Transforming Lowther Street: Mural Project Launching 24th August

We’re super excited to announce a fantastic new mural coming to the wall of the SPAR shop on Lowther Street, starting Monday, 24th August!

The amazing work of local artist Tom Sledmore can already be seen around York, from his breathtaking Peregrine Falcon mural outside Browns to his colourful pieces at SPARK, a space in the heart of York supporting independent food and social enterprise.

After studying Illustration in York and earning a Fine Art degree from the University of the West of England in Bristol, Tom’s artwork has taken him around the world, winning commissions in places like Amsterdam and Dubai. Now, he’s bringing his talent right back to our community.

Tom has been chatting with local residents and community members to gather ideas so the design truly reflects our neighbourhood (past and present.) He’s currently working through proofs until the final masterpiece is ready to be painted starting the 24th August.

This exciting project was made possible thanks to funding from the Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund, supported by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.

Door 84 is proud to collaborate with local businesses and organisations to bring you a schedule of fun, entertaining events over the next few months.

Keep an eye out for updates! 

14-Year-Old Joshua’s Remarkable Fundraising Journey

Having attended Door 84 for over two years, 14-year-old Joshua has not only stepped up from an attendee into a supported Young Volunteer role, but has also taken it upon himself to launch a year-long fundraising campaign to ensure young people don’t miss out on life changing opportunities.

“I think Door 84 is a great charity, and I want to help young people and parents make trips cheaper and more accessible,” Joshua explains. “Otherwise, some young people might not be able to go on trips.”

Specifically, he chose to fundraise for a residential trip, something he knows the value of firsthand. “I have been on two myself, and they are excellent fun,” he shares. “But I know this is one of the most expensive things Door 84 does for the young people.”

Fundraising on this scale is a huge undertaking, but Joshua worked tirelessly for an entire year to make it happen. He contacted local supermarkets and shops to secure stall spaces and reached out to businesses and organisations for raffle and tombola prizes.

Supported by staff from his school, Joshua quickly realised just how much time and effort it takes to run a successful campaign. Fortunately, all that hard work paid off.

“I got my first donation from a coffee shop,” Joshua recalls. “I went to ask about vouchers, and one of the staff donated £20. It felt amazing because we weren’t expecting it.”

Joshua also looks back fondly on other highlights of his year: “We were nearly crying with happiness after one person donated £115! Also, when we made over £50 in one day through a tombola, this was a record amount for us.”

Joshua is already looking toward the future “I want to raise even more next year! I’m already making plans to fundraise for another residential trip with Door 84 in 2027, and my goal is to beat the amount I’ve raised this year.”

When asked if he had advice for anyone who might feel too nervous to start their own fundraising journey, he said: “Don’t worry. I was worried at the start, but I had lots of people from school and Door 84 to help. My advice would be, don’t be afraid to ask for support.”

We are incredibly proud of Joshua’s dedication over the last year and so grateful for the incredible opportunities his hard work will provide for other young people! 

For a further look at Joshua’s funding campaign, read the York Press article here.

Summer Fun Day at Door 84!

Looking for something fun, free, and family friendly to do?

This Summer, make memories together at Door 84’s Family Event.

Tuesday 21st July, 11am – 3pm

We’ve got something for everyone:

• Fun games  and music for all ages

• Summer crafts 

• Tasty refreshments

• Tombola & raffle  Try your luck and win some brilliant prizes!

• Kids eat for FREE!

Whether you’re a regular at Door 84 or brand new to our community, this is the perfect chance to pop in, have fun, and enjoy some time together.

FREE ENTRY  Everyone welcome!

If you’d like to donate a raffle prize, please get in touch by calling 01904 623177 or emailing info@door84.org.uk

We hope you can join us.

Location: Door 84, Youth & Community Centre, 84 Lowther Street, York, YO31 7LX

Please note: there is no parking available on site, accessible toilets are available.

Our Community, Our Impact, Explore the Latest Report!

Our 2025/2026 Impact Report is here!

This year, we’ve captured the vital feedback, lived experiences, and collective journey of our work alongside the incredible community we support.

It gives us the opportunity to reflect on our successes and use those insights to intentionally shape what comes next.

Take a look and celebrate our journey with us!

View or download the full Impact Report here and take a closer look!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in creating this impact report, as well as to all the amazing fundraisers, donors, volunteers, and community members who have poured their time and energy into helping Door 84 flourish this year.

Help Us Build the Future of Door 84 

If you would like to help us build a lasting legacy at Door 84, whether through funding, partnerships, or sharing your expertise we would love to hear from you.

Contact us at info@door84.org.uk or call 01904 623177

 

Call for Artists: New Community Mural Commission in The Groves, York

Are you a muralist or visual artist looking to create a lasting public piece in central York?

As part of the ‘Groves Community Improvement Drive’ project, Door 84, in partnership with local businesses and stakeholders, are looking for an enthusiastic artist to bring a major public mural to life on Lowther Street,York.

Project Overview

• Commission Budget: Up to £5,600 (All-inclusive: covers fees, materials, and equipment)
• Location: External side wall of a commercial building on Lowther Street.
• Application Deadline: Sunday 28th June 2026 at 11:59 PM
• Funding Partner: Funded by Phase 3 of the ‘Vibrant and Sustainable High Streets Fund’, provided by the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Our goal is to improve the visual landscape of the high street while creating a meaningful piece of public art that celebrates the local area, its history, and its community spirit. We want a design that turns heads, sparks conversation, and instills a sense of local pride.

