Sherburn and Villages Community Trust is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered charity number 1166770.

Our history

In April 2016, a group of local residents created the Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust (SIECT) in order to bring together management groups for the Community Library and the Old Girls’ School. Working together, the charitable trust could combine valuable resources and knowledge to allow both community buildings to develop and thrive.

We took on new duties during Covid to oversee a support group, which then re-formed to provide a broader service for a wider geographic area.

In July 2023, the organisation was re-named ‘Sherburn and Villages Community Trust’ to better reflect our work across a wider geographic area surrounding Sherburn in Elmet.

The trustees (all unpaid volunteers) are:

• Sue Phipps (Chair)
• Kevin Sibson (Vice Chair)
• Karen Packham (Business Secretary)
• Libby Sibson (Secretary)
• Julie Fewkes (Treasurer)
• Jessica Farmer
• Andrew (Andy) Robertson
• Hannah Oldfield

Sherburn & Villages Community Library

The Trust took over the Sherburn in Elmet Library in April 2017 and now run it as  Sherburn & Villages Community Library. During our first 5 year term we successfully operated the library with our friendly team of some 45 volunteers. We fully refurbished the space to make it a modern vibrant space for our whole community. We run many free children’s activities which are advertised on our Facebook page. We also sell locally made beautiful, crafted items from our display cabinet. We also provide an information hub for local services such as transport, health and council services. We have now been granted an agreement for a further 10 year period to March 2032.

The Old Girls’ School Community Centre

The Trust took responsibility for the Old Girls’ School, which had been unused County Council Offices, in April 2017 and successfully applied for a National Lottery Community Fund grant to convert the building into a Community Centre and to cover some operational costs for the first 3 years.

Following substantial renovation work the Centre was opened in September 2018 and has been well received by the community. The centre includes halls and meeting rooms where a wide variety of classes and activities are held.

In March 2020 we helped oversee the creation of Sherburn Coronavirus Aid Group (SCAG), a community initiative set up to help those residents of Sherburn in Elmet who needed assistance and support, resulting from self-isolation during the Coronavirus (COVID 19) crisis. The group was represented by from Selby District Council, Sherburn in Elmet Parish Council, Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust, Sherburn Visiting Scheme, Sherburn White Rose, Eversley Park Committee and Sherburn in Elmet – Isolation Help. This area is now covered by the Community Support Network.

Sherburn & Villages Community Support Network (CSN) [now closed]

Formed in late 2021 as Sherburn Coronavirus Aid Group wound down, Sherburn & Community Support Network was a partnership between Sherburn in Elmet Community Trust and Sherburn Visiting Scheme. It provided free information on how to access local services and support, and how to find local volunteering opportunities, operating through the library as the ‘public face’.

It became clear the separate identity was confusing between the Community Trust as the anchor organisation and the library as the ‘face’ of work, so we decided to retire the CSN brand and adapt the logo for the Community Trust. All the work will continue but with a simpler delivery model.

Our funders

We rely on the generosity of volunteers who give their time, along with local people who support us financially. In addition, we are grateful for financial support from a range of organisations and businesses.