Henshaws is the charity of choice for YIBC

HARROGATE-based charity Henshaws Yorkshire has been selected as the chosen charity of the Yorkshire International Business Convention (YIBC).

The charity, which includes a specialist further-education college in Harrogate and the Knaresborough-based Arts & Crafts Centre, works with students and art makers who are affected by visual impairment, other disabilities and learning difficulties.

In preparation for YIBC in June, Mike Firth, the YIBC organiser, visited the Arts & Crafts Centre to see art-makers working on the 1,500 delegate bags they are producing through the charity’s social enterprise, Handmade at Henshaws.

Charity support: Centre manager Phil Hopkins (back) with art maker Mark Hall (left) and YIBC organiser Mike Firth

The convention has been an annual fixture in the region’s business calendar since 1995 and has featured keynote speakers including Bill Clinton and Mikhail Gorbachev as well as celebrities such as John Cleese, Sir Bob Geldof and Neil Armstrong.

As the chosen charity for the 2010 convention, Henshaws Yorkshire is looking forward to benefiting from exposure and involvement at the event as well as vital funds generated from the sale of the delegate bags.

Each bag will carry one of 10 unique, hand embellished drawings, designed by the art makers at the Arts & Craft Centre.

Funds generated from involvement in the YIBC have been ear-marked to go towards a new multi-media centre at Henshaws College.

The new suite will incorporate a performance area with a small stage, lighting and sound systems, a studio for making films, and a sound proofed room for radio broadcasting. Henshaws College students will be actively involved in the planning and progression of the centre throughout its development.

Caroline Smale, chief executive of Henshaws Yorkshire, said: “We feel privileged and excited to be involved with the YIBC and look forward to the benefits the new multi-media centre will bring to the college.

“Students are able to study media and radio at Henshaws College and radio is particularly popular due to its accessibility for visually impaired and disabled people.”

Mr Firth said: “As the slogan of the convention is ‘inspiring people, inspiring people’ the decision to involve Henshaws Yorkshire as both a charity and a social enterprise was a natural one.

“The courage and determination displayed by the students and art makers at Henshaws Yorkshire is more motivating than any business story I’ve heard and I look forward to seeing the results of their hard work.”