Come along to see what’s hiding at the Back of the North Wind! Free!
Author: rebeccadenniff
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Community Fridge opening times.
The People’s Fridge is open during the following hours:
Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday and Friday – 11.00am to 1.00pm
(Please note: the fridge is only open when we have food available)The fridge is located in the entrance foyer at Flowergate Hall, and is clearly signposted and easy to access.
We will open Christmas Eve 2025 at 6pm at Flowergate Hall Community Arts Centre.
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Results of our F.A.B. November snap survey!
Flowergate and Beyond: Artisan Quarter Community & Business Insights November!
What People Love About the ‘Artisan Quarter‘
Independent Shops and Local Businesses
🛍 Visitors and locals enjoy the variety of independent shops, cafes, and creative spaces.Community Feeling
🤝 There is a strong sense of community among business owners and residents.Character and Charm
🎨 The area is known for its quirky character, alternative culture, and unique charm.Takeaway: The Artisan Quarter’s independent businesses, community spirit, and unique character make it a place people love to visit, work, and spend time in.
What Could Be Better in the Artisan Quarter
Signage and Wayfinding
🗺 Clear maps and signs would make it easier to navigate the area and discover hidden corners.Community Activities and Leisure
🎭 People want more inclusive workshops, pop-up exhibitions, and evening or non-pub activities.Social Inclusion and Tensions
⚖ Promoting respect, inclusion, and a welcoming atmosphere is important for everyone.Practical Infrastructure
🚗 Easier parking and improved accessibility would help both visitors and local workers.Takeaway: Improvements in navigation, accessibility, inclusive activities, and community-building initiatives could strengthen the area.
Hidden and Special Spots
Quirky Spaces
🌿 There are lots of hidden yards and corners waiting to be discovered.Community Spaces
☕ Public halls, gardens, and social spaces offer quiet spots for gathering and creativity.Takeaway: Highlighting these unique areas can increase engagement, footfall, and community enjoyment.
Events and Activities People Want
Creative and Cultural
🎶 Music performances, theatre, street art, and creative maker events are popular ideas.Community and Inclusivity
🤲 People value inclusive activities and opportunities for networking and collaboration.Family-Friendly
👨👩👧 Activities that can be enjoyed by families are also desired.Takeaway: There is strong interest in arts, culture, inclusivity, and family-friendly programming.
Barriers to Participation
Cost and Affordability
💰 Expenses and high rent can make it difficult for people and small initiatives to get involved.Limited Space and Opportunities
Timing and Accessibility
⏰ Limited opening hours and scheduling conflicts restrict participation.Footfall and Environment
🧹 Low visitor numbers and litter affect the experience and business opportunities.Takeaway: Addressing affordability, accessibility, and environmental concerns will help more people engage with the area.
Business Highlights
What Businesses Appreciate
- Independent, creative, and diverse character of the area.
- Footfall from visitors and events that support local enterprise.
What Could Be Better
- Improved signage, communication, accessibility, parking, and general environment.
Events or Initiatives That Could Help
- Pop-up spaces, community events, artisan discovery initiatives, collaboration opportunities, and skills development.
Takeaway: Businesses value visibility, community support, and practical assistance to thrive in the area.
Overall Insights
- Strengths: Independent shops, quirky character, creativity, and events.
- Opportunities: Improve signage, accessibility, inclusive activities, and promote hidden spots.
- Challenges: Cost, limited space, low footfall, litter, and social tensions.
- Business Priorities: Collaboration, pop-up events, promotional initiatives, and practical support such as parking and skills development.
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Whitby Works! – Community Trailblazer Sessions
Creative sessions to build confidence, learn new skills, and move forward — your way.
Whitby Works! brings Better Connect’s Community Trailblazer programme to Whitby, offering friendly, hands-on sessions for people who want to grow skills, explore new ideas, and build confidence at a pace that feels right for them.
This is not a classroom. It’s relaxed, practical, and designed around you. Whether you want to get growing, get cooking, get creative, or try something completely new — Whitby Works! gives you space to explore, feel supported, and take the next step.
🌟 What you can get out of Whitby Works!
Our sessions are designed to help you build confidence, learn new skills and take positive steps forward.
