About Pride in Place
In September 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 (see illustrated area to the left) was successful in securing up to £20m 'endowment style' funding for investment in local priorities over a 10-year period, as part of the Phase 2 Pride in Place programme.
The Programme brings together community representatives, businesses, and strategic partners to prioritise funding into areas of local need to build a brighter future for all. Led by a 'Neighbourhood Board', in partnership with St Helens Borough Council, 'Our Place', the name of the newly formed Neighbourhood Board are tasked with developing a 10-Year Pride in Place Plan and a 4-Year Investment Plan to address deprivation and regeneration of the area.
To know more about the prospectus please read the 'current position' below.
What has been happening?
In July 2026, Mike Denning was appointed as the Chair for Our Place Neighbourhood Board following the Council (as the accountable body) and local MP appointing to this role. Guidance outlined that Neighbourhood Boards must be led by an independent Chair, who should act as a champion for the place and local people, organising engagement that reaches out into the community, to ensure decision-making is community-led.
Mike, who was born and raised in St Helens, is Founder and Director of Stapleton Derby Group, a company specialising in property sales, lettings and development and employs over 15 staff across three offices in St Helens Borough, including one within the Town Centre East and Fingerpost boundary. His career has spanned over 30 years across legal services, commercial enterprise and property development. He brings extensive experience operating as Chair, Trustee, and Committee Lead, overseeing regulated organisations, delivering large-scale funded programmes, and representing organisations with government bodies, national governing bodies, funders, commercial partners, and community stakeholders.
Over the course of summer 2026, the Neighbourhood Board was recruited, following a public recruitment exercise for the stakeholder and community applications. View the full membership here.
Current position
Our Place Neighbourhood Board must oversee the development of a 10-year Pride in Place Plan and 4-Year Investment Plan, which must be agreed by Council and subsequently submitted the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The Pride in Place Plan must be co-produced with residents and shaped through meaningful community engagement, ensuring that local voices, priorities, and aspirations are central to the development of the programme.
Our Place Neighbourhood Board is made up of dedicated public, private and third sector representatives, chaired by local business leader Mike Denning, will use community feedback to inform a 10-year vision for the area, which will focus on nine potential investment themes. These are:
- Regeneration, high streets and heritage;
- Housing;
- Work, productivity and skills;
- Cohesion;
- Community power;
- Health and wellbeing;
- Transport;
- Safety and security; and
- Education and opportunity.
Public Consultation
Following the endorsement of the Town Centre East & Fingerpost Pride in Place Engagement Strategy in October 2026, Our Place Neighbourhood Board want to hear from you!
From Thursday 29 October to Sunday 6 December 2026, they will be inviting you to share your views and ideas on the £20m funding for the local area.
There are lots of ways to get involved, whether you join us at one of our pop-up events or complete our online survey.
Come along, speak up and help make a difference, as the outcome of the public consultation will help shape the next four years of the programme and prioritise where investment should be spent to address the key issues and local priorities of the community.
To find out more information on how you can have your say visit here.
