December 2021
Following consultation with several funders in the region earlier this year – many of whom said they would like the YFF to ‘do more’ – we have been working towards becoming a CIO so that we are a formal entity and can start to gradually build up our activities and capacity. The Charity Commission awarded us charitable status a couple of weeks ago and the Yorkshire Funders Forum is now officially called Yorkshire Funders!
Over the last few months we have been adding to our programme of Online Forums and monthly sector news updates by introducing new elements such as the Yorkshire Common Application Form Task Force and Online Workshops, and in 2022 will be aiming to launch funder-specific training, bring back in-person Forums, host a June Annual Conference and use the Funding Ecology report to encourage national funders to give more in the region. We are currently in talks with the National Lottery Community Fund about securing funding for this increased activity next year.
Yorkshire Funders’ founder-trustees are our former steering committee members – Tim Cutts of the Allen Lane Foundation (Chair), John Ward from the Charles & Elsie Sykes Trust, Jan Garrill, Chief Executive of Two Ridings Community Foundation and Stephen Robinson, formerly of Lloyds Bank Foundation. David Warner, who was the Director of London Funders will continue to work with the organisation as a Consultant and Carla Marshall will continue to be the Co-ordinator thanks to the support of her trustees at the Sir George Martin Trust.