We’ve secured a £20m, 10 year, investment for central Barrow and Hindpool neighbourhoods as part of the Government’s Pride in Place programme.
The important thing about this funding is that the decision making needs to be locally-led, with residents involved in decision making at every stage.
Read more about the central Barrow and Hindpool pride in place announcement
Could you Chair the Neighbourhood Board?
Do you have strong links to the community and a passion for making a difference?
We need someone who can:
🌱 Champion resident‑led decision‑making
🤝 Bring together local people, businesses and community groups
🏘️ Help deliver long‑term neighbourhood pride and regeneration projects.
We are seeking an Independent Chair to help establish, and then lead, the Neighbourhood Board for central Barrow. The chair will oversee the £20 million, 10-year, Pride in Place investment in central Barrow and Hindpool.
This is a unique opportunity to act as a champion for your community and make sure that decision-making by the board is being led by the views of local residents, including those who are not often involved in decisions about their area.
As Chair, you will help set up a board and guide it in creating a 10-year Pride in Place Plan with local residents. The primary job of the Chair is to be a champion for the area and to embody the community-led spirit of the programme. The Chair should have a deep connection to central Barrow and HIndpool. They can be new to this kind of work, and don’t need to have had experience of being a board chair. What matters most is a commitment to seeing change through and improving the lives of those in their community.
The position will be an initial 2-year fixed term with the possibility of extension after that initial period.
What are we looking for?
- A respected leader who has strong links to the area.
- Someone who is passionate about the communities of central Barrow and Hindpool
- Someone with excellent communication skills, and someone who can bring people together.
- A person with a commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and resident-led decision-making.
- Ability to build consensus and joint sense of purpose around the mission to improve the area.
- Skills in finding consensus, navigating conflict calmly and impartially, never allowing ego to get in the way of progress.
- Someone who can brings together community groups and prioritises community engagement as a central pillar of the programme.
- Thinks laterally and creatively about solutions to problems and ways to draw in community voices.
The Chair should not be:
- A gatekeeper or clique-builder; the Board should have a range of voices, including ones that differ from the Chair’s.
- Seeking to push personal agendas – this is about what the community wants.
- The only decision-maker or expert in the room.
- The day-to-day delivery lead: this is a strategic post.
Skills and attributes of a good Chair:
- Fair and balanced, ensuring that all voices are heard
- Good at facilitating conversations, particularly when differences of opinion emerge
- Open to learning, feedback and development, and an interest in mentoring and upskilling others
- Welcoming, open and listens deeply to others
- Calm under pressure and manages conflict well
- Has time to prioritise the role
Key Responsibilities
- Help recruit and convene a board, with majority representation from local residents.
- Lead and chair the Neighbourhood Board, with support to ensure there is effective governance and collaboration.
- Stand up for your community and champion local voices.
- Ensuring underrepresented voices are heard.
- Oversee the development of the Pride in Place Plan which will set out the vision over the next 10 years.
Why Apply?
- Play an important role in shaping the future of these amazing communities, that have been forgotten for too long.
- Help deliver lasting change for a community you care deeply about.
- Help ensure that this huge investment is spent wisely, and on projects that local people actually want.
How to Apply
If you are passionate about our local community and would like to lead this innovative project then we would like to hear from you.
Please submit CV a supporting statement outlining your connection to the area, relevant experience, and a summary of the approach you would bring to leading the board (maximum word count 1000) to michelle.scrogham.mp@parliament.uk. Deadline is 5pm, Wednesday 11th February.
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact michelle.scrogham.mp@Parliament.uk or Tracey.Ingham@WestmorlandandFurness.gov.uk
