Volunteer Opportunity: Town Centre East and Fingerpost Neighbourhood Board Member

Town Centre East and Fingerpost

Help shape the future of St Helens Town Centre East and Fingerpost through a £20 million investment

The Pride in Place Programme is a UK‑wide grant programme investing up to £20 million over 10 years to support long‑term, community‑led neighbourhood transformation. It puts local people at the heart of decision‑making, giving communities real influence over how investment is used to strengthen local pride, improve places and create lasting change.

Over the next decade, Neighbourhood Boards will work closely with residents, businesses, voluntary groups and community partners to shape ambitious plans, direct investment, and build a legacy that endures well beyond the programme itself.

If you’re passionate about shaping the future of the place you live or work, this is a rare opportunity to make a real impact.

About the Pride in Place Programme

In December 2025, Government announced the full list of 169 initial Phase 2 areas of the ‘Pride in Place’ Programme, following the expansion of the initial 75 Phase 1 areas. The programme was later expanded with 40 additional Phase 2 neighbourhoods announced in February 2026.

Town Centre East and Fingerpost was successful in securing up to £20m ‘endowment style’ funding for investment in local priorities over a 10-year period, as part of Phase 2 Pride in Place. The programme seeks to empower local communities to identify and deliver projects that tackle local challenges and inequalities. The Town Centre East and Fingerpost award follows the success of the Newton-le-Willows programme (awarded Pride in Place status in March 2024 as part of Phase 1).

Each area is required to establish a new Neighbourhood Board and develop a Pride in Place Plan, setting out its 10-year vision for the area. Neighbourhood Boards will be run by local people and bring together residents, businesses, and community leaders to devise and agree a shared vision for the future. The Neighbourhood Board will be responsible for developing the Pride in Place Plan in consultation with local people. St Helens Borough Council will support the Board as the accountable body for the funding.

The 10-Year Pride in Place Plan must also identify the priorities for the first four years of the programme aligned to intervention themes based on local priorities. Accordingly, a 4-Year Investment Plan will set out how funding will be spent and the delivery milestones.

To see the provisional Town Centre East and Fingerpost boundary view the map attached below. Please note, this may be subject to change.

About the Board

We are now recruiting a Neighbourhood Board for the St Helens Town Centre East & Fingerpost area.

Neighbourhood Boards give communities real power to decide how funding is used and how their area evolves. Each Neighbourhood Board brings together people with strong local knowledge, credibility and commitment — including residents, businesses, community leaders, faith representatives and cultural partners — to ensure decisions reflect the needs and aspirations of the people who live and work locally.

The programme is built around three core aims:

• To build stronger communities — “All places should have strong relationships and a collective sense of belonging to their community. This helps bring people together to build community cohesion and resilience, helping people to feel proud of their area and safe in their neighbourhood.”
• To create thriving places — “Every part of the UK deserves to have vibrant neighbourhoods and communities with busy high streets, a good range of local amenities and high-quality physical infrastructure.”
• To empower people to take back control — “Everybody should be empowered and in control of their lives and have a say over the future of their community.”

The Neighbourhood Board provides strategic leadership, oversight and decision making, not operational delivery. Board members help set priorities, guide the development of the Pride in Place Plan, and work with the Council and partners to ensure investment delivers meaningful, long‑term benefits for the Town Centre East and Fingerpost area.

Responsibility of the Neighbourhood Board:

Once established, the Neighbourhood Board will oversee the delivery of the Pride in Place Plan and will be responsible to:

• Set the strategic direction and identify priorities for the Pride in Place Plan, agreeing how the community will be actively engaged.
• Work with the Council to develop the Pride in Plan and align partner agencies, assets and funding to deliver for the community.
• Produce a 10‑year Pride in Place Plan, working with the local MP and local authority, setting out the activity that will be pursued to achieve the three strategic objectives of the programme.
• Explore opportunities to use specific powers (such as neighbourhood planning) to drive forward the Pride in Place Plan.
• Identify additional investment including philanthropic, private or social investment to support long‑term change.
• Oversee delivery of projects within the Pride in Place Plan.

