Skegness Neighbourhood Board has announced around £1.2 million Pride in Place funding for five projects that will make a difference for people in the town.
The grants have provisionally been awarded after the Board invited community groups, organisations, and charities across Skegness to submit expressions of interest.
All the applications were impartially assessed and appraised by independent experts. Key to the assessment process was understanding how the applications reflected the community priorities which were identified through consultation with local people in 2024 and 2025.
As a result of the robust review – which also included input from independent technical experts and further Board assessment – this first round of funding has been announced.
- Accessible beach hub – £6,000 has been announced for Beach Ability to set up a new accessible beach hub in Skegness. This will offer free use of beach wheelchairs and a mobile hydraulic hoist so that people with significant mobility challenges can access the beach.
- Digital Support for Everyday Living – £97,760 has been awarded to Lincs Digital for their project which will create a four-year programme of community digital support sessions in Skegness. The programme will provide drop-in and 1:1 support to help residents access essential online public services.
- East Coast Pride – £64,000 has been awarded to East Coast Pride, a hugely popular event that attracts thousands of people, benefitting the town and the local economy. The funding will help to support the ongoing costs of the free event which takes place in September and which is planned to be an annual fixture in Skegness until 2035 at least.
- Tower Gardens path renewal – The first project will support important work carried out to restore the park’s deteriorating paths.
- Tower Gardens masterplan completion – The second project will deliver the final stage of the Tower Gardens masterplan which will bring significant improvements to the park.
All of the projects fit with community priorities including a better town centre experience for all, more things to do all year round, better amenities for families and young people, and safety and security.
The announcement of the Pride in Place funding awards comes after the Board made its first investment in the town earlier this year towards the Pride in Skegness team. The Pride in Skegness operatives – Paul Lucas and Tony Gregory – are working alongside East Lindsey District Council’s Neighbourhoods team. This project is in direct response to consultation which found that local people want cleaner, tidier, smarter streets to provide a welcoming and attractive town for all.
The Board has also announced plans for a £100,000 community grants scheme which will offer awards of up £10,000 designed to meet needs at a grass roots community level. The scheme is being set up to make a difference by providing small grants to support local projects and groups. More details, including how to apply, will be announced on the Together for Skegness website Facebook and LinkedIn channels this autumn.
In addition, the Board is putting out a call for community groups, community champions, and anyone involved in running a grassroots community project in the town to get in touch. The Board is keen to look for ways to support neighbourhood projects across Skegness, including through involvement in the new community engagement working group the Board is setting up. Anyone interested in finding out more and getting involved can contact Saskia.Zablockyj@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Paul McCooey, Chair, Skegness Neighbourhood Board said: “Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal through our open call process. It is fantastic to be able to make these awards to five projects which the Board is confident will make a significant and positive impact in the town.
“This is just the beginning of making sure the Pride in Place funding works for Skegness, and we are keen to identify more opportunities where this investment can make a difference.
“As well as the new community grants scheme which we will be launching soon, we are actively looking for community groups and community champions to get involved in our community engagement working group. Through this group we want to ensure that the funding delivers what is needed to make a difference to local people’s lives.
“Pride in Place offers such a huge opportunity for Skegness and I and all my colleagues on the Board are committed to making sure it benefits local people, and leaves a legacy for years to come.”
Councillor Steve Kirk, portfolio holder for coastal economy at East Lindsey District Council, said: “It’s great to see this funding awarded to some fantastic Skegness projects, that will make a real difference to the people who live, work and visit here.
“From transforming our public spaces to helping to make the beach more accessible, supporting large events and the development of vital digital skills, these are exactly the sorts of improvements that people have told us they want to see, and it’s good to see those priorities now being turned into action.
“I’m looking forward to the projects taking shape and making a real difference in the months and years ahead, and to continue working with the Skegness Neighbourhood Board and our partners to make sure this investment delivers for the town and its communities.”
Funded by UK Government, the Pride in Place Programme has been created to support thriving places, build stronger communities and help local areas take greater ownership of their future. Through the programme, Skegness will receive up to £20 million in government funding over ten years. It is overseen by the Skegness Neighbourhood Board, led by an independent Chair, and brings together local people alongside representatives from the police, East Lindsey District Council and other partners.
Community engagement is central to the success of the programme, with opportunities for local people to get involved in the months and years ahead.
To find out more about the Pride in Place Programme, follow the programme on Facebook and LinkedIn or visit https://www.togetherforskegness.co.uk.
Beach Ability:
“We are absolutely delighted to receive this funding and incredibly grateful to the Skegness Neighbourhood Board for supporting our plans to bring Beach Ability to Skegness.
“For many disabled people and those with limited mobility, something as simple as going onto the beach with family and friends can be completely inaccessible. At our existing sites, we see first-hand just how much it can mean for someone to reach the sand or the sea again after many years, or sometimes even for the first time!
“Beach Ability is entirely volunteer-run and we provide our equipment completely free of charge, so funding and community support like this is incredibly important to us. This award will help us create a dedicated accessible beach hub in Skegness, with specialist beach wheelchairs and a mobile hydraulic hoist.
“Skegness is such an important seaside destination and we believe its beach should be something that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy. We’re incredibly excited to take another big step towards making that happen.”
Leanne Ellison-Anderson, Operations Manager / Trustee
Lincs Digital:
“We are delighted to receive this funding, which will enable Lincs Digital to deliver a four-year programme of community digital support in Skegness. As more essential services move online, it is vital that residents have the skills, confidence and support they need to access healthcare, council services, improve their online safety, connect with family and friends, and use other everyday online services.
“We would like to thank the Skegness Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board for supporting the development of digital skills within the community and recognising the important role digital inclusion plays in helping people live independently and stay connected. Working on this project will allow us to provide meaningful support to local residents, helping them build confidence with technology and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the digital world.”
Ann Avison, Project Manager
East Coast Pride:
“Four years of support changes what East Coast Pride can be. We have built this event in Skegness a year at a time, now we can plan properly and invest in safety, accessibility and reach for our event and Charity beyond our amazing event in Tower Gardens.
“Around 7,000 people came to Tower Gardens last year in 2025 for Pride, 98.9% of those surveyed felt safe, and almost one in five were at their first ever Pride. Visitor spending linked to the event is estimated at between £350,000 and £665,000. Our deepest thanks to the Skegness Neighbourhood Board for recognising that Pride here is community infrastructure, and not just a one-day event.”
Brad Johnson, Trustee, East Coast Pride
Skegness Town Council:
“This funding represents a significant investment in the future of Tower Gardens. Completion of the Masterplan improvements and the renewal of the park’s pathways will help protect and enhance one of Skegness’s most valued public assets.
“The projects will improve accessibility, support year-round use of the gardens, and ensure that residents and visitors can continue to enjoy this historic park for generations to come. We are grateful to the Skegness Neighbourhood Board for recognising the importance of these investments and for supporting the Council’s long-term vision for Tower Gardens.”