Manchester has been awarded £80 million from the UK Government’s Pride in Place Programme. This major ten‑year investment focuses on improving neighbourhoods by funding the things that matter most to local people.
The programme is built around local leadership, local priorities and local voices.
Four areas in Manchester will each receive up to £20 million over ten years:
- Benchill South & Wythenshawe Central
- Clayton Vale (parts of Clayton, Openshaw, Newton Heath & Miles Platting)
- Gorton South (parts of Longsight, Gorton & Abbey Hey, Levenshulme) Harpurhey South & Monsall (parts of Harpurhey, Moston, Crumpsall)
Each area will establish a Neighbourhood Board that brings residents and local organisations together to shape and oversee the improvements that people want to see and a chair is needed to lead each Neighbourhood Board.
Key messages to support you
- This is a real opportunity to shape the future of your community.
- Chairs will help decide what matters most and how investment is used.
- Your voice will help lead meaningful, lasting change.
- You don’t need to be an expert — just committed to your neighbourhood.
- It’s a voluntary role, but hugely impactful and rewarding.
Recruitment of independent Community Chairs
Manchester City Council are now looking to recruit four independent Community Chairs — one for each Pride in Place area.
These are voluntary roles that will sit at the heart of the programme over the next ten years.
The Community Chair in each area will:
- Recruit and lead your Neighbourhood Board alongside the MP, Local Authority and co-design the Board’s Terms of Reference
- Bring together different voices and build consensus
- Ensure meetings are fair, inclusive and collaborative
- Help design how the Board communicates and engages with the community
- Chair Board meetings, set agendas and approve minutes
- Lead the Board to develop a 10‑year Regeneration Plan and Investment Plans for your area
- Champion your neighbourhood and act as the Board’s public face.
Who are the Board looking for?
Someone with local credibility and strong leadership skills. You don’t need formal leadership experience — just a deep connection to your community and the fierce drive to make it even better.
The board are looking for someone who:
- Lives, works or has a strong connection to the area
- Is respected locally and trusted to be fair and balanced
- Is personally committed to ensuring that diversity is valued and reflected in the Neighbourhood Board
- Can bring people together and facilitate good, collaborative conversations, where everyone is heard
- Will prioritise community engagement as a central pillar of the PiP programme
- Is clear about their own knowledge gaps and considers how the makeup of the Board helps
- This Open to learning, feedback and development, with an interest in mentoring and upskilling others
- Thinks laterally and creatively about solutions to problems and ways to draw in community voices
- Has the time to prioritise the role, represent the Board and acts as its public face.
How people can apply for this voluntary role:
Submit a short Expression of Interest (max 500 words / one A4 page) explaining:
- Your connection to the area
- How your skills and experience match the role
- Email your Expression of Interest to community@manchester.gov.uk
For more information or an informal chat, contact katie.mccall@manchester.gov.uk
Deadline: 29th March 2026