A total of 100kg of litter – including 324 pieces of plastic, 250 cigarette butts and 18 discarded plasters – was removed from Whitby Beach by 60 volunteers brought together from Leeds, Harrogate, Shipley, Bradford, Whitby and London for the second edition of Coastal Wealth.

Led by SVH Inc. CIC, the year-long Coastal Wealth campaign connects inland and coastal communities through environmental action, community participation and shared learning.

The Whitby edition, themed Women, Youth and Opportunity, brought together residents, community organisations, families, young people and national partners for a day of volunteering, conversation, reflection and exploration of the coast.

The second edition was delivered in partnership with Empower Her English CIC, SENDure CIC, Pizza Pals CIC, Whitby Area Development Trust, Whitby Beach Sweep and Whitby Lobster Hatchery.

Community clean-up event at Whitby beach.

placeholder image — Community clean-up event at Whitby beach.

A highlight of the day was the arrival of a coach carrying 34 people from Leeds — 33 migrants from roughly 17 family units connected through Empower Her English CIC, alongside Sadie James of Empower Her English CIC.

For several, the event marked their first visit to Whitby and their first experience of the sea.

The event also welcomed Kate McNab, who travelled from London to represent the Royal Commonwealth Society.

Twenty four young people aged three to 18 took part, with a baby also in attendance.

Volunteers and community groups helping at the community clean-up.

Participants also received a specially produced Coastal Wealth booklet featuring information about Whitby, its heritage, conservation efforts, community organisations, local opportunities and guided reflection prompts designed to encourage observation, conversation and action throughout the day and beyond.

People were encouraged to engage with the town and its local economy.

Following the litter-picking activity and lunch at Mister Chips, some spent time exploring Whitby’s independent businesses and charity shops.

One 21-year-old shared the bargains she and her mother had found while visiting local charity shops, highlighting another way Coastal Wealth encourages visitors to support and experience coastal communities.

Young people played an active role throughout the day.

Ten-year-old Harry-Zander Hynes served as Coastal Wealth’s first Youth Community Reporter, interviewing participants throughout the day and capturing reflections on community, sustainability, opportunity and the future of the coastline.

The Youth Community Reporter role was introduced to help young people harness their curiosity, develop conversational and listening skills, build confidence in public speaking and strengthen their writing and storytelling abilities while engaging with their communities.

Local delivery partner Pizza Pals CIC helped anchor the event within the Whitby community.

Hannah Coulson of Pizza Pals CIC said: “At Pizza Pals we bring people from all over the community using food to connect everyone, providing skill development and confidence building, with support for work placements for young people.

"Coastal Wealth gave us an opportunity to build our connections and community opportunities.”

Whitby Beach Sweep supported the environmental activity and shared local knowledge with people throughout the day.

Rob from Whitby Beach Sweep said: “We joined Coastal Wealth today because this is a great way for us to meet more people and bring more people together.

"The best part of the day has been meeting the children, seeing some of them who have never been on the beach before enjoying themselves and answering their questions.”

SVH Inc. CIC donated litter-picking equipment to Whitby Beach Sweep, including a 140-litre wheeled storage box, litter pickers, gloves, high-visibility jackets, a sharps box, bin holders, a first aid kit and additional safety equipment to support future community clean-up activities.

Valentina Hynes, Founder and CEO of SVH Inc. CIC, said: “If the dream doesn’t scare you, it isn’t big enough.

"The scale Coastal Wealth could grow to scares me – in a good way.

"The level of cultivation, layered purpose and connection is just mind-blowing.”

Coastal Wealth launched earlier this year in Filey through a partnership between 7th Harrogate St Mark’s Scouts and Filey Scouts.

The Whitby event marked the second edition of the year-long programme.

Planning is already under way for the third edition of Coastal Wealth, which is expected to take place in Scarborough in September and will explore the theme of Disability and Inclusion.