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York House Main Building Front Corner

York House Centre

Please visit the York House Centre website for all the latest news and events.

About Us

York House Centre is a well-used independent Youth, Community and Arts Centre just a short walk from Stony Stratford town centre. We are a registered charity (No 1122220) which is managed by a volunteer Board of Trustees with the assistance of 4 part-time staff. A fine body of Volunteers help the centre to prosper, and we have a free membership scheme for local people to demonstrate their support (membership is free of charge and open to all aged 18+ who live in the Parish of Stony Stratford).

The organisation sustains itself (and our Grade II listed building and extensive grounds) by hiring out a variety of multi-purpose rooms for group and private events – classes, workshops, baby and toddler groups, youth clubs, self-help and therapy organisations, meetings and ‘away days’ for charities and companies – accommodating all age ranges and activities.

York House receives no revenue funding from external sources.

York House Main Hall Set Up

The Rooms

The Main Hall & Bar/Servery has a capacity of 100 people and we also have an additional ground floor meeting/activity room (the Beechey Room) which holds c40 people.  The 2 ground floor rooms can be hired together as a package to give some extra space for parties and events.  The Beechey Room has built-in audio visual equipment so is perfect for meetings and charity or corporate ‘away days’.  The ground floor at York House Centre is fully accessible and has an accessible toilet with babychange unit.

Additional rooms on the upper floors are suitable for meetings and smaller group activities plus “The Space” which is a sound-proofed ground-floor room with a basic pa system suitable for music rehearsals.

Hire of all rooms includes access to our ground floor kitchen.

Youth Activities

Youth Network are back at York House running the Youth Club. This session is a mixed group for young people aged between 7 and 14 years.
The session runs from 5:30 to 7pm.

If you are new and would like to attend please head over to their website www.ynmk.org.uk The Youth Club is run in partnership with Stony Stratford Town Council.

Please watch this space for when the Junior Youth Club ( Ages 7 to 12) and the Senior Youth Club (Ages 12 plus) return. 

We have two young people’s drama groups on Thursdays in termtime:
“Act-Out” – Ages 6 to 10 Years, 4.30pm til 5.30pm
“Act-Up” – Ages 11 to 16 Years, 5.40pm til 6.40pm

Our affordable drama classes are run by Terrie Howey (Red Phoenix Storyteller) for all abilities and no audition is required – supported by funding from various grant providers. See www.actoutdrama.weebly.com.

Community Projects & Events

Community Projects

Supported by our volunteers, we run large-scale community arts projects such as the Stony Stratford Lantern Project (workshops during November every year for the Lantern Procession on Switch-On Day) and York House Arts for All (free family arts workshops).

We have a Community Gardens Project on our rear grounds (developed in conjunction with Mind-BLMK) which provides allotment-style plots for community groups.  We also have a Community Orchard which has an annual Wassail event every January.

Events

In addition, we host (and often organise) a number of regular high-profile events and community arts projects, including the Stony Stratford Lantern Project and Parade, York House Arts for All (free family arts workshops), beer festivals, regular music, poetry and arts events, YorkieFest, Stony Stratford Harvest Show, Coffee Mornings & Stony Stratford in Bloom Plant Sales, beer festivals etc as well as fundraising events for York House and other charities.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

We welcome collaboration with local businesses to provide CSR opportunities.  If your company likes to give something back to their community then please consider York House for a project.

Recent developments have made a number of our rooms suitable for commercial hire for meetings, training days, and functions. We have AV equipment and other presentation equipment available.

Why not hold your next training day or meeting at York House Centre and support your local youth, community and arts centre?

Volunteering Opportunities

As a self-funded charity, York House Centre relies strongly on the time and enthusiasm which is generously given by our large group of Volunteers.
There are many different ways to volunteer at York House, you could…

Become a Trustee

YHC is managed by a team of Volunteer Trustees with the assistance of 4 part-time members of staff.  The Trustees meet monthly to discuss the running of the building and to plan and implement our future development.  Trustee positions are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.

Help out at our Youth Clubs

YHC runs several Youth Clubs and is keen to attract volunteers. Volunteers are subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.  Contact [email protected] if you are interested in helping out.

Join our Fundraising Team

Regular events are organised at York House to raise funds and encourage a wide variety of different people into the building. Events so far include Coffee Mornings, music and comedy events. Give your time to run an event or help in other ways such as baking a cake, pulling a few pints or donating a raffle prize.

Community Arts Projects

If you have an artistic flair we have plenty of opportunities for Volunteering. You can help run the Lantern Project or help to organise our family arts workshops.

Maintenance Projects

If you have DIY skills or can just provide some labour we will be delighted to find you a job to volunteer for! As a Grade II Listed Building, York House is in constant need of TLC – all tools and materials provided of course.

Gardening Projects

For the green-fingered amongst you there are volunteering opportunities in our Community Gardens.

Contact Us

Visit our website at www.york-house.org.uk
Find us on Facebook at York House Centre (Stony Stratford)
Contact our friendly Office on 01908 561075, or [email protected]
We’ll be happy to help with your group’s room requirements or your next social event.