ONE of York's most prestigious charities has been saved from extinction, it was revealed today.

The cash-strapped St William's Foundation, which has the Duke of York as its patron, has gone into partnership with the British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA).

The agreement both secures the financial future of the St William's Foundation and also provides a platform from which the work of the organisation can be grown and diversified.

It will make use of BURA's corporate services it cannot afford to pay for itself, like marketing.

Foundation chairman Roger Hyde said: "This is an exciting development which will also allow the foundation to retain its independence and deliver a comprehensive package of informed discussion and debate on key matters of regional interest on the rural and urban agenda."

The St William's Foundation is also responsible for the delivery of the Duke of York's Community Initiative, which is designed to recognise the efforts of the whole Yorkshire community to work together to capitalise and invest in the skills necessary to promote leadership in the community and entrepreneurial diversity.

Past winners of the award have included: The York Nightstop, which provides emergency accommodation in the York area for vulnerable homeless young people in the homes of trained, skilled volunteer hosts; The Regen Centre, based in Riccall, a dynamic purpose-built community centre, which serves villages across the Selby district and provides a whole range of facilities across all age groups.

The centre has created jobs and demonstrates 'social entrepreneurship' to achieve results.

Under the terms of the agreement David Scougall, a director of BURA, will join the trustees of the St William's Foundation.

Mr Scougall said: "This is an important step in providing a platform for informed, independent, non-political debate in the North of England and offers an opportunity to bring together different groups who in other circumstances may not collaborate."

BURA was formed in 1990 to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, experience and information for the emerging regeneration sector.

Updated: 08:27 Monday, August 12, 2002