” auction
Dame Judi Dench has urged people to support York Against Cancer by taking part in the ‘Quintessentially Bond’ auction. The timed online auction is being run by MovieManiaOnline. The company sell film memorabilia through their own auction platform and website, and has cabinets in The Antique Centre in York. Each year they sell a series…
Health Trainers take the lead in launching new Healthy Families sessions
City of York Council’s Health Trainer service is excited to launch the brand‑new Healthy Families Service – a warm, welcoming and completely free way for families in York to boost their physical and emotional wellbeing. Led by the friendly faces of Katie and Donna, the Healthy Families Service is all about supporting your whole family,…
North Yorkshire homebuilder donates power washers to Huntington Cemetery
Five-star homebuilder Barratt Homes has donated power washers to Friends of Huntington Cemetery for the upkeep of the cemetery. Currently building at Knights Gate on New Lane in Huntington, Barratt Homes have donated power washers to a nearby cemetery. With the cemetery being close to the development, the power washers will be used to generally upkeep the…
York Garden Centre raises its fundraising target for Wetherby children’s hospice
With two months of the charity year still to go, a Bradford-based garden centre group with a site in York has smashed its fundraising target and extended its commitment to a local children’s hospice. In April 2025, the teams at Yorkshire Garden Centres’ sites in West and North Yorkshire pledged to raise £30,000 for Martin…
Switalskis invests in inclusive qualification routes
Law firm Switalskis is investing in training programmes that support colleagues to train and qualify through a range of routes, enabling them to choose pathways that suit their circumstances. Switalskis has recently supported solicitor Catherine Cain to qualify through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) while continuing her work in family law. The firm provided adjusted…
Bradford Hospitals Charity secures The Broadway’s Charity of the Year
Bradford Hospitals Charity has been named The Broadway Bradford’s ‘Charity of the Year’, following an enthusiastic public vote which saw the charity secure almost 700 votes. The shopping centre invited the public to choose which local good cause should receive year‑long support. While all nominated charities were worthy contenders, Bradford Hospitals Charity topped the poll…
Hope for Tomorrow featured on national TV as government’s milestone cancer plan is released
Cancer care charity, Hope for Tomorrow, recently took centre stage on national TV, coinciding with the government’s landmark release of the national cancer plan. To mark the launch on World Cancer Day, ITV’s Good Morning Britain joined us on board our Gloucestershire-based mobile cancer care unit. Viewers saw how one of our mobile cancer care…
Brides for a Cause: York Against Cancer to hold a pre-loved wedding dress sale
York Against Cancer are holding a pre-loved wedding dress sale on Sunday 1st March. The sale will take place The Leveson Centre, York Against Cancer’s cancer support centre at York Community Stadium, from 10am-4pm. Through the event, the charity hope to help cut the costs of weddings for brides to be, providing beautiful gowns, without…
York Hospital Tiny Lives Appeal hits £50,000 – and needs help to reach £100,000
York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity is marking a major milestone in its Tiny Lives Appeal, after the campaign reached £50,000 in just a few weeks – halfway to its overall target of £100,000. Launched in November 2025, the appeal hit the £50,000 mark in January 2026, thanks to an extraordinary wave of support from local…
Wunder Crumble and MyLahore community rallies to raise £20,000 for critically ill newborns
£20,000 has been raised to support families of babies being cared for at Bradford Royal Infirmary, as Bradford Hospitals Charity Ambassador Ishfaq Farooq leads a powerful call to action. Ishfaq raised the money in just one night with support from friends, family and colleagues across MyLahore and Wunder Crumble, helping to fund a new ‘Home…
York free school meal pilots extended to ten additional primary schools
Over 170,000 free breakfasts will be available to primary school children in York over the next three years thanks to a major expansion of the city’s free school meals initiative. Funded by the York Hungry Minds campaign, free school breakfast pilots will be rolled out to invited children at the following schools from the summer…
Beyond Horizons: Reimagining the future of work experience
This National Work Experience Week, we’re introducing Beyond Horizons, a new programme designed to reimagine the future of workplace experiences for young people in Bradford – and beyond. Is work experience in need of a refresh? Every young person deserves the chance to thrive in the workplace. Yet, in the current system, many young people…
Keighley ‘Soul Sisters’ are doing it for themselves
