A night to remember: Celebrating 25 years of community, connection and powerful change

Last night, York Art Gallery sparkled with joy, laughter, and a few heartfelt tears as over 100 guests gathered with the Two Ridings team to mark a remarkable milestone—25 years of championing local charities and amplifying the extraordinary work happening across our region.

It was more than just a celebration. It was a tribute to the spirit of community, a spotlight on the power of grassroots organisations, and a heartfelt thank you to the generous people who make it all possible. Since 2000, Two Ridings has awarded over £23 million in grants to thousands of community groups and charities across York & North Yorkshire, Hull & East Yorkshire, each one helping to build stronger, more connected communities.

The Gallery was transformed for the occasion: a glowing “25” lit up the room, a beautiful cake gifted by our long-time supporters at Bettys & Taylors added sweetness to the night, and fantastic flower arrangements from Harriet, former Two Ridings team member and now flower farmer in East Yorkshire, brought the space to life.

But the evening wasn’t just about looking back. It was about honouring the people who’ve made the last 25 years possible, those who show up every day to care, support, and uplift others, and those who’ve given generously to ensure that work continues.

Our Chief Executive, Celia McKeon, captured the heart of the evening:

“Tonight isn’t just an opportunity to look back, but also a moment to look around. The energy in the room, the stories shared, and the passion here tonight remind us that strong communities are not a luxury – they are the foundation of human flourishing. And they are built every day by people coming together to create opportunities, tackle problems and build relationships of trust, support and care..”

One of the night’s highlights was the premiere of our new video, telling the Two Ridings story through the voices of the communities who shaped it. Watch it right here.

We were moved and inspired by performances from some of the incredible grassroots organisations we’ve been proud to support:

Emerging Voices, a community choir supporting adults with lived experience of mental ill health, opened the celebration filling the room with harmony and hope. Their choir project began with Two Ridings funding and has blossomed into something truly meaningful.

Thunk-It Theatre, a community-focused company based in Pocklington, brought warmth and creativity with a group of young people performing a powerful excerpt from their latest play.

We also heard from two passionate community leaders:

• Emma Pears from SELFA, a children’s charity in Skipton, shared milestones and stories of resilience.
• Jamal Choudhury from The Peel Project in Hull offered powerful insights into their work strengthening and uplifting their local community.

While the evening celebrated the past, it also looked boldly to the future. We officially launched our ‘Funding the Future’ 25th Anniversary Appeal, inviting supporters to help us shape the next chapter.

Richard Hunt, a supporter of the foundation, shared a deeply personal story, one that began decades ago as a young busker on the streets of Leeds. Back then, it was the kindness of strangers that helped him get by. That early experience of unexpected compassion, citing one older women in particular who pressed a pound in the palm of his hand, stayed with him. Now, years later, it’s what inspires him to give back to the region he calls home. What moved him most about Two Ridings, he said, was not just the scale – supporting over 600 community groups each year — but the heart behind it: the care, the simplicity, and the real impact. It gave him confidence that his giving was truly reaching those who needed it most.

A moving moment of the evening was the unveiling of the contents of a community time capsule, a symbolic box to be filled with poems, photographs, personal stories, and keepsakes contributed by the community groups we’ve supported. Including a key from Lifeline Homeless Charity, and a Ukrainian flag, each item reflects who they are today and their vision for tomorrow.

As Bec Horner, our Head of Communications, put it:

“Let’s imagine a world where everyone has a door to open and a place to belong. Where young people rise through opportunity and purpose. Where friendship, creativity, and connection are woven into everyday life, not as extras, but essentials. And where kindness isn’t the exception, it’s routine. When we open this capsule in 2050, I want the people standing there to say: ‘They didn’t just dream of a better region. They helped build it.’”

After the distribution of delicious cake, and a Yorkshire-designed teatowel, the evening drew to a close—with old friends reunited, new connections made, and a shared commitment to keep building, keep giving, and keep believing in the power of community to fund the future.

This special event was made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors: CCLA, W1M, Joseph Turner, McInroy & Wood, and The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. We’re deeply grateful for their continued belief in, and partnership of, Two Ridings Community Foundation.