Atlantic challenge pushes Yorkshire dad to the limit – and reinforces the power of family
YORKSHIRE dad Matthew Pitchforth says battling the Atlantic’s brutal waves and isolation for 39 days taught him one thing: nothing matters more than family. Having completed the World’s Toughest Row, a gruelling 3,000-mile journey across the ocean, and raising nearly £250,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities UK, he now reflects on the immense physical and…
Council to enhance its standards to improve residents’ experience
City of York Council’s Executive will be asked to adopt new standards to support people living with poverty in the city, at a meeting later this month (11 March). The standards are set out in a Charter for Organisational Standards created by York Truth Poverty Commission and aim to make services more responsive to people’s needs rather…
York free school meal pilots extended to a third primary school
York’s free school meal pilot has been rolled out to a third school this term. Pupils at Fishergate Primary School are now able to get a free breakfast at school each morning as part of the citywide campaign to deliver free meals to primary school pupils. The campaign is part of the council’s wider commitment…
Make a difference this Great British Spring Clean
City of York Council is encouraging residents, schools, businesses and community groups to get involved in this year’s Great British Spring Clean. The ninth annual Great British Spring Clean will take place from 21 March – 6 April. During the Great British Spring Clean, the council will lend a hand to support anyone taking part, including: providing…
Weidmann support upgrade to local children’s playground
Weidmann UK is thrilled to support its local community by contributing vital funds to the Parish Council. As a major employer in the region, Weidmann was approached to provide financial support to upgrade and improve the local children’s playground that had fallen into disrepair. The donation will contribute towards replacing outdated and worn-out surfaces with…
New homeless prevention drop-ins start today
As the risk of homelessness continues to worry many residents and be a reality for some, City of York Council is increasing support to help people keep their home. Additional to ongoing work to help people keep their homes, new face-to-face support starts today. At the monthly Homeless Prevention drop-in sessions, the team will work…
Burns unit visit part of 56for56 appeal
Firefighters from West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) visited the University of Bradford-based Burns Unit after crews launched a £56,000 fundraising appeal to mark the 40th anniversary of the Bradford City fire. Proceeds raised for the 56for56 appeal, organised by the firefighters based at Bradford Fire Station, will go towards the Plastic Surgery and…
Housing staff to support tenants experiencing domestic abuse
To help support Council tenants who are experiencing domestic abuse, City of York Council’s housing staff will be trained and supported to spot the signs and support victims and survivors. As part of the Council’s wider work to tackle or prevent domestic abuse, a new policy was agreed on 5 February which commits the Council…
Community projects to benefit from University-backed fund
Community projects will benefit from a £800,000 fund, part of a project which includes the University of Bradford. The Communities Innovating Yorkshire Fund (CIYF) has launched as part of the Yorkshire and Humber Policy Innovation Partnership (YPIP). Under CIYF, chosen community organisation projects from across Yorkshire and Humber will receive individual awards of up to…
York furniture charity gets a boost through council-funded scheme
Through a partnership between City of York Council and York Centre for Voluntary Services (CVS), charities working to support residents across the city can access expert support to tackle challenges and maximise their social impact. One of the charities that has benefited from the project is York Community Furniture Stores (CFS), which has tackled furniture and digital poverty across…
£5,000 of illegal vapes and tobacco sniffed out and seized
Council and police officers visited a business in Clifton, York last week, where nearly £5,000 of noncompliant vapes and illicit tobacco was found and seized. The illegal items found and taken have an estimated retail value of £4,941.25: 177 noncompliant vapes with a retail value of £2,124 2,250 counterfeit and illicit cigarettes valued at £731…
Survivor voices Valentine’s Day domestic abuse campaign
Content warning/ reporting aid: This press release contains information that you may find distressing including repeated reference to Domestic Abuse. Please be mindful of your own wellbeing and of others, when reporting on this. If you need any advice, or if it helps to talk to the Public Health team, to aid you in reporting on this story,…
Luxury jewellery specialist Berry’s Jewellers have made Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) their charity of the year for 2025