Manningham Housing Association (MHA) has successfully delivered an innovative local project to boost the health and wellbeing of local women in Keighley. ‘Soul Sisters’ brought 12 residents together over a six-week period for a series of themed sessions at Keighley Civic Centre and Keighley Central Hall. Led by Eyarun Nessa, MHA’s Community Development Officer, and…
City of York Council join York City to raise awareness of Fostering
City of York Council’s Fostering Team will be at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday 7 February ahead of the York City V Forest Green Rovers match to raise awareness about fostering in York. Football fans attending the match are encouraged to chat with the council’s fostering team before kick-off, where staff will be on…
Breast cancer research boost thanks to Wellcome award
Dr Francis Mprah Barnieh, an early-career researcher at the University of Bradford, has been awarded £236,455 under the competitive Wellcome Accelerator Award scheme to advance the development of safer, more targeted treatments for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBC is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of breast cancer. It disproportionately affects black women and is associated with poorer clinical…
Projects help children explore loss and realities of knife crime
School pupils are exploring bereavement and the dangers of knife crime through two projects from the University of Bradford. ‘Lost and Found: Bereavement, Archaeology and Creativity’ is transforming how primary schools talk about death, loss and bereavement, using archaeology-inspired art and poetry to start these conversations, while Junior Detectives Week sees school students investigate, and…
Charities and social enterprise groups offered funding and academic expertise to support community projects in Yorkshire and the Humber
Community Research Grants 2026 offer expanded opportunities from York St John University research institutes Now into its fifth year, York St John University’s impactful Community Research Grant (CRG) programme is now open for 2026. Led by the University’s Institute for Social Justice, the programme invites Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprises (VCSEs) to propose issues that…
New independent report highlights the huge potential of York’s ambitious plan for growth
An ambitious strategy outlining plans for growth, with innovation, culture and heritage at its heart –could bring about £12.1bn of combined social, economic and environmental impact to the city, according to independent analysis. In November 2025, Executive members approved York’s prospectus which is designed to attract additional investment into economic and housing growth, tackle inequalities,…
Carbon Neutral Group lists sector net zero readiness in Hospitality, FMCG, Manufacturing, Logistics and Retail
Carbon Neutral Group, who work with organisations to build actionable net zero roadmaps, grounded in robust carbon accounting and operational change, has reviewed industry sectors and their road in sustainability, specifically those who are leading the way to becoming net zero, by examining their decarbonisation progress across five major industries. When it comes down to…
University scholarship for white males to continue
A scholarship offering financial support to white working-class males studying at the University of Bradford will continue. The Keith Howard Opportunities Programme offers at least £500 a month towards living costs to successful applicants. It is designed to make it easier for under-represented groups, in this case white working-class males, to access higher education. The programme,…
Council’s pledge to tackle tenants’ priorities unlocks new improvements
New approaches to tackling what tenants have told us are their priorities have been agreed today (Tuesday 27 January), which unlocks funding. The Council’s housing tenants have told us that tackling anti-social behaviour, preventing damp and mould, and improving communal areas are among their top priorities. To support them and improve the way we address…
Exciting plans for Glen Gardens play area
Children from Tang Hall Primary School and Heworth Primary School have played a key role in shaping the future of Glen Gardens. As part of City of York Council’s major investment in parks and green spaces, pupils were invited to review three different design options for the play area. Their feedback has helped determine the…
Warm Spaces cinema returns to York
York St John University’s Cinema & Social Justice team offer free film screenings for people trying to stay warm this winter York St John University is pleased to invite the local community to free Warm Spaces film screenings this winter. The University’s Cinema & Social Justice project is screening all-ages favourites Zootropolis 2 and Happy Feet at…
North Yorkshire homebuilder sponsors creative arts day with Whitby charity
Barratt and David Wilson Homes sponsors creative arts day for Whitby charity, WHISH. Barratt and David Wilson Homes sponsored a creative arts day at St. Hilda’s Hub with Whitby charity, WHISH. Nearby Barratt Homes’ Abbey View and David Wilson Homes’ Chaloners Green developments, the charity is a hub for the community, supporting many individuals with hidden impairments. The day…
