Yorkshire Children's Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £2.3 million (estimated based on £4.6m raised over first 2 years)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Within 24 hours for school-referred families through online portal
• Grant Range: £200 - £10,000 (Individual grants up to £200; Organisation grants up to £10,000)
• Geographic Focus: Yorkshire region (based in Leeds)

Contact Details

Website: www.yorkshirechildrenscharity.org.uk

Email:

• General enquiries: hello@yorkshirechildrenscharity.org.uk
• Project/grant enquiries: programmes@yorkshirechildrenscharity.org.uk

Phone: 0113 730 3180

Address: First Floor, 116-118 Harrogate Road, Chapel Allerton, Leeds, LS7 4NY

Overview

Yorkshire Children's Charity launched in January 2022 as a needs-led charity dedicated to helping children disadvantaged by disability, ill health, or financial circumstances. Founded and run by CEO Charlotte Farrington, a mother of two, the charity raised an impressive £4.6 million in its first two years of operation. The charity takes a distinctive approach through its innovative online portal system, enabling rapid response to families in crisis—often within 24 hours of referral. Their work spans direct family support, specialist equipment provision, wheelchair grants, and the flagship Great Yorkshire Build initiative that upgrades facilities at SEND schools. The charity's long-term goal is to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty in Yorkshire and ensure all young people have equal opportunities to thrive. No trustees receive remuneration, and the charity is committed to the Code of Fundraising Practice.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual/Family Grants - Up to £200 per child

• Direct financial assistance for childhood necessities and experiences
• Application through school referral system via online portal
• Rolling basis with rapid response (within 24 hours for school referrals)

Wheelchair Grants - Variable amounts

• Partial or full funding for wheelchairs unavailable through local authority
• Includes beach, sports, all-terrain, manual and powered chairs
• Online application taking approximately 45 minutes
• Rolling basis

Specialist Equipment Grants - Variable amounts

• Funding for specialist equipment vital for children with additional needs
• Includes practical amenities such as specialist baths and hoists
• Rolling basis

Organisation Grants - Up to £10,000

• For non-profit organisations, schools, nurseries, youth clubs, sports clubs, self-help groups and voluntary groups
• Must support children and young people across Yorkshire
• Online application system

The Great Yorkshire Build

• Major capital projects upgrading SEND school facilities
• Operates on 80:20 funding ratio (80% gift in kind from property sector, 20% from charity for equipment and specialist provisions)
• Projects valued at £800,000+
• Not an open application programme—charity identifies and spearheads partnerships

Priority Areas

• Children with disabilities requiring specialist equipment or wheelchairs
• Children with ill health requiring support
• Families facing financial hardship affecting children's wellbeing
• SEND schools requiring facility upgrades
• Schools in deprived areas supporting disadvantaged children
• Organisations providing vital support networks for young people and families

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the charity's focus is specifically on:

• Children and young people in Yorkshire only
• Needs related to disability, ill health, or financial circumstance
• Direct benefit to children (not general organisational running costs)

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Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer: Charlotte Farrington (Founder)

Charlotte Farrington is a mother of two who founded the charity in January 2022. Under her leadership, the charity has raised £4.6 million in its first two years.

Key Quotes from Charlotte Farrington:

On the charity's approach: "Yorkshire Children's Charity will be driven by the outcome. What benefit is it to the child? Does it meet our criteria to provide them with fun, relieve them of pain, and allow them to access the world around them? If it meets those outcomes, then we find a way to help and we allocate those funds. We are responsive to the unique needs of children because those needs change all the time."

On maintaining empathy: "The moment you don't get upset by a child's story and can no longer put yourself in the shoes of their parents, it's time to move on."

On accessibility: “Ultimately, the most important thing for us is that families that need our help know that we are here.”

Vision Statement: “We want to give all children and young people the chance to be their best, and make life more manageable for those who struggle.”

Mission Statement: "Yorkshire Children's Charity is needs led. That means we exist solely to help the children who need us: those who are at a disadvantage in life due to disability, ill health, or financial circumstance."

