Time Together : A Successful Year as Charity of the Year
Time Together is a local charity supporting autistic people and people with learning disabilities to live life well. We are fortunate to have been Harrogate and District Chamber of Commerce’s President’s Charity of the Year 2025-2026 and have been able to access many opportunities to build stronger links between local businesses and the wider community.
Over the past year, the partnership has helped raise awareness of the support we provide to disabled and autistic people and their families, while opening new opportunities for collaboration, volunteering and community impact. We have been delighted to connect with businesses who want to make a positive difference while also strengthening their own social value and staff engagement.
One of the highlights of the year has been the continued growth of our social enterprise shop, which launched last year and has gone from strength to strength. Through donations of quality pre-loved clothing, volunteer support and business involvement, the project creates opportunities for people to build confidence, learn practical skills and gain valuable work experience. It has also helped promote sustainability by giving clothing a second life and reducing waste. We have seen growing interest from businesses keen to host clothing donation stations, support fundraising initiatives, and explore team volunteering opportunities. These partnerships show how local organisations can play a direct role in creating a more inclusive and connected community.
Alongside this, our core services have continued to make a real difference - supporting disabled and autistic people to live with greater independence, wellbeing and community connection. We have also welcomed referrals and signposting from across the business network, ensuring more people know where trusted local support is available.
As we celebrated our 30th year, we are incredibly grateful for the encouragement, generosity and enthusiasm shown throughout our time as the President’s Charity of the Year. The relationships built during this time will continue to create lasting value for individuals, families, businesses and the wider Harrogate community.
We appreciate everyone who has supported us, and we look forward to continuing to work together to make Harrogate an even more inclusive place to live and work.
