A huge thank you to Invisible Cities and everyone else who has donated trains in memory of our Railway Heritage tour guide Gemma. These trains will be donated to York Explore Toy Library next week.

Sadly, our Invisible York tour guide Gemma Dean died in May. There is a remembrance service being held at Carecent on Friday 3rd July at 1pm. If you’re unable to attend, then there’s also a memorial train planter upstairs at Spark, which you’re free to visit anytime.

It was great to host the first Invisible Cities 10th Anniversary Roadshow today in York. The project supports people affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides, and now operates tours in ten cities across the UK, 10 Years - 10 Cities.

We are deeply saddened to share the news that of our wonderful ‘Invisible York’ tour guide Gemma Dean has died. Gemma was involved in the project since its inception, and brought passion and warmth to her much-loved railway heritage tour. She will be greatly missed.

A significant milestone last week with the launch of Community Tourism UK. This network has been developing since conversations began our conference in York last summer. You can read the declaration at www.communitytourism.uk

We’re really excited to be taking part in the SCOTO Knowledge Exchange while shaping the future of Community Led Tourism across the UK. Find out more and book via www.scoto.co.uk/networking-e...

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to the ‘Tourism: Our Voice’ conference yesterday. It was great to see so many people from across the country sharing bold and inspiring ideas on how we can make the visitor economy more inclusive and equitable.

How can local residents, social enterprises, and community heritage initiatives take the lead in shaping a more inclusive, sustainable and equitable tourism sector. Tourism: Our Voice Thursday 3rd July York Creative Centre Book via www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-ou...

Currently in Greenland, supporting these guys to establish a new tourism social enterprise led by people affected by homelessness in Nuuk.

We’re excited to be working on a new NERC-funded project, exploring heritage opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness in Greenland. The project is in partnership with the University of York, Ilisimatusarfik’s Centre for Arctic Welfare in Nuuk and will be led by the participants.

We’re running an Open Forum Meeting to help shape York’s proposed tourism levy. It will explore how some of the potential revenue raised can directly benefit residents’ by funding community groups or local initiatives. Join us on 22/1/25 6 - 7pm at Priory Street Centre, York, YO1 6ET

Our LGBT history tour was created by people affected by homelessness in York, and is narrated by older LGBT residents. It draws upon their personal insights, experiences and memories during a period of unprecedented social and legislative change. Get it at www.goodorganisation.co.uk/lgbttour.html

Last month, our ‘Story of Guy Fawkes’ tour guide Vicki published a book. It charts her fascination with Guy Fawkes, along with her experiences of homelessness, addiction and recovery from cancer through to becoming a tour guide in York. More info at www.coterminous.co.uk/product/guy-...

In August, we worked with York Civic Trust to highlight historical trailblazers who’ve shaped the city. Our industrial tansy beetle sculpture (described as ‘a skip’ by one resident) celebrated 64 Luddites who were tried here in 1813 for protesting against the machinery that threatened their jobs.

Last year, we published ‘Homeless Bound’. A collaboratively created book written by those affected by homelessness in York. It explores how language, stereotypes and even the paternalistic framework of Victorian philanthropy continues to disempower and infantilise those experiencing it.

We run four walking tours in York, led by people with experience of homelessness. Story of Guy Fawkes York’s Railway Heritage The Health and Wealth of the City A Family Friendly Fun Tour The all have 5 star ratings on Trip Advisor and are listed in the top 10 things to do in York by Time Out

Back in 2022, we worked with HerStory York to create an downloadable audio trail based on their 100 Women project. You can download the tour at www.goodorganisation.co.uk/100women.html or visit www.herstoryyork.org.uk/100-women/ to find out about 100 women who have helped to shape the city.

In October 2024 we launched ‘Historical Perspectives of Homelessness’ at York Castle Museum. It’s an exhibition exploring social attitudes and legislative responses to the issue from the Medieval period to the present day. It was curated by 27 people with personal experience of homelessness.

In 2021, they created a third series called ‘Postcards From The Past’ featuring archived images from York Library. Five years into the project, those involved are now regularly commissioned to photograph conferences and events across the city. 3/3

In 2020, during the pandemic, they then used their cameras to document the impact of lockdowns….and captured images of central York without any tourists. As well as creating a second series of postcards, called ‘Postcards From The Pandemic’, their work was displayed at galleries within York. 2/3

In 2019, our ‘Postcards From The Edge’ project gave good quality cameras to 10 rough sleepers. The participants captured images of heritage attractions outside the city centre that tourists don’t normally see. Those images were turned into a series of postcards. 1/3

‘Armed With Ink’ is a fair-shares project bringing local artists together with individuals affected by homelessness to collaboratively create a distinctive range of t-shirts. We can also print organic fair-trade shirts for community groups and heritage organisations.

No, we’re very much locally rooted Vivian. However, we will be supporting a group of people affected by homelessness in Nuuk (Greenland) to replicate our approach next year. Happy to be invited to slightly warmer locations too if you want to work with us?

Sadly, there’s a long and uncomfortable history of criminalisation…across the globe and across the centuries. Here’s a comprehensive outline of legislative responses from within the UK, from the medieval period to the present day, if you’re interested. www.goodorganisation.co.uk/legislativer...

Our SoundByte project recreates badges from the past, which are digitally chipped and linked to an audio description of the history and social context of each badge. Our collection includes CND, NUM, Anti Nazi League/Rock Against Racism, Gay Liberation Front and ACT UP. Other suggestions welcome!