Caitlin marks the end of her year with York Cares!
As Caitlin wraps up her placement year with York Cares, she reflects on the projects she’s led, the communities she’s connected with, and everything she’s learned along the way. From launching city-wide campaigns to coordinating environmental volunteering, Caitlin has played a key role in making the last year one to remember.
“As my year in industry comes to an end at York Cares, I am reflecting on the incredible skills, experiences and personal growth I have gained while working for such a meaningful and impactful charity here in York.
From my first few weeks being at York Cares I managed and coordinated the Big Community Challenge in 2024.This was a big learning curve for me, but it gave me a great insight into managing large scale projects. It also showed me just how dedicated our members are to giving back to the community through the Environment and Sustainability programme (come rain of shine!). The skills I learnt from this experience became a foundation for the rest of my time at York Cares. Helping me deliver another successful and impactful Environment and Sustainability Week, which is on a smaller scale but just as equally rewarding.
Throughout the year, I lead the three core campaigns; the Christmas Wishlist, Easter Collections and the Hygiene Bank. These campaigns allowed me to liaise and work closely with other local charities, developing my communication and marketing skills. I am incredibly proud that we managed to surpass last year’s collections totals across all three campaigns, which speaks volumes about the generosity of our members. I am excited to apply these new and developed skills to my last year at The University of York in my Business and Management degree.
Another highlight of my placement is being given the opportunity to attend a range of social and networking events. These experiences have helped me grow in confidence, connect with members, community partners and improve my communications skills in a professional setting.
Throughout this year I have learned more about myself both professionally and personally and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to work for York Cares. This placement has been truly rewarding and I look forward to carrying everything I have learned into University and my next stage of my career.
Finally, I also want to give a special thanks to my manager, Georgia Gibbons. Her support, guidance and encouragement made my time at York Cares not only enjoyable but also deeply enriching.”
Caitlin’s contribution over the past year has been nothing short of brilliant. Her thoughtfulness, adaptability and positive energy have made a real difference to our team, our programmes, and our city. We’re so grateful for everything she’s brought to York Cares and we wish her all the very best as she heads into her final year at university. Thank you, Caitlin!
