Good Organisation Social Ventures

27/07/2026

Tourism strategies now routinely reference improving residents' quality of life alongside attracting visitors.

But what are we really measuring?

We’ve become exceptionally good at gaining insights into the economic value of tourism, but remarkably poor at understanding what the visitor economy actually does for the people who live in the places that people come to experience.

Over the past six months, Natasha Almond from Good Organisation has piloted a ‘Designing Capability Indicators’ research project in partnership with the Policy Co-op.

Kenny Lieske has written a blog exploring some of the emergent themes, which accompanies the final report. Both are available here…

We’ve become exceptionally good at measuring the economic value, but remarkably poor at measuring what tourism actually does for the people who live in the places that visitors come to experience.

20/07/2026

This month we are shining a spotlight on each of our UK partners who are working to develop the Community Tourism UK network.

Based in York, Good Organisation Social Ventures CIC was founded in 2018, with a big ambition; to make tourism fairer, more inclusive and genuinely beneficial for everyone who calls York home. Rather than accepting tourism as something that simply ‘happens' to a city, the organisation works to reshape it, so that local people, especially those often left out, have a meaningful stake in it.

To achieve its mission, it has developed a number of creative and experimental approaches to participation, primarily supporting those affected by homelessness, substance addiction or individuals with experience of the criminal justice system, to run walking tours, and to collaboratively create guide books, GPS tour guide apps, publish postcards, print t-shirts and to develop museum exhibitions and public art installations.

As a small organisation, its impact reaches far beyond its size. With a network of volunteers, academic partners and community advisors, Good Organisation is helping to build a different vision of tourism, one that values dignity, inclusion and shared benefit. It shows that even in a city shaped by centuries of history, there is still room to rethink its future.

Interested in finding out more? Visit their website here: https://www.goodorganisation.co.uk/

07/07/2026

Should York introduce an overnight visitor levy?

A new report from Good Organisation Social Ventures CIC has explored the views of more than 1,000 York residents on the city's visitor economy and found that 92% of participants supported or strongly supported the introduction of a visitor levy, provided the money is transparently managed and reinvested in local priorities.

The research highlights housing, neighbourhood infrastructure, environmental management, heritage conservation and community wellbeing as the top priorities for investment.

If you're interested in the future of tourism in York and how it can benefit local communities, you can read the full report here:
https://www.outsideinfluence.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/GO-YORK-TOURISM-LEVY-REPORT-Resident-Perspectives-JUN2026.pdf

06/07/2026

We would like to get this survey shared as much as possible. It’s important to understand residents current sentiments of living in York and thoughts on tourism, so that can support local strategy to implement changes to ensure both residents and visitors enjoy York. Please share.

Take 5 minutes to add your views on tourism in the York Residents Know Annual Survey 2026 — from jobs, culture to how busy it feels day to day.

29/06/2026

As many of you will be aware, our Invisible Cities York tour guide Gemma Dean sadly died in May.

Gemma was passionate about trains, and led a Railway Heritage Tour within the city. For anyone who knew her, there is an opportunity to attend a remembrance service at Carecent York in York on Friday 3rd July at 1pm with Helen Meadows and HOPING street kitchen providing food.

If you’re unable to attend, then there’s also a memorial train planter upstairs at Spark , which you’re free to visit during their opening hours.

We’re also currently collecting toy trains, which you can drop off at our office at Priory Street Centreed and these will be donated to York Explore Library, Gemma was a frequent user of the library so we wanted to ensure there was a connection to their services within the remembrance programme.

A huge thank you to John McGall and Lived Insights for their support with this.

29/06/2026

As many of you will be aware, our Invisible Cities York tour guide Gemma Dean sadly died in May.

Gemma was passionate about trains, and led a Railway Heritage Tour within the city. For anyone who knew her, there an opportunity to attend a remembrance service at Carecent in York on Friday 3rd July at 1pm.

If you’re unable to attend, then there’s also a memorial train planter upstairs at Spark, which you’re free to visit during their opening hours.

We’re also currently collecting toy trains, which you can drop off at our office at Priory Street Centre. These will be donated to York Explore toy library. Gemma was frequent user of the library, so we wanted to ensure there was a connection to their services too.

26/06/2026

This week, our wonderful five star rated tour guide Vicki who has led ‘The Story of Guy Fawkes’ tour since 2019, has retired. Unfortunately, she was too ill to make it down to Invisible Cities Roadshow in York to mark the occasion, so we wish her a speedy recovery and a long and happy retirement.

26/06/2026

Your York. Your Say.

Tourism is part of what makes York such a special place, supporting jobs, culture, festivals, heritage and local businesses.

But it also shapes everyday life for residents.

That is why Good Organisation is inviting York residents to complete the York Residents Know Annual Survey 2026, open until 30 September.

The survey will help the York Tourism Advisory Board continue to put residents’ voices at the heart of York’s tourism strategy.

Resident insight has already helped shape action around local access to attractions and heritage, support for independent businesses, creative and festival opportunities, and ideas to improve accessibility. This annual survey will help build on that progress by tracking how people feel about tourism over time.

It is a chance to say:
What is working?
What is not?
What needs to change?

The survey is anonymous, with the option to leave your email address at the end if you are happy to be contacted later.
Complete the survey here:

https://www.outsideinfluence.co.uk/york-residents-know-annual-survey-2026/
Please share with other York residents.

Take 5 minutes to add your views on tourism in the York Residents Know Annual Survey 2026 — from jobs, culture to how busy it feels day to day.

22/06/2026

Over the past two years, Good Organisation (Social Ventures) CIC has worked alongside a number of academic and community partners to explore how local residents experience York’s visitor economy and how they believe an Overnight Visitor Levey could support the city’s long-term wellbeing.

The research engaged more than 1,000 residents through surveys, interviews, workshops and participatory research. More info via our website

22/06/2026

Over the past two years, Good Organisation (Social Ventures) CIC has worked alongside a number of academic and community partners to explore how local residents experience York's visitor economy and how they believe an Oveenight Visitor Levey could support the city's long-term wellbeing.

The research engaged more than 1,000 residents through surveys, interviews, workshops and participatory research.

Download and read the full report