An independent Chair has been appointed to oversee how £20 million of Government investment should be spent to benefit communities in central Barrow.

Alison Tooby will lead a Neighbourhood Board made up of residents, businesses and community representatives, to develop proposals for how best to spend the funding awarded to communities in the centre of the town through the Government’s Pride in Place Programme.

The Chair’s role is voluntary and unpaid

Pride in Place is a 10-year £20m government regeneration fund for neighbourhoods in some of the most deprived areas of the Old Barrow and Hindpool areas in central Barrow.

Pride in Place aims to support long-term improvements in neighbourhoods by putting local people in the driving seat, allocating £2 million each year for the next decade to deliver projects that reflect the community’s priorities and have the greatest local impact.

Alison is a place-based social worker and play therapist, having worked within the statutory, charity and voluntary sector for over 33 years, working alongside families, young people and community members in Barrow, particularly in central Barrow. 

As a co-founder and Chief Executive of Love Barrow Families, she has championed community-led, co-produced initiatives that strengthen wellbeing, connection and opportunity.

Alison commented: “I am really looking forward to the opportunity to chair the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board and work alongside local residents, partners and communities to make a real and sustained difference.

“This funding is a significant opportunity to invest in our neighbourhoods, strengthen community voice and deliver visible, lasting change that improves everyday life for families, young people and local residents.”

Alison is known for her commitment to ensuring local people are at the heart of shaping solutions that make a real and lasting difference, with her expertise and experience making her a perfect fit for the Chair of the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board.

The next steps will be to recruit board members and for Alison and the Neighbourhood Board to develop a 10-year Pride in Place Vision with a spending plan for the first four years.

The programme will offer a range of flexible funding options, allowing the Neighbourhood Board to invest in what matters most locally.

This could include improving high streets and public spaces, creating and enhancing green areas, supporting local businesses and cultural activities, and investing in community facilities.

Funding can also be used to improve housing, boost skills and employment opportunities, support health and wellbeing services, enhance transport and connectivity, and strengthen community safety.

Importantly, the programme encourages projects that bring people together, support local organisations and give communities a greater role in shaping services and their area’s future.

The £20 million commitment to Pride in Place is coming from central Government, supported by Barrow and Furness MP Michelle Scrogham.

A recent Pride in Place engagement exercise to visit more than 5,000 properties in Old Barrow and Hindpool involved Michelle Scrogham, Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue, Westmorland and Furness Council community teams and volunteers from The Well.

Residents were given information about the Pride in Place programme and were invited to take part in a survey asking them about their aspirations for projects in the area, as well as what makes them feel proud to be part of the Old Barrow and Hindpool community.

If residents were not at home, a copy of the survey was left so views could still be shared.

Feedback from this survey and other engagement events will be used by the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board to shape the programme vision, priorities and initial spending plans.

Michelle Scogham, MP for Barrow and Furness, said: “I am absolutely delighted that Alison has been selected as Chair and I have no doubt she is the right person for this important role.

“Alison is totally committed to this community, she knows what makes it so special, but she isn’t naïve about the challenges it faces and the work needed.

“Pride in Place is different to anything that has come before in that it is designed to put the views of local people front and centre.

“Throughout the appointment process we were impressed with Alison’s drive and her commitment to ensuring residents are in the driving seat when it comes to deciding how this money is spent.

“That is the main priority for me as MP.”

Councillor Jonathan Brook, Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, welcomed Alison’s appointment, saying: “It is important for residents to be at the heart of this programme and play a leading role in deciding how this significant funding should be spent in their area.

“Alison has extensive experience in this community-led approach and will make an excellent Chair to lead the programme, with Westmorland and Furness Council providing guidance, expertise and support throughout.

“The engagement work that has already been completed has gathered initial feedback, so the board, when set up, can hit the ground running, in understanding residents’ hopes and aspirations for their area.’’

Westmorland and Furness Council is acting as the accountable body for the funding, supporting Alison and the Neighbourhood Board and ensuring the funding is managed transparently and in line with Government guidance.