Community centre named as ‘Charity of the Year’

The Cherry Tree Community Centre has always been a popular base for Beverley’s residents, pensioners and those in need, and now it is set to benefit from a full year of support from a local building society.

Beverley Building Society, which is based in the town’s Saturday Market, has named the Cherry Tree Centre as its ‘Charity of the Year’ for 2022.

The Society’s Chief Executive Karl Elliott said: “After years of running
our ‘Charity of the Month’ programme, we’ve selected a ‘Charity of the Year’ for 2022, the Beverley Cherry Tree Centre.

“Our new Community Committee, made up of Society team members who are passionate about helping good causes, picked the Cherry Tree Centre from all charities that have previously been nominated for our monthly award of £250.
“This means we’ll be supporting the charity’s hugely important work for a whole 12 months, in any way we can. To kick things off, we are donating a lump sum of £2,000, which will be used to purchase essential items for the young people who attend its popular Youth Club, fund outings for them, and contribute to activities the Centre is planning to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

“We’ll also be helping to run educational sessions about finance essentials with children and teenagers.”

Centre Manager Jo Ramsay said: “It’s fabulous to have Beverley Building Society onboard. The funds and volunteering help the team are giving us will make a huge difference and we very much appreciate it.”

The charity’s mission is to provide top quality legal advice and assistance in welfare benefits, debt advice, consumer advice, employment advice and advocacy in order to set the best outcome for clients.

Beverley Building Society aims to play an active part in making local life that little bit better wherever it can. In 2021, it donated a monthly cash award to good causes across the region, nominated by its members and its staff, and supported a variety of charity appeals. Those benefiting included Cash for Kids, Mission Christmas appeal, Dove House Hospice Child Bereavement Group, Jacob’s Well Appeal, Beverley Riding for the Disabled, Special Olympics City of Hull Swimming Club, Leven CE Primary School, and the East Yorkshire Foodbank.

The Cherry Tree Centre, which is based in Beverley’s Cherry Tree Lane, was one of the charities to receive a ‘Charity of the Month’ donation from the Society in 2021. Jo added: “The money went towards the community pantry we run. We have 150 people using the pantry, who pay £4 weekly to receive free fruit, vegetables and bread. We offer recipe bags, containing all the ingredients people need to make a meal for themselves and their families,
and the money from the Society helped to fund those.”