To be considered for this project please provide us with the following:

1. A copy of your CV  
2. A proposed concept design – A brief written overview detailing your vision for the mural and explaining how you intend to respond to the suggested themes.
3. Concept sketches – Preliminary sketches, digital mock-ups, or mood boards illustrating your initial ideas for the mural.
4. Examples of relevant past work – A portfolio highlighting your previous murals, large-scale installations, or relevant creative projects.
5. Cost summary – A straightforward breakdown of how your proposed quote (up to £5,600) will allocate funds across your fee, paints/materials and resources.

For full project details see here.

How to Apply

Email your submission to: recruitment@door84.org.uk 

Closing Date: 11:59 PM on Sunday 28th June 2026

We look forward to seeing your creative vision!

We Are Hiring! Apprenticeship Role – Youth & Community Support Worker

Door 84 are hiring a Youth and Community Support Worker in an apprenticeship role. 

The contract would be a fixed term of three years, and working hours would be 30hr/week. 

This role is designed to be a cross-functional across our youth and community provision, supporting initiatives across the entire organisation. 

The apprenticeship candidate is expected to undertake a qualification that will result in Professional Youth Worker status and a BA Honours in Youth Work (Level 6). The training provider is to be agreed upon following the appointment. 

Within the 30 hr working week, 24 would be working with the community and 6 hours would be allocated for independent study.  

Academic costs are covered through the NYA’s Levy Funding, so there would be no cost to the candidate for academic study. 

The rate of pay for the successful candidate will be aligned with the Real Living Wage (£13.45 / hour). 

Please note that this is not applicable to candidates who have already achieved, or are currently studying towards, a level 6 qualification (or higher). The candidate must also be over 18 years old as of 1st August 2026. 

To apply for the role, please submit a CV and cover letter to recruitment@door84.org.uk  

Your cover letter should be no more than two sides of A4, and should include the following:

• Your experience working with young people and the community
• Why you want to work at Door 84 / with the local community
• Demonstrate a capability to balance working in a fast paced environment with independent study. 

The deadline for applications is Sunday 7th June 2026 at 11.59pm. 

Interviews will take place w/c 15th June 2026. 

The successful candidate will start the role from 1st August 2026.

Download the Job Description HERE

 

 

“High Street Fund” successfully secured!

We Did It! The New Door 84 All-Weather Pitch is Officially Open

Thanks to your incredible generosity and support, we hit our £2,800 Crowdfunder target! Because of you, we now have a brand new, all-weather space for our young people and the wider community to enjoy, regardless of what the British weather throws at us.

Over the final weeks of March, we watched the transformation happen right before our eyes. The timing couldn’t have been better as our Easter Family Day Event provided the perfect stage for the community to come together, see the finished result, and get out there for the very first kickabout!

Thank you to every single person who made a donation. Whether it was a small contribution or a large one, you helped us reach that £2,800 goal. 

The pitch is already being put to good use. Moving forward, it will be:

• A core part of our weekly sessions: Giving our young people and adult attendees a consistent place to play.
• Available for Hire: We want the whole community to benefit from this space.

Are you Interested in booking the pitch?  If you’re looking for a central York venue for a game, practice, or event, please visit here for hiring details and availability.

Thank you for investing in the future of Door 84.

A Day of Chocolate, Crafts, and Community

We had a brilliant turnout with around 80 young people and their families joining us, alongside our Sparks Project regulars who got stuck straight into the colourful Easter crafts. It was wonderful to see so many generations coming together.

The hunt was on for our younger guests! After tracking down every clue in our scavenger hunt, the winners were rewarded with chocolate eggs kindly donated by York Cares. We’d like to say a huge thank you to them for their generous support!

Back in the café, delicious hot turkey sandwiches, pasta, and a fantastic spread of cakes were enjoyed by many.

We also celebrated a major milestone: the first official chance for the community to get active on our new all-weather Multi-Use Games Area pitch! Both young people and adults got involved in lively games of football and netball, and the new surface was a total hit.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for such an upbeat, energetic day. A special shout-out goes to our volunteers for doing a wonderful job of helping out as usual. 

Save the date! 

Our next community event will be our Summer Family Event on 21st July. Keep an eye on our socials for more details nearer the time.

Help Us Score: The Final £2,800 for Door 84’s New Pitch!

After securing £36,000 in grants from the York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, York Children’s Trust, and Minster Lions, we need just £2,800 more to build a brand-new all-weather pitch at our Community Centre located on Lowther Street. 

Why We Need Your Help

In the heart of York, safe and affordable sports spaces are rare. This pitch will be a game changer for our 8 –17 year olds and the wider community. From speaking to young people who come to Door 84, we know how much they value having access to spaces to play sport and take part in social, physical activity. This is particularly true for those from a low-income household, who may not be able to travel to take part in sport, or perhaps can’t afford the costs associated with many out of school clubs.

“Our vision with this project is to overcome these barriers, and make sport much more accessible to young people growing up in central York” George Arksey – Youth Manager

A Safe Space to Play

For many of our members, local parks aren’t an option. An 11-year-old attendee at Door 84 shared,

“Parks are dangerous, and there is a lack of football pitches. To get to these is a long walk, and most of them are just fields anyway.”

How You Can Help

We’re turning to our supportive community to help us raise this £2,800 goal. Whether it’s the price of a coffee or a larger donation, every penny goes directly towards the pitch.  

We just need this final push to reach our target, please help us succeed!

 Donate to the Door 84 Pitch Crowdfunder Here!

Thank you so much for your support.

(llustration above is how the pitch might look once installed.)