Following an interview and selection process, Birchwood Pride in Place’s Neighbourhood Board has now been fully appointed.
The Board is made up of Gregory Hughes, who will serve as Chair, alongside Gary Smith and Martin Hickerton, who will act as Co-Deputy Chairs. They are working in partnership with City of Lincoln Council as accountable body and Hamish Falconer as the MP to deliver the funding programme over the next 10 years.
The Board brings together people with strong personal connections to Birchwood, including local residents, business owners and community representatives.
In March, it was announced that Birchwood had been selected to receive £20 million through the Government’s Pride in Place programme, which aims to support communities to improve the places where they live and create new opportunities for local people.
Its board members will play a key role in shaping how the £20 million investment is used over the next decade, helping to ensure funding reflects the priorities and aspirations of people who live and work in the neighbourhood.
The investment will help deliver improvements that matter most to Birchwood residents, supporting stronger communities, better neighbourhood spaces and opportunities for people living and working in the area.
Birchwood has been chosen as Lincoln’s focus for the Pride in Place programme, recognising the strength of its existing community as well as the opportunities presented by wider growth in the area, including the nearby Charterholme development.
City of Lincoln Council is the accountable body for the Pride in Place funding and is supporting the Neighbourhood Board with financial procedures, procurement, audit and governance requirements and will work in partnership with the MP’s office to facilitate the grant and support the board delivery.
The programme is intended to be community-led, in line with Government guidance. The Board will therefore play a central role in deciding how the funding should be used, with decisions shaped by the priorities of Birchwood residents.
Cllr Naomi Tweddle, Leader of City of Lincoln Council, said:
“The £20 million investment in Birchwood represents a fantastic opportunity to make a lasting difference to the area and, importantly, it ensures the views of local people are central to how the money will be spent in order to develop their community over the next ten years.
“We know that Birchwood already has a strong sense of community, and this programme is about building on those existing strengths while supporting improvements that residents themselves want to see.
“The council has an important role to play in supporting the Neighbourhood Board and making sure the programme is delivered properly, but this is fundamentally about putting local people at the heart of decisions about their community.
“I’m really pleased to see the Board now in place and I look forward to working with its members, residents and partners to make the most of this significant investment and deliver positive, long-term change for Birchwood.”
Hamish Falconer, MP for Lincoln, said:
“This is a hugely exciting moment for Birchwood. The appointment of the Neighbourhood Board means we can now get to work on making sure this £20 million investment delivers real, lasting change over the next ten years.
“What matters most is that local people are at the heart of this. Birchwood residents know their community best, and I want to see their priorities shaping how this funding is spent.
“I’m looking forward to working with Greg, the Board, the City of Lincoln Council and, most importantly, Birchwood residents to make the most of this once-in-a-generation investment.”
Gregory Hughes, the Chair of the Birchwood Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board, said:
“I am proud to be the Independent Chair for the Pride of Place for Birchwood. I have lived in Lincoln for the past 37 years and been a teacher on the Birchwood estate for 35 years and headteacher for the past 21 years.
“During this time, I have been involved in community and charity projects supporting all ages. I am eager to continue to build on my knowledge of the area to support meaningful and sustainable projects.
“I am excited to be part of this ten-year project and looking forward to working alongside a locally based representative committee which will focus on listening to the residents of Birchwood. I look forward to focusing on delivering improvements, shaped by the priorities identified by residents, that will positively affect the lives of all who live in the community."
Further information about the Pride in Place programme and how residents can get involved will be shared as the programme develops.
For more information about the Pride in Place programme, visit the City of Lincoln Council website.