The York Narrative is comprised of a set of values which residents, stakeholders and partners have told us most represents what we (the people who live, work, study and visit York) value, together with a paragraph that sums up the spirit and essence of York.
The values are not slogans but are a way of describing the things about York that people feel most represent York. Taking these core values into account means that we continuously reinforce what’s important about York.
The York Values
York is abundant with cultural history and beautiful built heritage and has learnt from its past how to build better futures. When we make plans for our city, we reflect and build on these stories and are always driven to consider how today’s actions will impact future generations.
York is a city on a human scale; large enough to have ambitious goals and provide opportunities for everyone and intimate enough that every person can make their mark. We are working together to create fair, compassionate and welcoming communities where collaboration and social vision spark grassroots action.
In York we lead the way, innovate and experiment with a common purpose – to make lives better at home and around the world. We have bold ideas and form local, national and international partnerships to help bring these human-centred ambitions to life.
History isn’t what describes York, history is what makes York the place it is today. The people of York built and continue to shape their place; a beautiful compact city where every person can have a voice, make an impact and lay the foundations for a prosperous future. York is a place where people and their stories matter; where an individual’s everyday experiences are just as important as the city’s world-class achievements.
Making History Every Day
World history can be told through the stories of York, from Vikings to Romans to Medieval monarchs, through revolutionary tales to modern day discoveries. When the Minster bells ring out on a Sunday morning you’re reminded that they’ve been doing so for 600 years, and this sense of continuance is everywhere as you wander York and its enduring surrounding communities.
The City of York aims to be truly sustainable and this comes from an understanding of the past. The city walls stand as a physical testament to the fact that building carefully on good foundations is the key to longevity and the actions of York as a modern city reflect this – it is a city that has learnt from its past how to build better futures.
Prioritising Human Experience
The world needs places like York because of the human scale that comes from being a relatively small city but with universal impact – combining the assets of a modern metropolitan city with the community feel of a Yorkshire town. Here you can cycle to school, run along the riverbank to work or walk Roman roads to get around, and no matter whether you live in the centre or one of the vibrant neighbourhoods supporting community living in our city, you can feel a part of the whole.
In a big city it can be easy to feel anonymous, but the intimate environment of York fosters social awareness, where people look after each other and we are working together to share ideas and drive change for a greater good.
Pioneering With Purpose
York leads the way, innovates, and experiments all towards one simple goal – to improve lives. Our city has a track record of being socially conscious – if an idea or innovation, design or decision, product or project doesn’t in some way positively impact lives, we haven’t reached our goal.
In York, we know life can be better – at home and around the world – and we act to make this happen. We have bold ideas and form national and international partnerships to help bring these to life. Our city’s reputation is built on social and industrial innovation. We have a history of embarking on missions to solve issues that are negatively impacting on people’s lives and York continues to live these values through pioneering work that happens every day in laboratories and research spaces across the city.
The brand filter is a tool which turns the values from a set of ideas into a decision making framework.
Among the resources on this site you will find a brand filter template, and a brand filter workshop.
The brand filter helps you to measure any proposed idea or activity directly against the values.
This brings clarity to decision making, fosters innovation, encourages creative thinking and ensures that actions taken at every level of your organisation will positively contribute to York’s future.
Make it York is the lead for tourism in York and is also coordinating delivery of the city's cultural strategy. Get in touch to find out how we can help you implement the York narrative in your organisation.