York Cares celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. I have had the privilege of working for this fabulous charity for 16 years. I feel incredibly lucky to have a job I love which allows me to make a difference in the city where I grew up and where I am now bringing up my children, who are fortunate to experience the amazing sense of community we have in York. York Cares plays a huge role in that community, bringing together over 30 employers; enabling them to make a strategic investment in the community by providing their employees with volunteering opportunities to support others to fulfill their potential; reduce loneliness and social isolation and improve environmental sustainability, which in turn allows them to feel a sense of pride by giving something back to the communities in which they work.

As part of our efforts to ensure that York Cares can continue to make a difference for another 20 years, we have set ourselves a target of raising £20,000 this year. I have set myself a personal target of raising £2,000 towards this by taking on a variety of challenges throughout the year.