North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith is spearheading a substantial multi-million-pound initiative focused on boosting physical activity, mental wellbeing, and active travel across the region, with the aim of fostering healthier communities and stimulating the local economy. These combined efforts, totaling over £7 million, represent a significant investment in the region’s residents and their economic future.
The comprehensive drive encompasses several key programmes under the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, strategically designed to tackle health inequalities, promote active lifestyles, and support economic participation. Mayor Skaith has emphasized that improving the physical and mental health of residents is intrinsically linked to creating a vibrant and prosperous economy.
Bolstering Physical Health and Participation with £2.75 Million Investment
At the heart of the initiative is the £2.75 million Movement, Activity and Sport Investment Programme. This dedicated fund is designed to reduce inequalities and enhance overall wellbeing by increasing participation in movement, activity, and sport across all age groups. Grant funding for this programme is set to launch on October 10, 2025, providing crucial support for projects that aim to engage more marginalised communities.
The programme specifically targets areas such as promoting participation for women and girls, addressing rural isolation, supporting early intervention and prevention activities, and fostering disability sports and inclusion. By aligning services and scaling up effective practices, the investment seeks to create a more resilient system for promoting physical activity throughout North Yorkshire and York.
Addressing Men’s Mental Health with a £715,000 Programme
Complementing the physical activity drive, a £715,000 Men’s Mental Health Investment Programme has also been agreed upon. Mayor Skaith has personally highlighted the importance of this fund, drawing on his own experiences with mental health struggles after losing his father. The programme aims to drive change within men’s mental health provision, particularly addressing the challenging reality of poor mental health and high suicide rates in some male-dominated sectors and isolated communities, such as farming, blue light services, and construction.
Part of this initiative involves exploring how sport and fitness can be utilised to improve men’s mental health, encouraging socialisation and physical activity as pathways to wellbeing. A mapping exercise will identify existing support, and a workplace pilot within the Combined Authority will inform how employers can better engage their workforces on mental health issues.
Encouraging Active Travel with a New £4 Million Fund
Further contributing to the region’s fitness and wellbeing agenda, the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has approved a new £4 million Active Travel Fund. This significant investment is dedicated to making walking, cycling, and wheeling safer and more accessible, encouraging residents to choose active travel options for more journeys.
The fund will support a variety of initiatives, including new secure cycle parking facilities, repairs or updates to existing infrastructure, travel behaviour change programmes like School Streets, training, and community bike schemes. An Active Travel Commissioner will be appointed to oversee the fund and provide expert direction, working towards a comprehensive network of well-maintained routes across the region. Mayor Skaith noted that this is not solely about transportation, but also about offering affordable, sustainable choices, promoting safer journeys, and reducing environmental impact.
Economic Impact: Healthier Communities, Stronger Economy
Mayor Skaith and the Combined Authority consistently link these health and activity-focused programmes to broader economic goals. As part of a 10-year Local Growth Plan, the ambition is to create places where good health, good jobs, and a good quality of life are integral to everyday experience. The Mayor states that “What is good for our mental and physical health is also good for our economy.”
These initiatives are part of a wider strategy that includes efforts to get economically inactive residents back into employment and improve public health, supported by programmes like the £10 million Economic Inactivity Trailblazer. The Combined Authority’s commitment to building healthier and more prosperous communities is also evident in its management of the £8.7 million UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025/26, which aims to positively impact businesses and communities.
By investing in the wellbeing of its residents, North Yorkshire aims to foster a more productive workforce, reduce the burden on health services, and create a more attractive and vibrant region for living, working, and doing business. The various funds are designed to work in synergy, creating an environment where health improvements directly contribute to economic resilience and growth.
