One of the privileges of the President of York Medical Society is to nominate the three charities to receive our annual donations. They all should relate to healthcare; one local, one national and one international.
The society donates £1000 to each charity.
Dr Mark Roman’s chosen charities for 2022/2023 are as follows:
York Foodbank is a charity with a Christian ethos which started in 2012 as an initiative of churches in York in response to growing numbers of people living in poverty and needing support. York Foodbank now runs out of four food distribution points which open on different days across the city (Tang Hall, Huntington, Acomb and the City Centre). The aim is to meet the needs of those in our local community who are experiencing a crisis situation, to give people hope, practical help, and a brighter future through additional signposting services.
The vast majority of our food is generously donated by people in the local community (schools, businesses, churches and individuals) and volunteers of all backgrounds help to sort, pack, and distribute food parcels to individuals and families in need. Local people are feeding local people.
The families and individuals who come to us have been referred by care professionals. Social workers, Citizens’ Advice, health visitors, school liaison officers and others, work with us to help people in crisis so that they do not have to go hungry.

The charity that steps forward in the moments that matter, to save lives and keep communities safe. Market leader in the provision of workplace training, first aid supplies and event and ambulance services

3. Ukraine DEC Humanitarian Appeal
In March 2022, the DEC launched an appeal to provide urgent aid to people fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, where over 7 million people are now internally displaced and more than 6 million have fled across the border to become refugees.
The response from the British public has been incredible, raising over £380 million so far, including £25 million of match funding from the UK Government.

Past chosen charities include;
2021-22 PROF BARRY WRIGHT
- Local: Martin House Children’s Hospice
- National: Young Minds
- International: Medecins Sans Frontieres
2020-21 DR JONATHAN EVANS
- Local: SASH (Safe and Sound Homes, York)
- National: Samaritans
- International: Kagando Hospital, Uganda
2019-20 PROF JAMES DRIFE
- Local: SASH (Safe and Sound Homes, York)
- National: Baby Lifeline (Maternity Training Charity, based near Coventry)
- International: Global Rehabilitation (Training doctors in rehabilitation)
2018-19 DR SARAH WATSON
- Bereaved Children’s Support Group
- Teleheal
- Britain Nepal Medical Trust
2017-18 MR GUS MCLAREN
- York Against Cancer
- The Autism Research Trust
- The orthopaedic unit at the Lacor Charitable Hospital, Gulu, Uganda
2016-17 DR JOHN REID
- York Down Syndrome Parents’ Group
- Dementia UK
- Kwa Mkono Disabled Children’s Trust
2015-16 DR ROBERT ADAMS
- Poppleton Railway Garden Nursery
- Rethink Mental illness UK
- The Bhopal Medical Appeal
2014-15 DR KATHRYN GRIFFITH
- EMR4DW ( Electronic medical records for the developing world)
- Candlelighters
- Give A Kidney
2013-14 DR IAN LYALL
- Christian Aid
- North York Music Therapy Centre
- Prostate Cancer UK – £1000
2012-13 DR IAN JACKSON
- York against Cancer
- St Leonards Hospice
- PEPAIDS
- College of Medicine
2011-12 MR ANDREW GRACE
- York against Cancer
- Hearing Dogs for the Deaf
- Archbishop of York Appeal (Community Centre for the Deaf in Cairo)
- Water Aid
- York Resource Centre for Deafened People
PRIOR
- The Parkinson’s Society
- Hamlin Fistula UK
- Our Celebration
- THET (Tropical Health & Education Trust)
- Yorkshire Air Ambulance
- Children with Leukaemia
- The Wellbeing of Women Organisation
- The Hearing Impaired, Bootham
- Ms Audrey Bell Midwife York Hospital (Indonesia as a VSO)