06 October 2026

Two community organisations have been awarded funding through a coastal research programme led by the Scarborough Coastal Health and Care Research Collaborative (SHARC) in partnership with researchers from York St John University, to explore ways of improving health and wellbeing in coastal communities.

Sparks Project in Scarborough and Dementia Forward in North Yorkshire have been selected for funding through the 2026-27 Community Research Grants, delivered by SHARC in partnership with the Institute for Health and Care Improvement at York St John University.

The programme brings together voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations with experienced university researchers, combining their knowledge and expertise to investigate issues that matter to local people and develop practical solutions.

Sparks Project will work with its York St John research partner to better understand the impact of its community-based Pop-Up Health Hubs.

Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Sparks Project, Michelle Davison-Ward, said: “Our Pop-Up Health Hubs are about taking support directly into our communities and making it easier for people to talk about their health and wellbeing in places where they feel comfortable.

“We know from the people we meet that the hubs are making a difference, particularly in communities where we see significant health inequalities. What we now want to understand is exactly what that difference looks like, what works particularly well and where we can do more.

“Working with York St John University will give us the research and evidence to demonstrate that impact, learn from it and use what we find to make our approach even stronger. Most importantly, it will help us make sure the support we provide continues to be shaped around what local people actually need.”

Dementia Forward will work with researchers to explore how services and support for people living with dementia on the North Yorkshire coast can be designed around their needs and experiences.

Chief Executive Officer and founder of Dementia Forward, Jill Quinn MBE, said: “At Dementia Forward, we have always believed in a ‘local for local’ approach, making sure people living with dementia and their families can access the right support within their own communities.

“Coastal and rural communities can face particular challenges in accessing services and staying connected, so this research is a valuable opportunity to listen directly to people living with dementia and those who support them, and to better understand what they need from us.

“We’re delighted to be working with York St John University to build the evidence that will help us shape services around those experiences. Ultimately, we want what we learn to lead to practical improvements and ensure people affected by dementia on the North Yorkshire coast feel supported, informed and included.”

The grants attracted strong interest from across the coastal voluntary and community sector, with 13 organisations applying. Five went on to work with York St John University researchers to develop collaborative research proposals, with the two successful projects then selected for funding.

SHARC Programme Manager, Trevor Mahon, explained: “One of the things we have always wanted SHARC to do is make sure research starts with the issues that matter to our communities, rather than simply being done about them.

“These two projects are great examples of that. Sparks Project and Dementia Forward already have a wealth of knowledge and experience from working directly with local people. Bringing that together with the research expertise at York St John gives us a real opportunity to better understand what works and use that evidence to make a difference.

“I’d also like to thank every organisation that applied and the five groups that worked with researchers to develop proposals. The level of interest shows there is a real appetite within our coastal communities to get involved in research and help shape better health and care.”

The Community Research Grants programme is delivered in collaboration with York St John University’s Institute for Social Justice, which has been running the grants since 2022 as a way of making research more accessible and strengthening universities’ engagement with the skills, knowledge and expertise of the VCSE sector.

Director of York St John University’s Institute for Health and Care Improvement, Professor Garry Tew, added: “We’re very grateful to the Institute for Social Justice for enabling SHARC and the Institute for Health and Care Improvement to build on its Community Research Grants model. It offers a fantastic opportunity to bring community organisations, the NHS and university researchers together to develop research that is genuinely relevant to local communities.

“We’re looking forward to seeing what these two projects can contribute to improving health and wellbeing on the Yorkshire coast.”

The two research partnerships began their work in late September and will continue until July 2027, helping to build a deeper understanding of local needs and how health and wellbeing can be improved across coastal communities.

Following the strong response to the programme and the quality of the projects developed, the Community Research Grants will return in 2027, creating further opportunities for local organisations to work alongside researchers and turn community knowledge and ideas into research that can make a real difference.