The Belfrey partners with York Christians Against Poverty (CAP) to offer free debt support in York through home visits from a debt coach and volunteer befrienders, and the Belfrey CAP team has already helped people become debt-free from nearly £200,000 of debt. Anyone needing help can call 0800 328 0006 or visit the CAP website to book an appointment, and if you would like to help or volunteer as a befriender, click the giving button.

The Belfrey partners with York Foodbank, part of the Trussell network, serving as a Saturday morning distribution point at the De Grey Rooms, where sessions are supported by volunteers and include an advice worker, and hosting a weekly collection point for donations. Through this partnership, the Belfrey has helped provide 3-day emergency food parcels to over 1,500 people, including 400 children. York Foodbank provides vital support to those facing hardship, and you can support this work through prayer, financial giving, or donating food and essentials; if you would like to help or volunteer at the Saturday sessions, click the Giving button.

The Belfrey’s Community Parish Nurse service supports individuals in improving and maintaining their wellbeing through nurse-led advice, education, and practical support, complementing NHS and statutory services. Led by a qualified nurse registered with the NMC, the service offers appointments at the De Grey Rooms and home visits, helping people of all ages navigate life transitions, access healthcare, understand mental health, and reduce isolation and loneliness, while also supporting the pastoral team through crisis care and appropriate signposting. Alongside this, the service is actively involved in community engagement across the wider Belfrey through Community Skillshare, Bereavement courses, Kintsugi Hope, Keys to Freedom, and other courses and activities, helping to ease loneliness, build relationships, and give people a renewed sense of purpose. If you would like to support this work, you can do so via the giving button.

Serving York is a key part of life at the Belfrey, with volunteering as one of the main ways the church engages in social transformation, encouraging people to take part in small one-off projects while sharing Jesus’ love across the city. Each year is shaped around seasonal focuses including:

Spring: Children and Families

Summer: Going into the local communities in York

Autumn: Food poverty and Harvest

Winter: Hampers for those in need in York

This creates accessible opportunities for everyone to get involved beyond the church therefore encouraging church/community engagement. Building on the Love Your Neighbour campaign, this work continues to grow as a central part of the Belfrey’s vision to support those facing hardship and disadvantage across York. If you would like to get involved or support this work, you can do so via the Giving button.

The Belfrey offers a friendly and affordable, professional counselling service in partnership with Wellspring Therapy and Training, available to adults (18+) living in the York area, providing a safe, confidential space where people can feel accepted and supported through challenges such as anxiety, depression, loss, relationships, and more. Since the ministry project began, the service has supported an average of 17 individuals per month and is delivered by a team of 7 counsellors. Sessions take place in person at the De Grey Rooms, last 50 minutes weekly (up to 20 sessions), and are offered on a sliding scale from £5–£40 depending on circumstances. While not a crisis service, the team can help signpost to other support if needed. If you would like to access counselling, you can complete the self-referral form here, and if you would like to support the service, you can donate through the giving button.

The Belfrey partners with Safe Families, a UK charity supporting children and families through difficult times by connecting them with local befrienders who offer friendship and practical help. The Belfrey Safe Families team is currently working with 13 schools in and around York and is supported by a team of 23 volunteer family befrienders and resource friends helping families in need. You can get involved by volunteering as a Family Friend (supporting families directly) or a Resource Friend (providing practical help like items or skills), receiving training and ongoing support. The service is fully funded until 2026, and if you would like to support or volunteer, click the giving button.

The Belfrey is a Welcome Church. This means that we are part of the Welcome Church Network, a Christian charity helping to link asylum seekers and refugees to a local church where they can find a church family who will love them and support them in what can be a traumatic and uncertain time.

The Belfrey’s details are on the national Welcome Church website, so refugees and asyulm seekers can find us, but we’re seeking God’s will as to how to develop this ministry. We’d love to increase our team of people so that we can have a group spanning the age groups to learn together how we can put this into action.  The main contact at the Belfrey is Rosie Holmes so if you’d like to know more, please contact her.