The Wilberforce Trust

The Wilberforce Trust is the oldest charity in York and is committed to supporting people with sight loss, hearing loss and other disabilities. It traces its roots back to 1833 when the Yorkshire School for the Blind was opened in York in memory of William Wilberforce, who had died that year. In the early years of the 21st century the residents of the home were given the opportunity to move into their own accommodation within several houses in York and in 2022 the residents and HQ moved into a state of the art building built on the original location of the school. Alongside our supported living, we provide a range of unique services. These include the YorSensory Hub for assessment of sight and hearing loss, a community focused Living & Learning Zone with cafe, and children's group, Club Wilber. These services are all run by our professional and friendly staff and dedicated volunteers.