Organisations dedicated to improving the lives of children with additional needs in Whitby and Pickering have scooped top prizes at a regional community awards ceremony.
Families of children with complex medical conditions and special educational needs will benefit from new funding after local support groups secured top honours at a regional awards ceremony.
Cash prizes of £1,000 have been awarded to community organisations in Whitby and Pickering to help them continue their vital work. The funding comes as part of North Yorkshire's Community Awards, which saw sixty-six nominations across three categories this year. The awards highlight the dedication of volunteers who help others feel healthier, overcome digital and physical barriers, and feel more included in their neighbourhoods.
A purpose-built accessible centre on Outgang Lane in Pickering has been recognised for removing barriers to services for marginalised groups. Ryedale Special Families won the inclusive communities category for its extensive work supporting the families of children and young people with disabilities and additional needs. The facility provides state-of-the-art sensory spaces, educational resources, and accessible community areas that bring people together.
The chief officer of Ryedale Special Families, Lisa Keenan, said:
"Our aim is to ensure that those visiting the centre feel welcome and included. It provides a space that can enhance education, independence and social skills.
We are proud of the accessible centre and now look to develop the area outside of the building to let young people and their families enjoy being in the great outdoors."
Meanwhile, dedicated support for families across Whitby has been celebrated, with SENDure CIC taking home the wellbeing and community connection award. The volunteer-led organisation focuses on reducing isolation and creating environments where children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities feel accepted and valued. They achieve this through inclusive activities, peer support opportunities, and family-centred services that promote overall wellbeing.
The founder and director of SENDure CIC, Sean Kirk, said:
"We deliver weekly sauna sessions for parents and carers, arts and crafts sessions for the children as well as horse-riding and sporting activities.
When people access our services, our aim is to provide compassion and make everybody feel like they belong.
The children don’t get labelled and we hope that everybody goes home happier than when they came in.
For the future, we would love to open a community hub and welfare centre in the town to provide more support to the families that desperately need it."
Other local champions from the Yorkshire Coast were also celebrated at the event, securing £250 as runners-up to invest back into their community projects.
Maria Kitching was named a runner-up in the commitment to the community category. She has been pivotal in transforming the Burniston and Cloughton Village Hall near Scarborough. Through her voluntary efforts, derelict tennis courts have been restored, a new multi-use games area has been created, and solar panels and insulation have been installed, alongside ongoing dedicated support for the local youth club.
Elsewhere along the coast, Carers Plus Yorkshire and the Sherburn and Villages Community Trust were highly commended in the inclusive communities category for their ongoing dedication to local residents.
North Yorkshire Council’s chair, Councillor David Chance, said:
"We are always bowled over by the examples of lifechanging work of individuals and community groups who give their time to support and strengthen the places where they live.
Our Community Awards shine a light on the positive impact they have, and I would like to thank everybody who submitted nominations and congratulate the winners, runners-up and those highly commended."
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