Facts and Figures
The Yorkshire Coalfield is the most compact and densely populated of the Trust’s regions and forms an unbroken corridor deep in the heart of England’s former coal mining industry. It consists of 99 wards stretching across 8 local authority areas and is home to over 1.2 million people.
The South Yorkshire coalfield primarily consists of Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham but also includes a small area of southeast Sheffield. The decline of the coal industry has had a devastating impact in South Yorkshire, compounded by the decline of the steel industries in Sheffield and Rotherham. South Yorkshire has Objective 1 status, the highest level of European regional aid available.
The West Yorkshire coalfield comprises Wakefield, Leeds, and Denby Dale in Kirklees. Wakefield’s economy is recovering whilst Leeds has moved away from its mining traditions and is now the commercial and financial capital of Yorkshire. The Selby coalfield can be found to the North and stretches into the Vale of York, slightly beyond the River Wharf. Selby now has only two of its original six mines operating; by 2005 these too will have ceased production.
Since the Trust was launched in 1999 we have made grants totalling more than £50 million to over 900 Yorkshire groups.
The grants awarded have covered the full breadth of regeneration themes and successful groups and organisations obtaining funding have been as diverse as the communities we serve.