As a charity, the Wilberforce Trust is the successor to
 The Wilberforce Home For The Blind.
This was formerly 
The Yorkshire School For The Blind, 
which had been located in the King's Manor in York since 1833.
This had been founded in memory of William Wilberforce,
 the great emancipator, who had died the previous year.

The Wilberforce Home For The Blind, which was located on the western outskirts of the historic City of York, aimed to provide a proactive service to assist residents and clients to maximise their capabilities, their independence and their lives in the community.

The Wilberforce Trust strives to achieve the same aims within community based settings.