The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire will spend £1.35m to support community buildings after receiving the third largest allocation of a rural fund.
The 2025/26 Community Building Programme, due to be delivered in partnership with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council is funded through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
In previous rounds of SPF funding, North Yorkshire Council supported 43 village halls and community buildings. Building on this work, Mayor David Skaith committed £600,000 from his Mayoral Investment Fund to help more than 20 community hubs, ranging from village halls to cricket grounds.
Mayor David Skaith said: “I want to make it easier for people to look after each other in their own communities, wherever they are in the region.
“This is particularly key in our rural areas. They are vast and beautiful but often the people who live there feel more isolated than those who live in towns and cities.
“I have visited community buildings from Hawes to Whitby and so many places in between. It might be a village hall or a cricket ground but it’s the passion of the people who make these into more than places, but anchors for local life.
“That is why community buildings are essential to be able to create healthy, thriving and connected communities right across the region.
“I have seen so many fantastic examples of how this funding has made a difference, and I want to see more. It might be how our community buildings can promote better physical and mental health, or it might be how they can be made more accessible. This fund will be a real investment into the foundations of local life.”
The combination of REPF and SPF funding will ensure that our most rural communities can benefit. But by including SPF funds, it will ensure that non-REPF areas can also access vital funding.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for stronger communities, Cllr Heather Phillips, said: “We are looking forward to working with our partners on the delivery of this programme.
“These buildings are incredibly important to local communities, particularly in rural areas where it may be the only meeting place for that village. They bring the community together, often by providing services and activities for all age groups.
“A key focus of the fund will be on accessibility to help ensure that we are meeting the needs of residents.”
Cllr Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Economy and Culture at City of York Council, said: “Community venues like village halls are so much more than just buildings. They are places where people get to know each other, make new friends, host family celebrations, play sports and access key services that enable people of all ages lead happier, healthier lives. In short, they are the places where community is built.
“Last year, in partnership with Community First Yorkshire and using UKSPF funding, we were proud to invest over £130,000 in community buildings across the city to improve their facilities. This included making the buildings more accessible, upgrading digital connectivity, and installing new energy-efficient measures that cut running costs and tackle climate change.
“We’re delighted that the Mayor has taken this successful programme forward with plans for improvements across the region. We’ve already seen the positive impact investment in our local communities can have. This new funding will help ensure the future of these buildings for generations to come, so that residents will continue to enjoy all of the benefits they offer.”
David Burton, Chair of Great Ouseburn Village Hall Management Committee and previous Village Hall and Community Building Programme recipient said, “I know how difficult it can be to help run a Village Hall, but I would encourage anyone in my position to keep an eye out for grants from the Combined Authority and apply where possible. This grant process has been extremely straightforward, and the changes made possible with this money have already made a huge impact on our community.”
Funding applications will be open till 4 August, apply now here