North Yorkshire Council is inviting applications from locally rooted VCSE organisations to take part in Prevention Plus, a three‑year test and learn pilot with the aim of strengthening early help, prevention and community‑based support across the county.

About the Opportunity

Prevention Plus will establish eleven place‑based pilots, each developing their local model of enhanced prevention built around trusted community organisations, embedded one to one support workers and strong partnership working with statutory services.

Grants of up to £40,000 or £60,000 per year for up to three years are available (depending on locality population size), with delivery expected to begin from 1 October 2026.

Why These 11 Places?

At this stage, the opportunity is restricted to the following named localities, selected using a set of criteria that included: support needs identified through adult social care data; population size and predicted demand; having a balanced mix of rural, deeply rural, urban and coastal communities; and ensuring at least one pilot in each Local Care Partnership area and each North Yorkshire Area Committee area.

This targeted approach allows the Council to generate robust learning about what works in different contexts, ensuring future commissioning is grounded in real‑world evidence.

A Test & Learn Pilot

Prevention Plus is intentionally designed as a test and learn programme, enabling local innovation and flexibility.

Each pilot will:

• Co‑design a local operating model with the Council and partners
• Embed community‑based one to one support workers offering early help, navigation and practical support
• Strengthen local relationships across health, care and community systems
• Contribute to shared learning, insight generation and evaluation with academic partners.

Future Opportunities

While this round is limited to the 11 identified places, the Council anticipates that further localities may be invited to participate in future phases, subject to learning, system need and available investment.

Who Can Apply?

Applications are invited from locally rooted VCSE organisations already active in one of the following 11 places and who are already delivering prevention, wellbeing or community support. Organisations must be trusted by local residents, connected to local partners, and able to host or work alongside embedded statutory roles.

Places: Scarborough, Filey, Esk Valley, Malton, Northallerton, Colburn, Hawes, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough, Selby, Skipton,

Find Out More

Full details, eligibility criteria and the application form are available in the Prevention Plus Grant Specification. The closing date for applications is 31 July 2026.

If you would like to discuss your application, please contact Liz Meade, Communities Area Manager (Central):

Tel: 01609 798930
Email: stronger.communities@northyorks.gov.uk