The New Year is a time of change and offers exciting possibilities for the year ahead.

Our volunteering programme gives our members the chance to take on new challenges whilst helping others to see a brighter future.

Opportunities range in commitment from one-off activities to providing on-going support and are designed to make the most of your skills and expertise. Our programme includes:

Starting Blocks

Care leavers and young people not in education, employment or training are some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Through Starting Blocks, you can provide insight days and supported work placements to help these young people build the skills they need to gain employment.

Enterprise Hub

Use your business experience and expertise to help voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to thrive.

Meet these organisations and share your skills at our themed networking evenings or help those who are starting up or changing direction to review their strategy and business plan.

Team Challenges

Our team challenges are a great way to work together to address York's community needs, helping you to develop important teamwork skills whilst making a real difference.

There are a variety of team opportunities running throughout the year, including:

• One-off projects to transform community buildings and urban green spaces

• Our Big Community Challenge to renovate a local community space in just three days in October

• Visiting the elderly to spread some festive cheer and collect items for those living in temporary accommodation.

York Children’s University

York Children’s University (CU) brings learning to life for disadvantaged pupils from York’s primary schools.

Deliver innovative modules to teach pupils key life skills such as cookery and finance, or design your own module about your industry. We also run a Right To Read programme to help boost children's literacy levels.

New for 2014: CU in the City

York Cares is excited to launch our new CU in the City programme in February this year. CU in the City will bring children and their families together to learn about topics ranging from Space to Sport, through a series of interactive sessions in a variety of locations across the city.

In next month’s column, learn more about our work with Children's University and for details about our new programme.

To find out more about York Cares and to keep up to date with its latest news, visit the website at www.yorkcares.co.uk and follow @YorkCares on Twitter