The family-owned company has stores in Leeds, York, Windsor, Nottingham and Newcastle, and staff are set to take on fundraising initiatives throughout the year for CHSF. CHSF works to empower patients of all ages in their journey with congenital heart disease (CHD) – as babies, children, teenagers and throughout adulthood, and provides a holistic family…
Merrion Centre partners with ghd and Children’s Heart Surgery Fund for life-saving fundraiser
The Merrion Centre in the heart of Leeds’ Arena quarter has partnered with iconic hair styling brand ghd and the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) to raise vital funds to save young lives. The charity initiative is part of #HeartMonth and will see visitors to the shopping centre enjoy professional hairstyling for a minimum donation…
Applications open for grants and academic support for charities and community groups in Yorkshire
Yorkshire’s charities and social enterprises offered £10,000 grants and unique academic support package to boost their community work The successful Community Research Grants programme is open for 2025 applications York St John University’s Institute for Social Justice (ISJ) is delighted to announce the launch of its 2025 Community Research Grants (CRG) programme. Now into its…
Bradford BID partners with West Yorkshire Police for ‘Report It Campaign’
Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) is proud to announce a new partnership with West Yorkshire Police to launch the ‘Report It Campaign.’ This collaborative initiative aims to encourage businesses and members of the public to report all non-emergency incidents, such as anti-social behaviour and shop theft, by contacting 101 or using the online reporting platform….
‘We rowed the Atlantic’ – Par-oar-medics celebrate completing challenge
A trio of University of Bradford graduates are celebrating after completing an epic fundraising challenge. Ken Bordt, Tom Dowdy and Ethan Chapman – known as the Par-oar-medics – reached Antigua – the destination of their 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic. It took them 48 days, four hours and 17 minutes to complete the Talisker Whisky…
£20,000 donation for children who are ‘One In A Million’
A children’s charity has received £20,000 to continue its work in the Keighley community following a donation from a local manufacturer. One In A Million is dedicated to engaging with children and young people in disadvantaged areas through sports, arts and enterprise and has benefitted from the money gifted by chemical specialist, Airedale Group. It…
Par-oar-medics near end of epic Atlantic challenge
An intrepid team of University of Bradford graduates are tackling the last leg of an epic fundraising challenge. Ken Bordt, Tom Dowdy and Ethan Chapman – known as the Par-oar-medics – now have less than 500 miles to go on the 3,000-mile row across the Atlantic. The trio have been tackling the Talisker Whisky Atlantic…
Greenpower Kit Car Challenge launched across Bradford schools
School pupils across the region have the chance to build a battery-powered kit car and race in an epic grand finale following the launch of the 2025 ‘Bradford College Greenpower Challenge.’ The annual Challenge runs in partnership with Greenpower Education Trust to kickstart interest in engineering careers. The project helps to unlock potential and spark enthusiasm in young…
TWC Facilities & Kodiak Self Storage support the local community with generous contributions
TWC Facilities Ltd, a Thirsk based washroom services company, has once again demonstrated its dedication to supporting the local Thirsk community by donating 30 sleeping bags to the Thirsk Homeless Organisation (THO) as part of their Christmas Appeal. This will help to provide warmth and comfort to individuals in need during the winter months. In…
Businesses invited to help tackle domestic abuse
York’s businesses are being encouraged to join an upcoming session helping employers contribute to the fight against domestic abuse. The Domestic Abuse: Awareness for Businesses session will take place at the Priory Street Centre on Tuesday 4 February from 9:30-11:30 am. The event is free to attend, with tickets available at the link below: https://app.tickettailor.com/events/cityofyorkcouncil1/1486642…
Free cinema event in York for people trying to stay warm this winter
York St John University teams up with York Community Energy to offer Warm Spaces film screening York St John University is pleased to invite the local community to a Warm Spaces screening of family film favourite Paddington in Peru. The event is being run by the Cinema and Social Justice project at York St John…
Yorkshire garden centre group donates to Bradford Central food bank
The teams at a Bradford headquartered garden centre group have donated to foodbanks in areas around their centres. Yorkshire Garden Centres donated over 400 items to food banks serving the communities around their sites at Tong, Tingley, Otley, Bingley, York and Scarborough. Employees at all sites have donated non-perishable food items to be distributed to…
£50,000 awarded to charities by local manufacturer
A North Yorkshire manufacturer has continued its tradition of supporting charities and good causes with another year of generous community donations. Chemical specialist, Airedale Group, has donated £50,000 to a variety of worthwhile causes in 2024 and received recognition for its community work in the form an industry award. Amongst the recipients of this year’s…