Persimmon Homes Donate 18,000 Bricks to Bradford College Construction Department
Bradford College cemented its partnership with Persimmon Homes after receiving a generous donation of 18,000 bricks. The gift is enough bricks to build the external walls of a four-bedroom house and will provide the college’s construction department with essential materials for vital hands-on training. To celebrate this support, Bradford College hosted a special event at…
TRU offer £250,000 in grants to local organisations
The Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) has this week confirmed that £250,000 in grants has been awarded across 35 local organisations along the Transpennine route, as part of the 2025 TRU Community Fund in partnership with Neighbourly. Launched in 2024, the TRU Community Fund aims to help local community groups, schools and charities to create or…
Yorkshire Garden Centre Group exceeds its fundraising target
With three months of the ‘Charity Year’ still to go, a Bradford headquartered garden centre group has exceeded its fundraising target by 50%. At the beginning of April, the teams at Yorkshire Garden Centres’ sites in West and North Yorkshire pledged to raise £30,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice, the independent charity that cares for…
Law firm knits 150 twiddle muffs for people in Yorkshire living with dementia in annual Christmas gift drive
Chadwick Lawrence Solicitors has donated over 300 gifts, including 150 twiddle muffs, as part of its annual festive gift drive in support of local care and healthcare units. This marks the firm’s largest festive gift drive to date, with colleagues donating or hand-making gifts for people living with dementia, homeless and vulnerable individuals, children in…
New adult skills funding set to boost careers in construction
An award of nearly half a million pounds from the Department for Education is helping Bradford College to support more young adults into the construction sector. Over £994k in Adult Skills Fund money was made available to regional colleges via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to deliver comprehensive construction skills, with Bradford College securing nearly…
10 ways to enjoy your first sober Christmas
A sober or sober-curious Christmas can feel unfamiliar, especially if your usual festive routine has always involved alcohol. However, with a little planning, it becomes far easier than you might expect, and you can still enjoy the celebrations, the people around you and the atmosphere without feeling like you are missing out. These 10 tips…
Trinity Leeds and White Rose unite with Retail Trust to tackle abuse towards retail workers this festive season
As the festive rush begins, Trinity Leeds and White Rose have both joined forces with the Retail Trust, the retail industry charity, to help protect retail workers from rising levels of abuse, with dedicated free training to help colleagues manage difficult interactions. Delivered through the charity’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign, Trinity Leeds, White Rose and…
How Mollie turned adversity into academic triumph
When Mollie Browes walked across the stage to collect her Master’s degree from the University of Bradford, it marked the start of a future she once thought impossible. “I’ve been given a second chance by this university,” says the 28-year-old. “They saw potential in me when no one else did. I would not be where…
Graduates leave legacy with women in STEM network
A pair of students behind a support network group for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) have left a lasting legacy after graduating from the University of Bradford. Alex Troup and Maleeha Abbass, the Creator and President of the University’s STEMinism Society, which exists to promote STEM subjects, particularly to women and girls, driving…
York firm builds skills for the future thanks to support from City of York Council
A York conservation firm training up the next generation of expert craftspeople has thanked City of York Council for the business support that has helped it thrive. Pinnacle Conservation, established by managing director Adam Hickey in 2019, now employs 58 staff, including nine apprentices, who are all paid the Real Living Wage as part of…
Poverty Proofing© the School Day pilot for York pupils
Partners across the city are working to reduce the barriers faced by York pupils from low-income families in school, with a pilot scheme this autumn. Poverty Proofing© the School Day involves making changes to school policies and practices to reduce the barriers faced by pupils, including addressing issues like financial constraints, stigma, and lack of access…
Council thanks businesses and residents for their support for local young people leaving care
City of York Council is thanking businesses and residents across the city who have already contributed Christmas gifts for children in need and young care leavers in York. The festive season can be a difficult one for many children and young people, particularly those who have had a challenging start in life and who live…















































