Two Ridings Community Foundation reaches £25 million milestone

Two Ridings Community Foundation has reached a significant milestone, distributing £25 million to community groups and grassroots organisations across Hull and East Yorkshire, York and North Yorkshire.

The achievement reflects 25 years of generosity of Yorkshire people, businesses, local councils and charitable trusts who have chosen to invest in their communities through the Foundation. Together, they have helped create opportunities, strengthen local organisations and support thousands of people to build brighter futures.

Celia McKeon, Chief Executive Officer of Two Ridings Community Foundation, said:

"Reaching £25 million is an incredible achievement, but what matters most is what that funding has made possible. Behind every grant are people who have found support, confidence, connection and opportunity through local community organisations."

"For 25 years, generous donors have helped communities respond to challenges and create lasting change. Whether it's supporting families through difficult times, tackling loneliness or creating opportunities for young people, local giving has transformed lives."

"As we look to the future, our ambition is clear: to inspire even more giving so that communities across North and East Yorkshire can flourish today and for generations to come."

Founded in 2000 by former Chief Constable David Kenworthy, Two Ridings Community Foundation is built on the belief that people and businesses giving locally can achieve extraordinary things. Since expanding into Hull and East Yorkshire in 2010, the Foundation has awarded hundreds of grants each year, supporting community-led action in towns, villages, coastal communities and city neighbourhoods right across the region.

The Foundation reached the £25 million milestone during its 25th anniversary year, following the launch of its Anniversary Appeal. In its most recent financial year alone, Two Ridings distributed £1.7 million to voluntary and community organisations working on the issues that matter most to the people in the region.

Community groups consistently report rising demand for support, alongside growing challenges linked to poverty, poor health, isolation, inequality and limited opportunities. At the same time, they continue to demonstrate the power of local action, bringing people together, building resilience and creating stronger, more connected communities.

Bettys & Taylors Group partners with Two Ridings Community Foundation to award annual grants through its Community Fund. In addition, the Bettys family invests in a Family Fund, also stewarded by the Foundation, which provides grants to help young people access training and development opportunities through community organisations focused on the food and hospitality industry.

Sarah Wells, Community Manager at Bettys & Taylors Group, said:

"As a Yorkshire-based business, we recognise that thriving communities create a stronger foundation for long-term success, which is why we invest in partnerships that support the strength and resilience of local communities.

Giving through Two Ridings allows us to make a difference in the places we care about most. We know that local organisations understand their communities better than anyone, and that even relatively small amounts of funding can have a lasting impact."

"Reaching £25 million shows what can happen when people come together with a shared commitment to creating opportunities and strengthening communities."

Across the UK, community foundations collectively invest more than £180 million every year into grassroots charities and community organisations, distributing more than 30,000 grants annually. Together, they have awarded over £2.1 billion to local causes, demonstrating the enduring power of place-based giving.

Jamal Choudhury from The Peel Project in Hull said:

"When The Peel Project was founded in 2021, support from Two Ridings played a significant role in helping us establish the organisation and continues to do so today.

Their funding enabled us to recruit and develop more than 80 volunteers, create employment, strengthen our infrastructure and support/retain core administration at critical stages. As a newly formed organisation, this investment helped shape the year-round programmes and services that is loved by children and families—programmes that are changing lives and building stronger communities."

The Foundation's anniversary year concludes in July 2026 with the planting of a Community Time Capsule in Alderman Kneeshaw Park in Hull. Filled with memories, messages and hopes gathered from people across East and North Yorkshire, the capsule will remain sealed until 2050.

The time capsule reflects the same belief that has guided Two Ridings for the past 25 years: that when people come together, invest in one another and act with generosity, communities can flourish for generations to come.