Decision

For 2026-27 approval of grant funding for York International Women’s Week and York Disability Week to hold a series of events and activities.

York International Women’s Week (YIWW) provides an opportunity for local people come together to create a community programme. It aims to highlight political and cultural concerns, while also opening up space for women to gather together for fun, knowledge, creativity and support. The event is also an vital opportunity to engage with refugee, asylum-seeking and migrant women.

YIWW features over 60 city-wide events drawing more than 1,600 attendees, making it one of York's largest collaborative community programmes. This gives CYC an opportunity to hear from one of our largest under-represented communities.

York Disability Week (YDW) similarly brings together organisations and communities from across the city, supported by York Human Rights City Network. The week-long programme of activities celebrates United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

YDW supports our Council Plan priority of Equality, our EDI Strategy and implementing the Social Model of Disability across the Council. It enables CYC to gather user feedback on accessibility, which can be expensive to do via other consultation methods. Events include direct, virtual, and in-person drop-ins with the City of York Council Adult Social Care team. By leveraging a festival run primarily by volunteers, this enables CYC to make "co-production" cost-savings.