“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.” (Isaiah 61:1 / Luke 4:18)

York’s standing as an affluent tourist city masks that just beneath the surface many families struggle with the essential cost of living and face challenges such as high private rental prices and insecure work. The gap between the most and least affluent wards within the city is the third largest in the country, where the difference in average life expectancy is 11 years!

Churches in York play a proactive role in seeking to address these imbalances through tackling the causes of poverty and serving people in our communities through a number of charitable initiatives.

Some of the main charities affiliated to One Voice York are:

Restore provides pathways out of homelessness by providing housing and bespoke support plans which are tailored to their residents’ needs.

York Foodbank operates in partnership with six local churches and have distributed over 8,500 three-day emergency food packages in each of the past three years. 

Christians Against Poverty Debt Centres help over 50 people a year to escape unmanageable levels of debt, whilst offering befriending and courses to promote financial resilience. 

York Besom unlocks the generosity within church communities by helping people to donate their time and skills to assist with household projects like gardening or decorating. Besom also facilitates the donation of quality furniture and household appliances to those who need them.