AWARD winning York lettings and estate agency Coalters has become the 21st business to join employee-volunteering charity York Cares.

The charity matches the interests, skills and expertise of employers and their employees to community projects where they can have most impact.

York Cares has already helped 2,000 volunteers from the York business community to donate 13,000 hours of their time to help community initiatives over the past five years.

The Coalters team will be rolling up their sleeves and getting involved with projects that support local schools, old people’s homes, charities and local parks.

Reuben Barrett, managing director of Coalters, which employs 18 people, said: “We’re looking forward to working with York Cares to transform community buildings and urban green spaces, going in to schools to read to children, or spending a lunch hour chatting with a resident in an elderly people’s home.

“We’re based in York, we’re committed to the city, and are prepared to invest in our local community in this structured way.”

Jacqui Tesselment, from York Cares, said: “I am delighted that Coalters is joining the growing number of local employers who are investing in the local community by working with us. Our role is to bring together the skills of the workforce with the needs of local charities and community initiatives.

“We make it easy for the company to get involved and for the right schemes to benefit.”

Established in 2007, Coalters is York’s largest single office estate agency and has won numerous awards including best estate agency branch in York, best small northern estate agency of the year, rising star award and innovation in estate agency award.