£25 million invested in our communities

We are delighted to have reached a significant milestone here at Two Ridings, £25 million awarded to community groups and grassroots organisations across York and North Yorkshire, Hull and East Yorkshire. It’s a number we’re proud of, but what matters most is what it represents. 

Over the past 25 years, local people, businesses, councils and charitable trusts have chosen to give through Two Ridings. Their generosity has helped community organisations support families through difficult times, create opportunities for young people, tackle loneliness, improve wellbeing and bring people together. 

Every grant tells a story, and every pound has helped make a difference to someone’s life. 

25 years of local giving 

When former Chief Constable David Kenworthy founded Two Ridings Community Foundation in 2000, he believed that local giving could create lasting change. 25 years on, it remains as strong as ever. 

Since expanding into Hull and East Yorkshire in 2010, we’ve awarded hundreds of grants every year to organisations working at the heart of their communities. From village halls and youth groups to community centres and local charities, these organisations understand the people they support and the challenges they face. 

In our most recent financial year alone, we distributed £1.7 million to community and voluntary organisations across the region. 

Celia McKeon, Chief Executive Officer at Two Ridings Community Foundation, said, 

“Reaching £25 million is an incredible achievement, but what matters most is what that funding has made possible. Behind every grant are people who have found support, confidence, connection and opportunity through local community organisations.”  

“For 25 years, generous donors have helped communities respond to challenges and create lasting change. Whether it’s supporting families through difficult times, tackling loneliness or creating opportunities for young people, local giving has transformed lives.”  

“As we look to the future, our ambition is clear: to inspire even more giving so that communities across North and East Yorkshire can flourish today and for generations to come.”  

Supporting the people who make communities stronger 

Community organisations continue to face growing demand for their services as more people experience the effects of poverty, poor health, isolation and inequality. Yet every day, local groups step up to help. They create safe spaces, offer practical support, bring people together and help communities become stronger and more resilient. Many of these organisations are supported by local donors and businesses that believe in the power of community. 

One of those partners is the Bettys & Taylors Group, which provides annual grants through its Community Fund. The Bettys family also supports a Family Fund that helps young people access training and development opportunities within the food and hospitality sector. 

Sarah Wells, Community Manager at Bettys & Taylors Group, shared, 

“As a Yorkshire-based business, we recognise that thriving communities create a stronger foundation for long-term success, which is why we invest in partnerships that support the strength and resilience of local communities. 

Giving through Two Ridings allows us to make a difference in the places we care about most. We know that local organisations understand their communities better than anyone, and that even relatively small amounts of funding can have a lasting impact.”  

“Reaching £25 million shows what can happen when people come together with a shared commitment to creating opportunities and strengthening communities.” 

More than funding 

For many organisations, support from Two Ridings goes beyond a grant. York in Recovery, which supports people recovering from addiction, says funding from Two Ridings helped build confidence as well as capacity. 

Mark Green from York in Recovery told us, 

“Funding was a scary word for us. We hadn’t applied for grants before 2021 and had no real experience with the process. The Two Ridings Community Foundation’s ‘Deciding Together’ Fund changed that completely. It threw us in at the deep end, gave us the confidence to have a go, and even gave one of our own community members the opportunity to sit on two funding decision panels. 

What has made the biggest difference, though, is the relationship we’ve built with the Two Ridings team. They don’t just provide funding; they provide encouragement, honest advice, practical support and an incredible amount of patience. 

They have invested in us as people and as an organisation. 

In the recovery community, we talk a great deal about gratitude.  

We are genuinely grateful to Two Ridings Community Foundation for believing in York in Recovery, helping us grow, and enabling us to create opportunities where people can reconnect, contribute and discover that recovery really does strengthen entire communities.” 

In Hull, The Peel Project has used funding from Two Ridings to recruit volunteers, create jobs and expand support for children and families. 

Jamal Choudhury from The Peel Project said: 

“When The Peel Project was founded in 2021, support from Two Ridings played a significant role in helping us establish the organisation and continues to do so today. 

Their funding enabled us to recruit and develop more than 80 volunteers, create employment, strengthen our infrastructure and support/retain core administration at critical stages. As a newly formed organisation, this investment helped shape the year-round programmes and services that is loved by children and families—programmes that are changing lives and building stronger communities.” 

Looking ahead 

Reaching £25 million allows us to celebrate what communities across York and North Yorkshire, Hull and East Yorkshire have achieved together, but it is also a chance to look forward. 

The need for strong, connected communities has never been greater. That’s why we’re committed to growing local giving, supporting grassroots organisations and helping more people create positive change where they live. 

Our 25th anniversary year concluded in July 2026 with the planting of a Community Time Capsule in Alderman Kneeshaw Park in Hull. Filled with memories, messages and hopes from people across the region, it will remain sealed until 2050. 

It’s a reminder that when people invest in each other and give locally, the impact can last for generations.