Nine new grants bring fresh energy to wellbeing and community life on the North Yorkshire coast

 

There’s a quiet but powerful shift happening along the North Yorkshire coast. From Scarborough to Whitby, Filey to the rural villages in between, local people are coming together with renewed purpose. And now, nine new community grants are set to give that momentum an even bigger lift.

These grants come through the North Yorkshire Coast Fund, created thanks to a generous donation from the former Borough of Scarborough Council. The fund was designed with a clear mission: to strengthen mental wellbeing, amplify the voices of young people, and nurture the connections that make coastal communities feel like home.

In December 2025, that mission took another step forward as the fund’s decision‑making panel awarded nine grants totalling £44,741. But what makes this fund special isn’t just the money, it’s the people shaping where it goes.

A panel that mirrors the community

The panel behind these decisions is a blend of lived experience and local insight. Young people sit alongside community leaders, council representatives, and residents who understand first‑hand the challenges and strengths of coastal life. It’s a group that reflects the very communities the fund exists to support.

Sarah Norman, Grants Officer at Two Ridings Community Foundation, sees this approach as essential:

“Having local young people on the panel is incredibly powerful. They bring insight, honesty and a real understanding of what their peers need. Their voices shape the fund in a way that makes it genuinely responsive to the community.”

Their involvement isn’t symbolic; it’s influential. Young people are helping steer resources toward the projects that matter most to them and their neighbours.

A growing legacy of coastal investment

Since the fund launched in 2024, Two Ridings Community Foundation has distributed £83,950 through 18 grants across the former Scarborough Borough area. That investment has supported everything from grassroots mental health initiatives to youth‑led projects and community‑building activities.

The latest round of funding continues that legacy, backing ideas that help people feel connected, supported, and hopeful about the future of their towns and villages.

A region strengthened by its people

What stands out most about this fund is its belief in local wisdom. Decisions aren’t made in distant boardrooms—they’re shaped by people who walk the same streets, face the same challenges, and care deeply about the future of their communities.

As these nine new projects begin to take shape, they carry with them the voices of young people, the experience of long‑standing residents, and the shared ambition of a coastline determined to thrive.

The North Yorkshire coast has always been defined by resilience and community spirit. With this latest round of grants, that spirit feels stronger than ever.

The local initiatives supported

Flash Company Arts Ltd. CIC will use their funding to deliver 22 weekly creative sessions for young people and 20 parent and child music and story sessions in Whitby. North Sea Conservation (Whitby Lobster Hatchery) will run free community events promoting marine conservation, coastal heritage and wellbeing through hands-on learning, lobster releases and festivals.

Other groups receiving funding include:

• Seaside SaLT Supporting weekly after school arts and crafts sessions for children with speech, language and communication needs, covering staff and materials.
• Aphasia Support Providing weekly support sessions at CaVCA, including room hire, volunteer DBS checks and travel expenses.
• WHISH – Whitby Hidden Impairments Support & Help Offering safe spaces, mindfulness activities, Relax Kids training, outdoor sessions and digital resources to support youth mental wellbeing.
• Sidewalk Youth Project Delivering structured, codesigned youth groups in Scarborough, offering safe spaces, social activities and support for vulnerable or isolated teenagers.
• Art Therapy Yorkshire Providing 1:1 art therapy for 8 to 10 young people, each receiving at least 10 sessions plus an initial assessment.
• Community Counselling (North Yorkshire) Limited Offering free counselling and creative therapy for vulnerable children in Whitby, helping bridge gaps in mental health support.
• North Yorkshire Moors National Park Trust Running monthly nature-based sessions to help disadvantaged families build confidence, wellbeing and outdoor skills together.

Get involved

Applications for the North Yorkshire Coast Fund will reopen in February 2026, offering grants of up to £5,000 for direct project costs. For more information on how to apply, visit tworidingscf.org.uk.