Coast-to-Coast: Listening to The North
What is Coast-to-Coast?
Coast-to-Coast is an active listening project led by People’s Powerhouse, travelling across the North to hear directly from people about their everyday lives, hopes, frustrations and ideas for their areas. Instead of asking people to come to us, we come to YOU — into community spaces, cafés, parks, workplaces and local groups — to create conversations that feel natural, relaxed and rooted in real life.
Yes — we know “Coast to Coast” is also the famous Northern walk where people trek from the Northwest Coast to the Northeast, often in the rain, carrying a pebble for reasons no one fully understands. But for us, the name is a playful nod to that journey: instead of crossing fells and moors, we’re crossing communities, stopping in real places, hearing real stories, and building a picture of life across the North. No hiking boots required – just warm conversation, local listeners, and maybe even a cuppa and cake.
Coast to coast listening 📍Video Snapshot (Below)
Scarborough, Chester and Houghton-le-Spring — moments from our listening sessions with communities across the North, September–December 2025.
Do you want to become a Local Listener, Get in touch!
Come on the journey with US!
At the heart of Coast to Coast are our trained and paid local listeners — people from the community who understand the area, its culture, and its challenges. Their role is to hold welcoming spaces where people can talk in their own words, at their own pace, about what matters most.
The journey began with our team travelling up, down, and across the North, asking questions like: What does people’s power look like to you? What changes would you like to see and make? What’s good in your community right now, and are there any great places we should know about? These conversations helped shape our understanding of what’s important and how we might approach the next steps.
Since then, we’ve multiplied our impact by working closely with local community listeners, creating spaces where even more voices can be heard. Everywhere we go, we aim to bring people with us, building a bigger movement across the North.
We ask simple questions designed to bring out deeper insights:
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What is life like here right now?
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What feels like it’s working — and what isn’t?
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What changes would make your area better?
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How connected do you feel to local decision-making?
Everything we hear helps build an authentic picture of the North today, grounded in lived experience rather than assumptions. These insights don’t sit on a shelf — we share them openly with communities, local organisations, and civic leaders, so people can see how their voices contribute to shaping decisions, priorities, and future plans.
Coast to Coast is about more than collecting stories. It’s about strengthening trust, building local confidence, and connecting people and power in a way that feels human, honest, and accountable. When people feel heard, decisions improve — and communities become more hopeful, connected, and involved.
Quotes from people listened to Phase one:
A retired woman living in Brighouse“It is so nice to see people supporting each other at the community lunch in Brighouse Central Methodist church”
Young artist in Scarborough“We need to reduce the isolation this town suffers. We need more funding more transport, more representation. The communities here are the best thing about the place.”
A man at community garden group in Blackpool“People having the power to change things. We have loads of good idea’s around here, we don’t know who to tell them to.”
Quotes from people listened to Phase 2:
“When someone actually listens, you feel lighter.”
Scarborough“Talking to you helped me get a lot off my chest.”
Chester“There’s a lot of good people here trying their best.”
Houghton-le-Spring“The people make this place. Kindness makes this place.”
Chester“When we’re together it feels better.”
Houghton-le-Spring“It’s the little things that make you feel human.”
Scarborough“My neighbours are brilliant. They’re the reason I stay.”
Chester“I imagine a community where we care as much as we complain.”
Chester“I want people to feel like they belong here.”
Scarborough“Things could be better if people actually listened.”
Houghton-le-Spring
Artist Commission
We are working closely with local artists as an essential part of Coast to Coast, collaborating with our trained listeners and community speakers to create place-based work that genuinely reflects the stories, experiences, and spirit of each location. The arts are not an add-on — they are woven into the project from the start, helping to translate conversations into authentic, creative expressions that capture what life is really like in these communities. This approach also gives artists the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other artists across the North, strengthen creative networks while amplifying local voices.
What’s Next
If you want to get involved, there are ways to join the Coast to Coast journey. You can sign up to be a local partner or a trained community listener and help bring people’s voices to the heart of local decisions. For more information, contact Abbie at abbie@peoplespowerhouse.org.uk.