Young Asian Voices (YAV) needs your help! From a small youth group YAV into one of Sunderland’s most recognisable and long‑standing community organisations. The charity’s story is tightly woven into the city’s changing demographics, its commitment to inclusion, and the leadership of Sunderland’s Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

YAV was founded in 1996 as a youth group created to support young people from Sunderland’s Asian communities at a time when culturally appropriate youth provision was limited. Its early work focused on safe spaces, confidence‑building, and community cohesion.

Over the late 1990s and 2000s, YAV expanded its remit beyond Asian young people to become a multicultural youth and community project, reflecting both the city’s growing diversity and the organisation’s inclusive ethos. It began offering:

• Youth sessions and junior clubs
• Holiday programmes
• Sports and talent pathways
• Volunteering and leadership opportunities
• Training and employability support

This shift marked YAV’s evolution from a culturally specific initiative into a citywide inclusion and empowerment organisation.

Our base at Sans Street was built in the 1970’s and, like any older building, needs need’s updating. We are looking to raise £3k to bring our lighting and electrics bang up to date. Can you help us?