We're continuing a 37-year Christmas tradition of giving back to the local community with a donation to York Railway Institute (RI) in its centenary year. 

The donation will go towards securing the future of the Queen Street Sports Centre when the lease runs out in 2027.
 
York RI Trustee Heather Robertson says, “Our mission has always been to offer sport and recreation to all at an affordable cost, but the clock runs out in April 2027 when we will need to either buy - or vacate - Queen Street.”

The RI has embarked on a £100,000 fundraising campaign to enable it to buy the Queen Street building and secure the future of its city centre sports facilities. This in turn would provide security to apply for grant funding to modernise the building and facilities to continue serving the York community for years to come. 

Partners PR director Karen Tinkler says, “The York RI offers so much – badminton, squash, judo, table tennis and pickleball facilities at Queen Street – as well as space local organisations can use for training courses. It has hosted everyone from grass roots amateur clubs to Olympians over its 100-year history, and it would be a huge loss to the local area if the funds can’t be raised to secure its future. 

“We’re very keen to shine a spotlight on the campaign and encourage support from other local people and businesses.” 

This year’s Partners PR Christmas card features original artwork of the Queen Street building surrounded by other York city landmarks. It was created by Karen’s nephew, 14-year-old Ned Tinkler, to illustrate the RI’s place at the heart of community sport in the city. 

Heather adds, “We’re very grateful to Partners - and to Ned - for their support. Prints of the artwork will be available for supporters to buy as part of the fundraising campaign, and we’re organising a range of other fundraising events. Our Big Fat Quiz of the Century and a 24-hour badminton-athon this year raised almost £10,000 towards our £100,000 target, but we still need support from the local community and businesses.”  

“Donations like this one from Partners PR are vital to help us move closer to that target and enable us to keep making community sport and recreation available and affordable to everyone in the city.”

To donate, get involved with an event, host your own fundraiser, or find out more information, visit https://yorkri.co.uk/fundraising or email fundraising@yorkri.co.uk.