Citizen's Panel Recruitment- Incentive of £885, paid in instalments after each panel session.

Are you someone who enjoys the salty breeze, the sound of waves, and a walk along the cliffs of the East Riding of Yorkshire coast? Then listen up — because you now have the chance to pitch in, speak up, and help shape how our shoreline adapts for the next 100 years.

What’s going on?

The Changing Coasts East Riding (CCER) project is a major initiative led by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, in partnership with national agencies, to prepare our coastal communities for the realities of erosion, sea-level rise and long-term shoreline change. 

And now — here’s the exciting part — they’re recruiting members for a Citizens’ Panel: a diverse group of residents and stakeholders who will meet, explore, deliberate and give input on decisions about how our coast should be managed.

Why should you care?

The East Riding coastline includes 48 km of soft, easily eroded materials — making it one of the more vulnerable areas in the UK. 

Some sections are eroding at up to 4.5 metres per year in recent records. 

This isn’t just about shifting sand or nice views — it’s about homes, businesses, infrastructure, leisure and local heritage all being impacted by these changes. 

By joining the Citizens’ Panel, you’ll be right at the heart of shaping how the community responds — making sure your voice counts, and that local knowledge matters.

What will being on the Citizens’ Panel involve?

As a panel member, you’ll:

-Attend scheduled sessions (online or in person) to hear the latest on coastal change.

-Participate in workshops or discussions about options: e.g., “Should we defend this stretch?”, “Do we accept managed realignment?” or “What long-term funding or planning paths make sense?”.

-Help identify important community assets at risk (think: footpaths, local cafés, archaeological sites, recreation facilities).

-Review how best to engage broader public views and make recommendations to the Council.

-Help share what works — and what doesn’t — so that the lessons learned here might help other coastal communities too. 

Who are they looking for?

They’re hoping for a demographically representative mix — people of different ages, backgrounds, geographic areas (especially coastal communities), interests (recreation, environment, business) and willingness to contribute constructively. The more perspectives, the better. 

Why now?

Because the clock is ticking. With natural processes of erosion and sea level rise already making impacts, decisions made today will have long-term consequences. The Changing Coasts project runs until March 2027, but the planning horizon extends far beyond. 

How to get involved

Whether you’re a beach-walker, cliff-lover, local business owner, schoolteacher, pensioner, teenager or just someone who cares about where you live — this is a chance to step up and make a difference. Our coastline doesn’t just belong to nature, it belongs to us — and now’s the time to help decide its future.

Want in? Jump on board and let your voice help shape “what comes next” for the East Riding coast. The tides might move fast, but with your help, we’ll make sure we’re ready.  

Click here to express interest

This post is based on publicly available information from the Changing Coasts East Riding project led by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.