WHAT IS PRIDE IN PLACE?
A Swansea neighbourhood is one of only 9 in Wales to have received £20 million long-term funding. The investment is part of the UK Government’s Pride in Place programme and was campaigned for by Torsten as MP for Swansea West.
In Swansea, the funding will be used to revitalise our Gateway Communities, an area which includes Brynmelyn, Waun Wen, North Hill, Dyfatty and Hafod. The money can be spent in new and creative ways on a wide range of regeneration projects, from saving treasured pubs or libraries, improving community safety, revitalising high streets or restoring green spaces.
Torsten Bell said: “I fought for Pride in Place funding because it gives us the chance to show that no part of Swansea can be written off. The scheme is all about handing power back to people and proving that, with the right support, every area can move forward with pride.”
WHO DECIDES HOW THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT?
Pride in Place gives local people the power to shape long-term investments in their communities. The project will be overseen by an independent Neighbourhood Board. The chair has been appointed, and applications are open for local people to put themselves forward to sit on the Board. You can find more information about that towards the bottom of this page.
MEET THOM, CHAIR OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD BOARD
Thom Lynch is the chair of the Neighbourhood Board which will oversee how the Pride in Place money gets spent. Through his work and leadership The Hill Church and Matthews House - an award-winning Swansea-based charity tackling homelessness, isolation, mental health, crisis, and community wellbeing -he has already made a significant difference to the lives of local people. Thom and the Matthews House Team have been recognised for their work through a number of awards including The Queens Award for Voluntary Service and The Big Issue Changemakers of the Year 2025.
Thom Lynch said: “I’m honored to take on this role and grateful for the opportunity to work even more with local people to shape the future of our communities. Pride in Place is about putting residents at the heart of decision-making, and I’m excited to build on the strong community work already happening across these neighborhoods.
“One of my first tasks is to create a Neighbourhood Board to oversee Pride in Place and I’ll be looking for people from local communities to get involved, share their ideas, and help deliver projects that make a real, lasting difference together. I’m really looking forward to meeting new faces and old, keen to make a difference in these communities with us and we’re going to need a real team effort to get this right. Are you in?”
VOLUNTEER FOR THE NEIGHBOURHOOD BOARD
The Pride in Place scheme is all about handing power back to people – being part of the Neighbourhood Board is a fantastic opportunity for dedicated community champions to have a lasting impact, working with Swansea communities whose residents have too often felt overlooked.
Torsten Bell said: “I fought for this funding because it gives us the chance to show that no part of Swansea can be written off. If you care deeply about these neighbourhoods and want to help make that vision a reality, I would strongly encourage you to express your interest in being part of the board.”
Thom Lynch said: “Nothing like this scheme has happened in Swansea before. We’ll need all hands on deck to help make sure we get the most out of it for our Gateway Communities. If you want to be part of that project, I want to hear from you.”
If you are interested in volunteering for the Neighbourhood Board, get in touch with Thom Lynch at: thom@matthewshouse.org.uk.