BYC is a remarkable organisation that was established in 2009 by Mat Wright and Keith Norton. It is a registered charity run by volunteers that seeks to provide outstanding opportunities for young people who live in Barnsley and has developed a reputation for excellence. The choir is ranked 5th in the World Rankings in its category and has won 8 first prizes in some of the biggest international competitions in the world. Barnsley Youth Choir were presented with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (MBE) in January 2018. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and this was in recognition of the outstanding support that volunteers offer.