Government acts on Local Trust’s call to put residents in charge of neighbourhood renewal

We welcome the government’s announcement of its Pride in Place strategy. The announcement reflects our campaign for residents to be given the resources and decision-making power to rebuild their own communities, a radical shift away from previous Whitehall-led approaches that have too often not resulted in changes for the most deprived places.

No one should be disadvantaged in terms of outcomes or opportunity just because of where they live. Yet, throughout England, the most deprived communities have seen their social hubs shuttered up, pubs and libraries have closed, and youth services cut. The new Pride in Place strategy builds on the principles that we have advocated for, from our experience of delivering the Big Local programme to reverse this trend.

We have used the experience and evidence gained over the last twelve years to lead the charge, campaigning for successive Governments to put doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods (areas that have the highest levels of deprivation and weakest social infrastructure) at the heart of their plans for national renewal.

Big Local principles at the core of Pride in Place

Over a decade has passed since the Big Local programme began – giving residents in local areas across England responsibility for making decisions over funding on behalf of their communities. The Pride in Place strategy has many of these principles at its core, says Local Trust chief executive, Rachel Rowney:

“The Big Local programme has shown that to improve local communities, you have to trust and give power to people who live locally. It’s great that the government has heeded the lessons from this – put residents in charge of decisions that affect them and you will see transformative results. People will participate in efforts for national renewal if you give them the tools and trust them to do so.

“The Government’s decision to give 339 local communities funding and control on what it should be spent on is excellent news for communities across the country, especially in doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods.”

Prioritising the neighbourhoods most in need

Commenting on criteria for 339 areas that will receive funding Rachel added:

“I’m proud that the Community Needs Index (CNI) tool that we pioneered with OCSI is clearly the foundation for the new approach the government is taking to regeneration. The CNI is a way of measuring the social and cultural factors that can impact people’s outcomes and life chances. Of the 146 areas announced today, 130 are doubly disadvantaged according to the CNI and therefore among the neighbourhoods we have long argued need to be prioritised.”

For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact: press@localtrust.org.uk