Scarborough Talking News at Scarborough 400 Event at The Spa, 18/19 July 2026

This was a well organised event by Animated Objects and Seafest to get local organisations and community groups together in the Ocean Room at the Spa to showcase what they did. Last year a similar event attracted over 2000 visitors and the organisers were anticipating it to be busier this year. They believe about 4000 visitors attended.

From the STN perspective, the weekend was a success, and a big thank you to all our volunteers who manned our stall over the two days. We logged 50 contacts with the public, including a visit from the Deputy Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire who asked to pass on his appreciation of what STN did in Scarborough. We also had a visit from Paddy from Yorkshire Coast Radio who recorded an interview plus an extract of a recording from one of our machines.

Most enquiries were from people on behalf of family or friends who had visual impairment or were blind or partially sighted and leaflets and contact cards were handed out. In addition, a medical practice and a residential care home in Filey took leaflets to display in
their waiting rooms and we also had a representative from the local Macular Society who wanted to know how we may be able to help their members.

All in all, our first big event was a success, and we are learning all the time about how to present ourselves to the public and what the general public perception is of Scarborough Talking News.

Thank you everyone.