Bettys & Taylors Group Community Fund distributes £120,000 across the region

Nine community organisations supporting people across Yorkshire have been awarded a share of £120,850 from the Bettys & Taylors Group Community Fund.

With this latest round, the total invested through the fund since its launch in 2021 has reached £628,543.

Focused on employability, skills and work readiness, the fund will support a range of initiatives this year, including a work-based training hub, enhanced community facilities and programmes that help people gain skills, build confidence and move closer to employment. For many people facing complex challenges, these opportunities provide a vital pathway to a brighter future.

For the first time, the fund offered both activity grants and organisational development grants. While activity grants support the delivery of projects and services, organisational development grants help charities strengthen the structures that underpin their work. This can include improving governance, investing in staff and leadership, testing new approaches, and planning for long-term resilience.

Organisational Development Fund

Two organisations that received organisational development grants were Harrogate Town AFC and Experience Counts.

Harrogate Town AFC is using its grant to strengthen the foundations of its charity, with investments in governance, staff development and improved systems. These changes will help the organisation grow sustainably and, most importantly, enable it to reach and support even more young people through its inclusive community programmes.

Experience Counts believes that age should never be a barrier to opportunity. Working with people over fifty, the organisation helps individuals recognise their strengths, boost their confidence and find new paths forward. The grant will enable the team to develop additional sources of income, reducing reliance on grants and safeguarding free services for those who need them most.

Julie Kitching, Director of Experience Counts, told us:

“We are delighted to have received funding from the Bettys and Taylors Group Community Fund. This support gives us the time and space to develop Experience Counts for the future. We want to build new sources of income so that we can continue to offer free support to people who may not be able to afford it, while becoming less reliant on grant funding.

Most importantly, it allows us to listen, learn, and develop services alongside our community. We want to make sure that what we offer genuinely meets people’s needs. For us, this is about building something sustainable that can continue making a difference for years to come.”

Activity funds

Among the latest recipients of an activity grant is Lifeline Harrogate. This charity provides long term support for people affected by homelessness. Their funding will ensure the running of peer support groups for adults moving into employment or training. Through this group, Lifeline residents can access accredited courses funded by NYCC Adult Learning, building confidence and opening doors to new opportunities.

Here are the other organisations that benefited from Bettys & Taylors Group Community Fund:

• Shine (West Bowling) supports adults who face disadvantage, including people who have been in prison and people with disabilities. This funding will upskill the current volunteers and also support the running of their Job Club, allowing a member of staff to coach those applying for jobs and support them through the process, including interviews.
• The Island is delivering maths tutoring sessions over the autumn that will help young people improve their numeracy and strengthen their learning. These weekly evening sessions will support young people to progress in education, training and employment through skills, confidence, and understanding.
• Community Furniture Store (York) Ltd is funding staff, training and essential overheads so their volunteers can gain practical employment skills in furniture restoration, IT refurbishment, retail and customer service, helping them grow their confidence and move closer to work.
• Rooted In is providing work experience, training and mentoring for 10 young people aged 14–18 who face barriers. They will complete a minimum of 48 hours of work experience within Sugar Snap Kitchen and Sugar Snap Bakery, helping them build employability skills, grow their confidence and find clear pathways into education and employment.
• Chain Lane Community Hub is hosting employability sessions for migrant residents in the town. The sessions will cover employment skills and employment rights, helping people secure volunteering roles or paid work and feel more at home in their new community.
• MySight York is offering 50 free employment-focused consultations through their Equipment and Information Service. They will provide skilled advice, accessibility tools and support with the Access to Work scheme, helping people with sight loss gain or retain employment.

Applications for Bettys & Taylors Group Community Fund are currently closed and will open in March 2027. To find out more about the fund and the grants made, please visit: tworidingscf.org.uk.