About Us

The PLACE Education & Research Centre has been an independent charity since 2004. PLACE has a virtual office based at York St John University in York, where we can receive mail or e-mails.

PLACE is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Chief Executive is Dr Margaret Atherden.

PLACE is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (registered charity no. 1106814). To see a copy of our constitution, please click on the link below:

PLACE CIO constitution

Our Charitable Objectives

  • To promote research into the people, landscape and cultural environment of Yorkshire and elsewhere and to disseminate the useful results for the benefit of the general public.
  • To advance the education of the public in the people and the natural and cultural heritage of Yorkshire and elsewhere.

Objectives of PLACE:

  1. Sponsoring, facilitating or undertaking research projects related to the people, landscape and cultural environment, primarily of the historic county of Yorkshire and of Yorkshire and the Humber (‘Yorkshire’), both independently and in collaboration with other organisations.
  2. Liaising and forming partnerships with other organisations concerned with the environmental and cultural heritage primarily of Yorkshire, and cooperating with them in research and conservation initiatives.
  3. Organising conferences, displays and events to increase public appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage of Yorkshire and elsewhere.
  4. Running day schools, short courses and field visits to educate the general public about the people, landscape and cultural environment of Yorkshire.
  5. Producing written or electronic publications, visual and audio media or other products to disseminate the results of research on the people, landscape and cultural environment of Yorkshire.
  6. Selling publications and other products in order to raise funds to further the charitable objects of PLACE.

PLACE Trustees

  • Philip Mander (Treasurer)
  • Katherine Himsworth
  • George Sheeran (Chair of the Board)
  • Colin Speakman (Deputy Chair)
  • Nancy Stedman
  • Angela Clark
  • Chrissie Williams
  • Abby Mycroft

PLACE Annual General Meeting

PLACE holds an AGM in a different location each year, usually as part of a day of activities and field visits for members and their friends. The 2024 AGM was held in York on 13th April. The minutes are available via the link below:

PLACE Annual General Meeting draft minutes 2025

At the AGM each year, members receive the annual report and accounts for the previous year. Our 2023 annual report and accounts may be viewed by clicking the link below:

2024 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS final draft

The 2026 AGM will be held at York St John University – date to be decided

Partner Organisations

PLACE has partner organisations, with whom we organise joint events from time to time:

Place Fellows

Independent researchers working in Yorkshire are sometimes invited to become Fellows of PLACE.  They collaborate with us in some of our research projects and sometimes publish their work through PLACE.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

PLACE DATA PROTECTION POLICY

Data held by PLACE

PLACE has a database of members and their contact details: names and postal addresses; phone numbers and e-mail addresses (where members have provided them); subscription status. PLACE will request this information when someone  becomes a member and pays an annual subscription. The data are used and updated by the CEO and held in the PLACE Office in order to keep a record of membership, track annual subscriptions and allow for communication with members.

The information on this database is never shared with third parties. Occasionally PLACE will mail out publicity on behalf of other organisations about events or activities that are considered to have an appeal and relevance to the aims of PLACE.

If members do not renew their annual subscription and their membership lapses, their contact details will be deleted from the database after the minimum time needed for administrative purposes. PLACE will endeavour to keep all information accurate but is reliant on members to advise any changes in contact details after initial registration.

Under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation every individual on the database has various rights, including:

  • the right to access – members can request to see what information PLACE holds on them
  • the right to restrict use – members may not want to be included in all mail outs to members
  • the right to accuracy of information
  • the right to have all information about them removed after a reasonable time if their membership ceases

Mail outs

From time to time PLACE will wish to communicate with the membership for the following reasons:

  • to inform the membership of a forthcoming annual general meeting or extraordinary general meeting
  • to keep members informed of forthcoming PLACE events
  • to inform members of events and activities which are organised by other bodies but are also deemed to be of interest to PLACE members.

For further information or questions about PLACE’s GDPR policy, please contact the PLACE Office.


PLACE Health and Safety Policy

Outdoor events

The event leader should:

  • Complete a risk assessment in accordance with safety and insurance requirements
  • In advance, describe the terrain and advise on suitable clothing/footwear where necessary
  • At the meeting point, acquaint participants with the route
  • Ensure there is a back marker
  • Take a mobile phone
  • Have a first aid kit at hand
  • Ask people in advance about any relevant medical conditions
  • Take heed of any severe weather warnings and be prepared to cancel, if necessary
  • Encourage participants to give emergency contact details to the leader, who will destroy them at the end of the meeting.

NB Although participants may be adults and we might consider them responsible for their own health and safety, we nevertheless have a duty of care and should not lead them to dangerous places or along dangerous routes. We should also warn against any irresponsible behaviour should it occur. The leader must report any H & S incidents to the H & S Officer, who will inform the Board of Trustees.

Indoor events

The organiser should:

  • Complete a risk assessment of the safety of the venue and in accordance with insurance requirements
  • Inform participants of any problems of access or any safety requirements, e.g. no roadside parking
  • Inform participants of the venue’s evacuation procedure – fire exits, etc.

 

Safeguarding policy

Child safeguarding

The activities and events organised by PLACE are explicitly for adults. PLACE therefore does not have a policy or statement regarding child safeguarding.

Should an adult bring a child/children to a PLACE event, such as a walk in a public space, it will be explained to the adult that they must take full responsibility for the child/children and that PLACE holds no safeguarding duty towards children.

Adult safeguarding

The activities of PLACE are by their nature not likely to be attended by unaccompanied vulnerable adults. Participants in PLACE walks are asked specifically to report any relevant health conditions to the walk leader. In the unlikely event that a walk leader becomes aware of concerns about a participant it will be arranged that this person is kept in sight by two other participants.

 

PLACE Social Media and Communications Policy

The aims of the PLACE Social Media and Communications Policy are:

  • To provide members with our policy and procedures for online safety
  • To ensure PLACE is operating within our values and within the law online.

By ‘social media’, we refer to any form of electronic communication allowing users to interact and share information. This includes social networking (including but not limited to Facebook, X, and BlueSky), media/photo/video sharing sites (including Instagram, TikTok and Youtube), and interacting via messaging using phones (including WhatsApp, texts, instant messaging). As social media platforms are constantly evolving, it is not possible to list them all here.

When using social media, PLACE will:

  • Be aware of this policy and abide by it
  • Use professional language and behaviour when using social media

PLACE will not:

  • Take, send or forward images of people that are illegal, offensive or invading someone’s privacy
  • Create or transmit material that might be defamatory or incur liability for PLACE.
  • Post messages, status updates or links to material or content that is inappropriate.
  • Inappropriate content includes: pornography, racial or religious slurs, gender-specific comments, information encouraging criminal skills or terrorism, or materials relating to cults, gambling and illegal drugs.
  • This definition of inappropriate content or material also covers any text, images or other media that could reasonably offend someone on the basis of race, age, sex, religious or political beliefs, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
  • Use social media for any illegal or criminal activities.
  • Broadcast unsolicited views on political, religious or other non- business related matters.
  • Send or post messages or material that could damage PLACE’s image or reputation.
  • Discuss members without their approval.
  • Post, upload, forward or link to spam, junk email or chain emails and messages.
  • PLACE social media accounts will not be used to share or spread inappropriate content, or to take part in any activities that could bring the charity into disrepute.
  • When sharing an interesting blog post, article or piece of content, PLACE will always review the content thoroughly, and will not post a link based solely on a headlin