Our city is facing many challenges and it has become increasingly important for us to work collaboratively to make a positive impact on our community.

York Cares enables employers to make an effective and strategic investment in our community to address York’s most pressing needs through employee-volunteering.

Our employer partners work closely with City of York Council and York CVS to help those who need it most.

Our priorities include: engaging disadvantaged children and their families in learning, supporting charities to generate new income, improving the physical environment of our city and providing supported work experience for young people leaving care.

The Starting Blocks programme provides work placements and insight visits for young people leaving care to introduce them to a range of roles and boost their confidence.

This nationally acclaimed programme addresses the City of York Council’s recognition that young care leavers are among the most vulnerable members of the city.

Steve Hughes, editor of The Press and a Board member of York Cares, has hosted a number of workshops at The Press offices.

He said: “The Starting Blocks programme was my first introduction to the work of York Cares and I was interested from the outset because it struck me as such a worthwhile initiative. It seemed an ideal way for employers to help care leavers make that first step into getting a job.

“We helped a group of young people with interview and communication skills, demonstrating the importance of body language, eye contact and expressing themselves confidently.

Many of them had never been in a workplace before and were understandably nervous. But they soon came round and it was extremely fulfilling to see them learn so quickly.

“We gave them a tour of the newsroom and they were particularly interested in talking to our journalists and the way we use technology.

I would recommend any employer to get involved and if you can involve your employees it can help them develop new skills as well.”

The York Cares annual Stakeholder Meeting took place last night( Tuesday) to consider r how employers can support York’s vision for a poverty- free city.

For more information about these programmes and to keep up to date with the latest news, visit the website at www.yorkcares.co.uk and follow @YorkCares on Twitter.