As the recipient of the funding, the Council will be the Accountable Body and use its governance (including Section 151 Officer duties) to ensure appropriate use of public money.

Becoming a Board Member:

To reflect the community we serve, we are seeking a broad mix of skills, experience and perspectives. You do not need previous Board experience — what matters most is your commitment to the area and your ability to contribute constructively to the Pride in Place Plan.

Applicants must live and/or work in the Town Centre East and Fingerpost boundary (please see the map attached). You must bring insight, credibility and a genuine desire to help shape the future of their neighbourhood.

We are recruiting for the following roles:

• Business representatives (up to 3)
• Community representatives (2)
• Faith representatives (up to 2)
• Third sector representative – including sports clubs (1)
• Culture, arts or heritage representative (1)

These roles are voluntary but offer a powerful opportunity to influence investment, shape regeneration priorities and support long‑term community‑led change.

When selecting new members, the Chair and MP for St Helens South and Whiston will consider applicants who demonstrate the following:

• A clear passion and commitment to the future of St Helens
• A track record of contributing to local community or economic life
• The commitment to work collaboratively and follow the Neighbourhood Board’s Terms of Reference, Nolan Principles and Code of Conduct
• Credibility and respect within the community
• Capacity and commitment to attend meetings, as detailed in the Terms of Reference and engage regularly
• That they do not occupy a current political position
• Relevant expertise in the specialism you are applying for

We are looking for individuals who can think strategically, work constructivelywith others, and bring insight that strengthens the Neighbourhood Board’s ability to represent our wonderful community effectively.

Skills and Experience:

To strengthen the Neighbourhood Board’s skill and capacity and to support the overall successful delivery of the Pride in Place Plan, the Board must have a diverse range of skills and experiences which include (list not exhaustive):

• Project Management;
• Youth Engagement;
• Community Engagement;
• Third Sector Engagement;
• Risk Management;
• Contracts and Procurement;
• Legal Knowledge;
• Heritage and Conservation;
• Construction;
• Governance;
• Budget Management;
• Strategic Thinking;
• Consultation and Engagement;

Commitment:

The position of Neighbourhood Board member is voluntary, with a commitment to attend and positively engage in the Board meetings. Neighbourhood Board members are required to endeavour to attend all Full Board Meetings (with an absolute minimum of 50% of the scheduled meetings each year). Full Board meetings are initially expected to be bi-monthly, with quarterly meetings once an Investment Plan is agreed. Additional sub-group meetings will be held as required.

The advertised Board positions will be in post for a period of 12 months initially, with an option for extension with agreement of the Neighbourhood Board.

How to Apply

Please do not apply via the Online Application

Please provide your up-to-date CV and a covering letter or personal statement which outlines your skills, knowledge and experience for this opportunity.

Please send us your details by emailing the Town Centre East and Fingerpost Pride in Place Team at:
EastTownCentreandFingerpostPrideInPlace@sthelens.gov.uk by 23:59 on Tuesday 30 June 2026.

Your CV and a covering letter or personal statement should outline:

• Why you want to join the Pride in Place Board
• The role you are applying for
• The skills and experience you will bring
• Your commitment to St Helens Borough, particularly Town Centre East & Fingerpost and your relation to the area (please see the boundary map)

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to speak with the Project Team and the Neighbourhood Board Chair (expected to be early July but exact date to be arranged).

Closing date: 23:59 on Tuesday 30 June 2026

To learn more about the national programme, visit the Pride in Place Prospectus on GOV.UK. Pride in Place Programme: prospectus - GOV.UK

NOLAN Principles of Conduct in Public Life
Board members are required to comply with the Neighbourhood Board Terms of Reference and Code of Conduct which is guided by the seven Nolan Principles of public life: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.

Community Participation

Government guidance places strong emphasis on Boards reflecting their communities. Neighbourhood Boards are expected to include a broad mix of local residents and stakeholders so that a range of experiences, viewpoints and community interests can be considered. This is essential to ensure that all parts of the community are represented and that decisions are transparent, grounded in local priorities and that every part of the community has the opportunity to be heard.

We follow St Helens Borough Council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds who share our values and commitment to inclusion.