From the Ground Up: Pride in Place in Practice | Lunchtime webinar

From the Ground Up: Pride in Place in Practice

Lunchtime webinar, 3^rd December 2025, 12:30 – 13:30.

Across the UK, community-led and co-led projects are quietly transforming neighbourhoods into healthier, more beautiful and more resilient places. In the wake of the Government’s Pride in Place programme, this rapid-fire one-hour Create Streets discussion asks the key questions and brings together practitioners, local leaders and community champions to share lessons from the front line. How can resident-led initiatives unlock regeneration, steward heritage, and build trust? What practical steps can councils, funders and government take to support them? What should local government do more of and less of?

Agenda

Welcome: Nicholas Boys Smith MBE, Founder Create Streets. Chair: Eleanor Broad, Create Streets

Case studies: community leadership in action. What has worked for improving local neighbourhoods? What hasn’t? What should councils do more and less of to support neighbourhood improvement and Pride in Place?

• Brian Dawe (Safe Regen, Bootle) on cultural regeneration, community-led homes and placemaking in Bootle.
• Billy Dasein (East Marsh United, Grimsby) on community-led homes, ‘greening up’ and neighbourhood revitalisation.
• Roxanne De Beaux (Cambridge Cycling Campaign) improving active travel.
• Greg Fittock (renew Preston Village) on putting the people back into Preston near Brighton.
• George Atzev (The Arches, Chatham on street art, ‘greening up’ and neighbourhood revitalisation.

Pride in Place programme. What it is and how will it work?

Panel discussion and audience Q&A: how to embed pride in place. Exploring challenges (funding, governance, policy support) and opportunities (heritage, co-design, community wealth). Moderated questions from online participants.

Closing reflections and summary. Last thoughts from panel and from chair.