Enhancing Community Engagement at York Cemetery

York Cemetery Trust, founded in 1984, has revitalized the cemetery, transforming it into a community hub that offers guided walks, talks, concerts, and more. Despite its historical significance and beauty, it struggled to attract younger audiences. Our team at York Community Consulting (YCC) was hired to develop strategies to increase engagement, particularly among those under 40.

Understand community perceptions of York Cemetery.

Develop strategies to attract younger audiences.

Identify potential grants and strategies for application.

Leading the "York Cemetery" project, my team and I achieved significant results:

Community Perception Analysis: Conducted comprehensive surveys and focus groups to understand local community views on the cemetery, revealing a need for better engagement and awareness.

New Business Strategy: Developed and implemented a strategy to attract University of York students and younger adults, resulting in increased visits and participation in cemetery events like the Easter egg hunt and Christmas carol events.

Event Recommendations: Suggested new events, including cultural food exchanges, themed formals, and society collaborations, which garnered positive feedback and increased student interest.

Social Media and Outreach: Enhanced social media presence and proposed partnerships with university societies, resulting in a contact list of student-based societies for future collaborations.

Grant Identification: Identified suitable grants, including the Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic England Grant, and formulated strategies for successful applications.

Our final presentation, embedded with detailed strategies and recommendations, highlighted the importance of targeted social media campaigns, collaborations with student societies, and regular themed events to sustain engagement. We emphasised the need to modernise York Cemetery's branding and online presence to appeal to younger demographics.

By implementing these strategies, York Cemetery can continue to serve as a vital community space while attracting a new generation of visitors and supporters. Our collaborative efforts laid a strong foundation for the Trust's ongoing success and community integration.