York Children's University
‘Our Transport sessions have seen us take children on trains to help them learn about the rail industry, how it contributes to the economy and the jobs available within it. It's been tremendously satisfying for our employee volunteers and for the children too.’
Richard Allan — Head of Marketing, Northern Rail
York Children's University links real life and learning for disadvantaged children from York primary schools.
We are currently recruiting business volunteers for the York Children's University Taster Week , were volunteers talk to children about their jobs.
Our employer partners help deliver a range of innovative modules including:
- Finance in Schools — making money management fun
- Food & Hospitality — teaching children about healthy eating
- Law & Justice - learning about the criminal justice system
- The Media - discovering different media like print, journalism and advertising
- The Science of Food - finding out what goes into our food and how far it travels to get to our plate
- Tracks & Trains - COMING SOON, looking at railway signalling
- Transport Yourself — trains and rail travel
We are looking for new employer partners to help deliver a range of new innovative modules including:
- Construction - this could include how buildings are designed, and the health and safety aspects of this work
- Leisure - this could look at York's leisure industry from local tourist attractions to gyms
- Retail - this may focus on how marketing makes consumers buy products
- Technology - this could consider various aspects of technology such as design, computers, or science
We also run a Right to Read project where volunteers read with children to boost their literacy.
Get involved!
To find out more about how your organisation can get involved in York Children's University — or anything else about York Cares — just contact our dedicated team, based at the University of York. We would love to hear from you.
Call us ...
01904 323482
Recent news
York Children's University success stories:
- Osbaldwick pupils explore Food and Environment Research Agency at Sand Hutton
- Laboratory visit seeks to inspire young scientists
- York pupils enjoy a 'Golden Moment'
- Business leaders attend launch of York Children's University
- York Children's University launched
- York Children's University to bring learning to life
- Pupils learn about horseracing as part of York Children's University
- The Press talks to children about the newspaper industry
Get involved
Find out more about our Right to Read programme.
What they say
'Don't wait - get in touch with York Cares now!' » Show
'If other York companies are thinking of volunteering on projects with kids – I would say, 'don’t wait….get in touch with York Cares now!' It is a hugely rewarding experience and a fantastic way to raise children’s aspirations and their awareness of the many and varied jobs available to them…after all, they are the workers of the future.'
Simon Godfrey — Northern Rail
'Working with York Cares is of a real benefit to us.' » Show
'It is especially important that we are able to provide an experience outside the school environment that might not be encountered otherwise. Our school budgets often do not reach beyond classroom activities, so working with York Cares is of a real benefit to us. The support we received from Northern Rail and the University was a massive input as we would not have been able to provide this hands-on valuable learning experience without them. We are very grateful for their time and expertise'
Bev Pawson — Tang Hall Primary School
'Their enthusiasm was evident. ' » Show
'The sessions were fun and the children also looked at food from around the world. Their enthusiasm was evident as they naturally respond to variety and to the dynamics of people from outside their usual classroom environment. The module culminated in the children being able to share their experiences with parents and friends at a tea party arranged for the final session.'
Martin Shoobridge — Osbaldwick Primary School
- You can join us
- York Cares makes volunteering easy for organisations of all sizes with a flexible, reliable and high-profile framework.
- Read more ...
- Click here to download a pdf of our brochure, which explains more about what we do — and feel free to pass it on to your friends!
- Starting Blocks
- Through this nationally-acclaimed, York-based programme you can provide supported work placements and skills workshops for care leavers aged 16-18.
- Young York Cares
- Your volunteers can help us to engage over 1000 young people each year from schools, further and higher education in inspirational community projects around York.
- Community Volunteering
- We also design and manage an annual calendar of one-off, weekly and seasonal volunteering opportunities: we aim to offer every business in York the opportunity to volunteer on their own terms.