Yorkshire Cancer Research arrives on the coast with Scarborough charity shop

Yorkshire Cancer Research has opened its first seaside shop in Yorkshire, inviting people in Scarborough to help fund life-saving cancer research in the region.

The new Yorkshire Cancer Research shop is located in Scarborough's historic Newborough shopping district near the much-loved South Bay Beach. Inside the shop, visitors will discover a treasure trove of high-quality pre-loved items, including women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, as well as homeware, books and toys.  

Offering a friendly, uplifting space, the shop is designed with a bright, stylish interior fitted with premium wooden fixtures and eye-catching plants. A passionate Yorkshire Cancer Research team is ready to welcome visitors and help those looking to make a purchase, donate or volunteer to help bring more cancer cures to people in Yorkshire.

The new Scarborough shop joins the charity’s growing network of 15 shops, supporting the charity’s ambitious plans to have a presence on every high street in Yorkshire. With shops in Skipton and Sheffield set to open this autumn, more people from across the region will soon have the chance to shop, donate and volunteer at their local Yorkshire Cancer Research shop and help save lives. 

In 2022, around 3,500 people were diagnosed with cancer through York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, the fourth highest number of any Trust in Yorkshire. Yorkshire Cancer Research funds £75m of pioneering cancer research and innovative services to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, so more people live longer, healthier lives.

Some people who live on Yorkshire's coast, such as Scarborough, have to travel more than an hour to reach healthcare facilities that offer the specific type of cancer treatment they need. This means they may be less likely to take up the offer of some treatments, and less likely to complete their treatment, due to the time, financial and physical costs involved in travelling. 

Yorkshire Cancer Research is on a mission to change this. This summer, the charity launched its landmark White Rose Cancer Report – a review of evidence highlighting the most urgent action needed from the Government to address regional health inequalities, so more people in Yorkshire can take part in and benefit from innovative cancer research and clinical trials. The report’s key policy recommendations for the upcoming National Cancer Plan received cross-party support from over 40 politicians and more than 2,500 people across Yorkshire.

Representing Yorkshire’s calls for a cancer-free future, Whitby-based artist Sophie Longhurst created 500 white paper roses to be delivered to Westminster by professional cyclists Charlie and Harry Tanfield. Sophie crafted the flowers by hand as a way to honour those affected by cancer in her region and beyond.

One of the campaign’s advocates was Anne Thackeray from Scarborough, who took part in the research-backed cancer exercise treatment service, Active Together, to help her recover from surgery from breast cancer. Funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research and designed by Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, Active Together is helping people in Yorkshire prepare for and recover from their cancer treatment.

With nothing similar offered near her and exercise not widely available to people with cancer through the NHS, Anne has to take a bus and two trains to take part in the closest Active Together service in Harrogate. To help address this, Yorkshire Cancer Research is rolling out the service across the region, so one day, people including Anne won’t have to travel so far to receive this essential treatment.

Anne said: “Active Together is a fantastic exercise service which massively improved my health. After my cancer treatment, everyday actions like kneeling to clean the kitchen cupboards suddenly became really challenging, but thanks to Active Together, I learned how to lift myself up and take the pressure off my knees."

Tony Graham, Director of Retail at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said: “Opening a new Yorkshire Cancer Research shop in Scarborough is an exciting milestone for the charity, adding to the vibrancy of one of the UK’s best-loved seaside destinations and bringing awareness of the charity’s life-saving work to Yorkshire’s coastal communities. Each purchase made in the Scarborough shop will help fund world-leading research happening right here in Yorkshire, bringing us closer to the charity’s vision of a cancer-free future.”

The Scarborough shop will be open 9:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10:30am to 4:30pm on Sundays.