York teenagers give community space a makeover
York teenagers have been working with experienced tradespeople and an artist to breathe new life into a youth and community centre in The Groves. Community interest company Volunteer It Yourself provides free, hands-on work experience opportunities for local young people who are NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and at risk of becoming NEET. Whilst renovating…
The Grammar School at Leeds named Eco-School of the Year
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) has been named one of five schools nationwide to receive the prestigious Eco-Schools School of the Year Award for 2024. This accolade celebrates GSAL’s outstanding commitment to environmental sustainability and its efforts to involve students and staff in creating a greener future. At the heart of GSAL’s success is…
BGS pupil supports dad’s epic 3,000-mile ocean row for charity
AS YORKSHIRE McDonald’s franchisee Matthew Pitchforth undertakes the remarkable fundraising challenge of rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean this December, his daughter Olivia, a Year 7 student at Bradford Grammar School, is determined to stay strong… but she can’t help counting down the days until her dad’s safe return. On December 7, Matthew, from…
West Yorkshire garden centres host festive play sessions for charity
Tong and Tingley Garden Centres are to host festive-themed play sessions to raise money for their charity of the year. The Grass Hoppers team at both centres have launched ‘Not So Merry Christmas’ playtime parties as part of its fundraising campaign for Yorkshire Children’s Charity. The parties are at Tong Garden Centre at 4.30 pm…
Time running out for York businesses to get free green makeover to slash emissions and energy bills
Scheme has already identified 587 Tonnes of CO2 Savings for local businesses Free onsite support and training tailored to help cut carbon, reduce energy bills, and boost competitiveness Scheme aims to help businesses meet net zero goals – firms must apply before January York businesses are being urged to sign up in time for a…
Appeal to York businesses to support 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…
£3,000 donation secures additional revenue for local arts venue
A North Yorkshire venue for arts, events and community groups has received a boost to its ability to raise revenue with a £3,000 donation from a local manufacturer. Glusburn Institute Community and Arts Centre provides a much-loved venue in the North Yorkshire village for events from concerts and film showings to hosting local groups such…
Otley garden centre provides charity with plants to encourage wildlife
The team at Otley Garden Centre has donated wildflower seeds to Wildlife Friendly Otley to improve habitat corridors around the town. The Otley team worked with members of Wildlife Friendly Otley volunteers and Councillor, Linda Hoare to sow seeds in a 429 m2 area along the verge from the garden centre to the Otley/Pool boundary….
White Rose launches 2024 Christmas Appeal, supporting local charity
White Rose Shopping Centre has welcomed the return of its annual gift donation drive, supporting local Leeds charity Kidz Klub in the run up to Christmas. Guests are invited to provide toys and gifts suitable for ages zero to 16 at the Christmas Appeal donation station near Guest Services in the centre, which will be…
Local housebuilder supports West Yorkshire family charity
Local housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes Yorkshire West has donated £1,500 to Home-Start Wakefield and District to help the charity continue its vital work. Home-Start Wakefield and District is a community network of volunteers who offer support to families with young children who are facing challenges including emotional support, practical assistance and mental health…
£87,000 secured to support rough sleepers this winter
An extra £87,000 has been secured by the Council to support the expected rise in rough sleeping with up to 29 extra emergency beds and additional support this winter. This emergency winter provision ensures that everyone sleeping rough has the option of a warm place to stay this winter, whatever the weather. The extra funding…
Council seeks to support care experienced children and young people
A report calling for the council to support children and young people in care by treating ‘care experience’ as if it was a protected characteristic – in a similar way as ethnicity or age – will be discussed at a meeting later this week (Executive, 14 November). The proposal follows a wealth of national evidence that…
Yorkshire Garden Centre group donates over £11,000 to community groups and charities
A ‘Kindness Pot’ set up by a Bradford-based garden centre group has supported over 200 local causes and donated over £11,000 since launch. The Yorkshire Garden Centres (YGC) initiative was established in 2022 to support local causes nominated by team members at the group’s sites throughout West Yorkshire. In the last year, Otley Garden Centre…
The Big Bradford Bulls Sleep Out returns!
