
The Mayor of North Yorkshire is spearheading a significant initiative to upgrade village halls and community buildings across the region.
In the initial phase, David Skaith allocated £600,000 from his investment fund to 21 village halls and community buildings across North Yorkshire.
The Mayor's vision is that "Everyone North Yorkshire should be able to thrive where they live- he picked out Whitby's WHIH project as an example:
" I've been really excited about the Village Hall and Community Buildings program, being able to support so many projects right across North Yorkshire, particularly in those rural and coastal areas. One six project was the WISH project, which I was able to go and visit the family and children who use that facility, and we were able to fund a new lift, making that building much more accessible so all people can use it.
And we're now in an opportunity where we can expand this project and we'll be supporting more community buildings right across York and North Yorkshire."
Among the projects benefiting from this funding is the WHISH organisation in Whitby, which has significantly enhanced its facilities. Yvonne Harrison, Project Manager of WHISH, confirmed, “We have been able to install a wheelchair lift thanks to the funding from Mayor David Skaith". This crucial upgrade means WHISH can now support more families in Whitby and the surrounding areas, offering "support, activities, information and friendship in an accessible and judgement-free environment". Mayor Skaith himself visited the facility, meeting the families and children who use it, and expressed excitement about the new lift, which makes the building "much more accessible so all people can use it".
As these initial projects near completion, Mayor Skaith has announced a new Community Building Programme, which will be funded by his UK Shared Prosperity and Rural Prosperity Fund. This new phase aims to expand the offering of truly accessible and healthy spaces throughout York and North Yorkshire.
Mayor Skaith emphasised his dedication to this ongoing work, stating, “I am committed to supporting and creating places where everyone has a place near them that supports both their physical and mental health". He views this work as central to his mission, asserting that "The foundation of this work must be built on happy and healthy communities, right across the region". The Mayor added that he is "delighted to be able to boost this important work with my new fund".
The Mayor's office confirmed that the application window for the new Community Buildings Programme is currently open, with submissions accepted until 4th August. This expansion provides an opportunity for more community buildings to secure vital funding for improvements.
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