Governance: No trustees receive remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity. Specific trustee names are not publicly listed but can be accessed through Charity Commission records.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Individual/Family Support:

• Families must be recommended by a representative at their child's school
• Schools interested in joining The School Network should contact hello@yorkshirechildrenscharity.org.uk
• Applications processed through innovative online portal with step-by-step Q&A
• Portal allows saving progress and return within 30 days
• Simple yes/no questions, no excessive documentation required
• Unique application code provided to check status at any time

For Wheelchair Grants:

• Online application taking approximately 45 minutes
• Can save and return to form within 30 days
• Rolling basis

For Organisation Grants:

• Online application system via charity website
• Contact programmes@yorkshirechildrenscharity.org.uk for project work or grant applications
• Rolling basis

Decision Timeline

Individual/Family Grants: Within 24 hours of school referral through the online portal system

Other Grant Types: Specific timelines not publicly stated, but the charity emphasizes responsiveness to urgent needs

Success Rates

Success rates and application statistics are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. The charity operates on a needs-led basis, suggesting families can apply when new needs arise.

Application Success Factors

Key Success Factors:

1. Outcome-Focused Applications: The charity is “driven by the outcome.” Applications should clearly demonstrate the benefit to the child and how support will provide fun, relieve pain, or allow access to the world around them.

1. School Partnership Critical for Families: For individual/family support, connecting with a school that participates in The School Network is essential. Schools act as the referral gateway.

1. Yorkshire Connection: Must be based in Yorkshire region—this is a firm geographic requirement.

1. Specific Disadvantage: Applications must relate to disability, ill health, or financial circumstance affecting children.

1. Clear Need Demonstration: The charity responds to “unique needs of children” so being specific about the individual child's circumstances is important.

1. Organisational Applicants: Must demonstrate significant role in influencing child development and providing vital support networks for young people and families.

Recent Projects Funded:

• Brooklands School, Skipton: Great Yorkshire Build upgrading facilities including new rebound therapy and sensory facilities, improving cold, dark early-years classrooms
• Hilltop School, Rotherham: £800,000 Great Yorkshire Build project secured
• Multiple wheelchair grants including sports, all-terrain and daily chairs for children with mobility impairments
• Specialist equipment including hoists for baths for families with disabled children
• Direct family support through The School Network programme in deprived areas

Language and Terminology:

The charity uses inclusive, practical language focusing on:

• “Needs-led” approach
• “Outcome-driven”
• Children “at a disadvantage”
• Making life “more manageable”
• Providing both “necessities and niceties”
• “Responsive to unique needs”

Recognition:

Yorkshire Children's Charity received praise from Charity Awards judges who called the Great Yorkshire Build partnership “an amazing achievement” and “a truly clever, community-building, sustainable and cost-effective way to meet hugely unmet need.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• School Referral is Gateway: For individual family grants, establish connection with participating schools in The School Network—direct family applications are not accepted.

• Be Outcomes-Focused: Frame applications around tangible outcomes for children: providing fun, relieving pain, or enabling access to the world. Charlotte Farrington emphasizes this as the key decision criterion.

• Rapid Response Advantage: The 24-hour response time for school-referred families means urgent needs can be addressed quickly—highlight time-sensitive situations.

• Yorkshire Geography is Non-Negotiable: Only applications relating to children in Yorkshire will be considered.

• Demonstrate Partnership Thinking: The charity values collaborative approaches (as seen in Great Yorkshire Build), so organisational applicants should show how they work with others to support children.

• Use Their Portal System: The online application system is designed for accessibility and convenience—take advantage of the save-and-return feature over 30 days.

• Think Beyond Traditional Grants: The charity takes creative approaches to funding (80:20 model, in-kind gifts)—if you have an innovative partnership idea, they may be receptive.

References

• Yorkshire Children's Charity official website: https://www.yorkshirechildrenscharity.org.uk
• Charity Commission register entry for Yorkshire Children's Charity (1196738): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5187492
• Fundraising Regulator directory: https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/directory/yorkshire-childrens-charity
• Living North article: "How Yorkshire Children's Charity are Helping Our Most Disadvantaged Children"
• Charity Awards page: https://charityawards.co.uk/yorkshire-childrens-charity/
• Yorkshire Post article: "Meet the woman behind Yorkshire Children's Charity, helping region's most disadvantaged young people and their families"
• Yorkshire Children's Charity interview with Charlotte Farrington: "Charlotte Farrington, Yorkshire Children's Charity CEO, tells Laura Reid all about her bold vision"
• Yorkshire Post article: "Desperation on another level - Yorkshire Children's Charity preparing for another Christmas of high demand from struggling families"
• Leeds Living article: "Yorkshire Children's Charity: Keeping Yorkshire's Children Warm"
• The Hoot Leeds: "Yorkshire Children's Charity launches inspiring campaign to help 25,000 of region's most vulnerable young people"