You’ll have the chance to:
• Try creative, practical activities in a relaxed and supportive space
• Build confidence through doing, experimenting, and getting stuck in
• Learn skills in growing, cooking, creative making — plus music and event management
• Mix and match activities to suit your interests
• Get support with CVs, job search, and interview preparation
• Receive optional Food Hygiene Certification to strengthen employability
• Meet people, socialise, and feel part of a welcoming community
• Gain a reference for volunteering or employment
• Be signposted to other support or opportunities if helpful
• Access ongoing pastoral support if you move into workWhether you’re ready for a fresh challenge or just need help taking the first small step — we’re here to walk it with you.
🖌 What will the sessions be like?
Sessions are practical and hands-on — you won’t just be sitting and listening.
You might be:
🌱 planting seeds
🍳 cooking a meal
🎨 making something creative
🎶 playing or exploring music
📅 helping plan or run a small eventYou choose what interests you. Take part in one strand or try a mix — there’s no pressure, no wrong way to take part, and plenty of encouragement along the way.
Who is Whitby Works! for?
Whitby Works! is open to adults in Whitby and surrounding areas who’d benefit from a confidence boost, a new skill, a fresh start — or simply a supportive place to be.
If you feel a bit stuck, unsure of your next move, or want to build skills in a friendly environment, this could be for you.
We welcome people who are:
✔ looking for work
✔ thinking about volunteering or training
✔ building confidence after time out
✔ wanting to try something new
✔ exploring work for the first time
✔ rebuilding skills and motivationIf you’re unsure — get in touch. We can chat it through with you.
Ready to join us?
Get in touch right now!
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Circular Whitby
A community wealth building initiative for local skills, making, mending and growing
Circular Whitby is a small but powerful project exploring how we can keep value in Whitby. By developing new skills, supporting small scale production, fixing what we already have, and sharing knowledge across our community, we are building a steady culture of resilience and local opportunity.
This pilot is supported with a small grant from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Community Wealth Building Fund, enabling us to test ideas and lay the foundations for long-term, locally owned growth.
What Circular Whitby is doing
Circular Whitby offers practical, hands-on activities to build skills, confidence, and connection:
🍓 Whitby Jam
Using locally grown or donated fruit, participants make jam, chutney, and preserves. This teaches production, labelling, costing, and micro-enterprise skills while creating a tangible product they can take pride in.
🛠 Repair and Reuse
Community-based repair sessions help people learn to mend clothing, furniture, and household items. These activities reduce waste, recover value, and keep useful items in circulation.
🌱 Cooking, Growing and Creative Making
Participants take part in small-scale growing, seed saving, and food-based learning to gain confidence and knowledge. Shared cooking sessions teach practical food skills while fostering social connection. Creative activities, including craft, music, and event-making, show that community wealth is social and cultural as well as financial.
Why Circular Whitby matters and how to get involved
Circular Whitby exists because too much value leaves the town, too many skills remain unseen or unused, and too many resources are thrown away instead of repaired or reused. We believe that small acts like mending a chair, making jam, or growing herbs can lead to bigger change. This is not charity. This is capacity building.
If you would like to take part, share skills, volunteer, donate materials, or simply follow our progress, we would love to hear from you.
Your message has been sent
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Let’s prove that Whitby Works!
Join our new employability sessions !
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Flowergate FEAST is back!
7 days over Christmas- including a party day on the 20th to give you chance to shop and prepare for the holiday season, and gifts and a festive lunch on Christmas Eve!
Use the link to book or get in touch!
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Kings Award for Voluntary Service!
We are honoured to be recipients of this prestigious award – and next week we celebrate our amazing volunteers and the projects that they help to make happen in our community spaces.
What a wonderful community we have here in Whitby – we are so proud to be part of our wonderful Whitby Story!
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🌟 Flowergate Wednesday Youth Group 🌟
We’re excited to welcome everyone back to Flowergate Hall for our weekly free youth sessions, every Wednesday from 4:30 – 6:15pm.
Delivered in partnership with Lobster Pot Theatre, our youth-led company, these sessions are a chance to unwind midweek, make friends, and try something new. Each week includes fun games, creative activities in music and drama, space to share ideas, and plenty of pizza to keep everyone fuelled!
The group is open to all young people in Whitby and the surrounding area, and is a friendly, inclusive space where your voice shapes what we do.
Come along, bring your friends, and be part of it!
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FEAST – the story so far!
Flowergate Feast – Two days in July 2025 (21/22)
Flash Company Arts 