Wilberforce Trust

07/12/2025

Weston's Cafe and our reception area is really looking festive now...

06/12/2025

This month we have our usual, term time, activities on in the Rainbow Room, with a couple of changes due to seasonal activities. Please check out the poster, and our website, and please call reception if you have any questions. The number is 01904 760037.

As an exciting addition, this month we have Community Carols in the cafe on Thursday 18th December. Always an uplifting and joyful way to kickoff Christmas!

05/12/2025

Today, on International Day of Volunteering, we celebrate the incredible individuals who give their time, energy, and passion to make a difference.

We believe that every contribution matters—whether it’s a few hours at a party, a special skill, or a helping hand to make Christmas decorations or to read together, the efforts of our volunteers create ripples of change that touch countless lives.

Thank you to all our volunteers for being amazing! Your dedication inspires us every day and reminds us that together, we can achieve extraordinary things.

Want to join our brilliant community? Learn more about volunteering with us on our website-

https://www.wilberforcetrust.org.uk/join-our-community/volunteer/

04/12/2025

We are very excited to, this year, be part of the fantastic Christmas Tree Festival at the beautiful York Minster.

Each tree is uniquely decorated to reflect the organisation who has dressed it, and we stuck to our stand-out orange with some fun and clever ornaments to represent hearing and sight! There are also handmade ornaments made by some of our tenants and also the children from, Club Wilber. And atop the tree is our very own Wilber the Mole, in an orange tutu! We also added Braille to our description board.

Standing alongside other local charities and groups within this historic and world famous building, the trees are available to view, and vote for, until Monday 5th January 2026. Its the perfect opportunity to get that Christmas feeling and learn a little about some brilliant organisations in York.

Entrance to the Minster is free to York residents with proof of address but please check York Minster's website ahead of a visit as there will be some planned closures during Advent.

03/12/2025

03/12/2025

We would like to take the opportunity to wish one of our much loved team members, Megan Horner, the happiest birthday today!

Megan is a ray of sunshine in the office and is ADORED by the Club Wilber children and families that she works so hard for. She's having a well deserved day off today, ready to be back and fully stuck into the crazy period that is Christmas at the trust!

Happy Birthday Megan! 🎂

03/12/2025

These books are fantastic! We borrowed some for one of our children's parties and they just capture the imagination of all children. The nicest comment we received from a parent was that it was so nice to see their children sharing their book together, whether they had a visual impairment or not...

30/11/2025

The last Tinnitus Support Group of 2025 will be held on Wednesday 17th December 2pm-3.30pm here at Wilberforce House.

The group is open to anyone and you don't need to have received a medical diagnosis. Here you can find a warm welcome, advice and support from others living with tinnitus.

The session is free and there are refreshments!

28/11/2025

The second part of our 'Meet The Team series for YorSensory, we look at our Community Sensory Officers and manager-

As part of the YorSensory team, our Community Sensory Officers are Fiona Coward and Hannah Racher. Fiona and Hannah are responsible for contacting clients referred to the service and making home visits to support people with their sight and hearing loss. Alongside other members of the team you can find Fiona and Hannah in our YorSensory Hub, greeting people who visit us with queries around their vision or hearing.

Fiona says that the best part of her job is meeting people and hearing their stories. She loves being able to make a difference in their day to day lives, however small, leaving them with a greater sense of hope than when she arrived. Hannah really enjoys meeting and working with clients to promote their independence.

The wider team is managed by Sensory Business and Activities Manager, Lauren Talbot, who also makes home visits and supports the community from The Hub as well. Lauren has a strong interest in supportive technology and loves finding innovative solutions to improve outcomes for our clients.

(Photo shows, left to right, Fiona, Lauren and Hannah)

27/11/2025

Back in March and September, we held an open event for our friends and colleagues over at various Local Authorities, to showcase our Supported Living facilities and other services.

Events like this are the perfect opportunity to introduce the teams within the Local Authorities to what we can offer, and to reaffirm relationships with those we currently work with.

Our next event will be at the start of 2026 and if you or any of your contacts would like more information contact enquiry@wilberforcetrust.org.uk