Mayor invests £600,000 in village hall renovations

A North Yorkshire initiative is set to breathe new life into community spaces, with significant funding aimed at improving village halls and hubs across the region.

David Skaith, mayor of York and North Yorkshire, has allocated £600,000 to the North Yorkshire Village Hall and Community Buildings Programme. 

The funding will support renovations to up to 21 community buildings, ensuring they can enhance their services and remain sustainable for the future, while helping to tackle the growing problem of isolation and wellbeing in rural areas. 

Mayor Skaith said: “We live in a unique region, with vast and beautiful landscapes, but that can often lead to isolated rural communities.

“I am so pleased to be able to help expand this amazing programme by supporting improvements for up to 21 community buildings, from village halls to cricket clubs, in some of the most rural patches of North Yorkshire.

“For so many residents, these vital community hubs are a social and emotional lifeline, providing opportunities to socialise, access services, sports, and activities that is so important to support wellbeing and create healthy and thriving communities.”

The initiative builds on the success of a previous investment by North Yorkshire Council through the Shared Prosperity Fund, which revitalised 43 similar venues. 

Carl Les, North Yorkshire Council leader, added: “It has been brilliant to see the positive impact that Shared Prosperity Fund investment has made on village halls and community buildings across North Yorkshire over the last two years. 

“These buildings play a vital role in the communities they serve, and it is great news that the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority (YNYCA) have committed to build on the work started by North Yorkshire Council so we can work together to support even more buildings with funding for improvement projects.”

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