Welcome to the Coastal Communities Alliance
Coastal Culture Network to Present at APPG Coastal Communities – 23 February 2026
On 23 February 2026, the Coastal Culture Network will present to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Coastal Communities, making the case for why arts, culture, heritage, sport, and physical activity must be central to strategies addressing issues affecting coastal communities.
Coastal communities experience some of the highest levels of deprivation in the UK, with challenges including economic decline, health inequalities, and limited access to opportunities. These issues are not just economic—they affect wellbeing, social cohesion, and the future prospects of entire generations.
Our message to policymakers is clear:
- Arts and culture are catalysts for regeneration, skills development, and civic pride.
- Heritage projects strengthen identity and community resilience.
- Sport and physical activity improve health outcomes and tackle isolation.
- Integrated investment in these sectors creates sustainable change and reduces long-term costs to public services.
The Coastal Culture Network will advocate for continued and increased policy support and funding to ensure these interventions are embedded in coastal strategies. Without this commitment, the cycle of deprivation will persist.
Take Action: Invite Your MP
We encourage organisations and individuals working in coastal communities to notify their MP about this important event on 23 February 2026. Your engagement helps ensure that coastal voices are heard in Parliament and that the case for investment in arts, culture, heritage, sport, and physical activity is strengthened
An All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) which looks at coastal strategies on a cross-party basis and establish a framework for policy to help boost coastal communities across the United Kingdom
OneCoast is a cross-sector coalition is established to create a unified voice to advocate on behalf of coastal issues.
Click on the link below to view our repository of publications, useful website links, policy documents etc
What is the Coastal Community Alliance?
Formed in 2007 the Coastal Communities Alliance objective is focused on “Seeking to build alliances and common purpose around the coast of Britain, with a particular focus on socio-economic challenges”.
Latest News
Rising with the Tide
The Coastal Navigators Network (CNN)—a collaboration between NHS England and six coastal Integrated Care Boards—brings together eight months of learning, data, and innovation from the frontline of the nation’s coastal health challenges. From youth support in Felixstowe to suicide prevention in Thanet and housing-linked employment in Sussex, it showcases scalable interventions that tackle the root causes of poor health and economic exclusion.
Coastal communities face a uniquely heavy burden: 13.8 percentage points higher economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, yet 20.2% fewer NHS resources to meet rising demand. The cost of inaction is now estimated at over £12 billion annually—driven by increased healthcare use, benefit dependency, and lost tax revenue. Across the 55 priority coastal towns, more than 379,000 people are out of work due to physical or mental health conditions.
With ageing populations living longer in poor health and younger generations facing entrenched deprivation, this report argues for urgent, coordinated action beyond the NHS—linking care, housing, employment, and prevention. It draws on local insight, national data, and Treasury-aligned cost-benefit analysis to show what’s working and