The Rev Phil Arnold, Vicar of Christ Church, Upper Armley, is the chair of Armley and New Wortley Pride in Place programme. Here, he updates on the latest developments with the £20 million initiative.

We now have an excellent neighbourhood board of gifted people who have been selected for their passion for Armley and New Wortley. Most of our board are local residents.

We have community organisations, businesses, faith groups and young people represented. Our first board meeting will take place on Friday, 22 May when we’ll be starting this journey together.

If you’d like to come and chat about Pride in Place, I’ll be at Christ Church, Upper Armley from 10am until 12pm tomorrow (Tuesday, 12 May) and at New Wortley Community Centre on Wednesday (13 May) from 11.15am-1pm. I’d love to hear about what you’d like to see happen in the area over the next 10 years as part of the Pride in Place programme.

Currently we’re looking at creative ways of engaging with the community to find out more about what you would like for Armley and New Wortley. Andrea Edwards, Chief Executive of New Wortley Community Centre, is co-ordinating this process.

We are particularly interested in finding out answers to two questions:

  1. Pride in Place will provide £2m per year for 10 years.  How would you spend that to make a positive difference in your community?
  2. What does your ideal community look like and how can we get there?

Over the next six months, as we learn what the community wants, we’ll be developing a 10-year vision and a four-year business plan. This is due to be completed by 30 November.

Over the next 12 months, £150,000 has been made available for quick wins.

The larger part of the funding, £2m per year, won’t be available until the middle of next year. This ensures that all of the processes are in place to make sure that projects will have the best chance of transforming Armley and New Wortley.

What can you do?

Firstly, please give us feedback to the two questions above.

Secondly, you could join one of our alliance groups (sub-groups) that will focus on particular issues. These will be developed over the next six months.

Finally, and most importantly, keep trying to make a difference in whatever ways that you can in Armley and New Wortley.

If you have questions or comments about Pride in Place, e-mail PrideinPlace.Armley@Leeds.gov.uk. We look forward to seeing you soon.

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