Local residents invited to help shape the future of their communities through Pride in Place
Residents across Stoke Park and Chantry and Whitehouse are being encouraged to step forward and help shape the future of their neighbourhoods through new Pride in Place Neighbourhood Boards.
Ipswich Borough Council is seeking local people to become Chairs and Board Members for the new Boards, which will oversee significant long-term investment aimed at improving local communities over the next ten years.
Volunteering Matters and the #iWill Movement are supporting the programme through a community engagement initiative designed to ensure local people – including young people – play a meaningful role in shaping future investment decisions.
The Neighbourhood Boards will bring together residents, community organisations, businesses and local partners to identify priorities, oversee funding decisions and ensure projects deliver real benefits for local people.
Alongside the Board recruitment, Volunteering Matters and the #iWill Movement will recruit six Youth Collaborators who will help design the Pride in Place campaign, shape community engagement activity and support events across the neighbourhoods. Building on Volunteering Matters’ existing work in Ipswich, local Community Connectors will engage residents, strengthen connections between people, organisations and services and help ensure community priorities are reflected in future plans and investment.
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Communities should be at the centre of decisions that affect their future. Pride in Place represents a significant opportunity for local people to shape how investment is used to strengthen their neighbourhoods over the next decade.
We are particularly excited to support young people to play an active role in this work. Ipswich has already demonstrated its commitment to youth social action and this programme is another important step in ensuring local people of all ages have a voice in creating positive change.
Stephen Skeet, Director of Business Development and Partnerships at Volunteering Matters
The programme will also see local Community Connectors work with residents to gather views, identify priorities and help ensure the future vision for each area reflects the aspirations of local people.