We are delighted to announce the return of The Big Bradford Bulls Sleep Out on Friday, January 17th, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM – proudly sponsored by La Romantica Beds! This unique fundraising event invites participants to brave the elements at the iconic Bartercard Odsal Stadium, all in support of three incredible local charities: Focus4Hope,…
Trinity Leeds announces pioneering new SignLive service ahead of Purple Tuesday
Trinity Leeds is the first shopping centre in the UK to team up with a pioneering new service to help support the deaf community and improve their experience. SignLive is now available at Guest Services and more than 40 brands at the centre, and provides access to live British Sign Language interpreters quickly and easily…
Leeds Rhinos Foundation welcomes Amazon donation
The Amazon fulfilment centre in Leeds has donated £5,000 to Leeds Rhinos Foundation. a charity that encourages people in Leeds to get involved in community sports. The charity encourages people in Leeds to be involved in community sports, regardless of age or ability. The donation from Amazon, which marked the recent opening of the state-of-the-art…
Yorkshire garden centre group’s fundraising acknowledged at Recognition Awards Evening
A Bradford headquartered garden centre group was commended recently for raising over £24,000 for a leading regional charity. Yorkshire Garden Centres was presented with a Corporate Supporter of the Year award following its year of fundraising for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Yorkshire Garden Centres’ Group People and Culture Manager, Steph Harrison and People and Culture…
Bulls honoured with Bara Award
Bradford Bulls were delighted to receive the Professional Club Award at the inaugural British Asian Rugby Awards held at the Palace of Westminster last night. The award recognised of our commitment to community engagement, fostering inclusivity, and building a sense of belonging within Bradford’s South Asian and broader communities. The award highlights the club’s ongoing…
Bradford BID and City Centre Beat strengthen crime-fighting alliance with new partnership
Bradford Business Improvement District (BID) is continuing to strengthen its approach to reducing business crime and related anti-social behaviour in the city centre by joining forces with the long-established City Centre Beat (CCB), which represents the nationally accredited city centre Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP). This collaboration builds on the BID’s recent initiatives, including the…
Oscrete secures platinum rating in global sustainability assessment
Concrete admixture manufacturer Oscrete has achieved the highest award in a global sustainability rating programme. Oscrete is now in the top 1% of companies in the world that have been assessed by the EcoVadis sustainability rating programme which measures the quality of a company’s sustainability management system. As one of the UK’s leading specialist construction…
Insulating solid walled homes has potential to cut energy bills by up to 30 per cent, major new research study finds
Insulating the UK’s eight million solid walled homes has the potential to cut energy bills by 30 per cent in some homes – and is essential to achieve the domestic energy efficiency targets, according to new research led by Leeds Beckett University. The research was carried out by the Leeds Sustainability Institute (LSI) at Leeds…
Re-form Landscape Architects sponsor ambitious adventurer on her 24,000 mile journey
Chamber member re-form Landscape Architects are supporting a home-grown adventurer as she embarks on one her most ambitious challenges to date… – We are in awe of people who use the natural environment to push themselves to their absolute physical and mental limits, and that’s why we’re proud to be sponsoring an incredible North Yorkshire-based…
Top comedian highlights the work for foster carers in York
A top stand-up comedian highlighted the life-changing work that foster carers do in a gig in York last week (13 October). Kiri Pritchard McLean has spoken about her own experience as a foster carer for the first time during her current show, Peacock. Better known nationally as the Star of 8 out of 10 Cats…