Telford residents invited to join board with £30 million to invest
The Pride in Place South Telford Neighbourhood Board has an independent chair and now seeks members who will make decisions
People who live or work in south Telford are being invited to volunteer to make decisions on spending £30 million on local projects.
The Pride in Place South Telford Neighbourhood Board is being formed to decide how to spend the government and borough council money over the next 10 years… but not be bogged down in boring meetings.
“This is about action, not about more meetings where people get tied down in process,” said The Reverend Jo Farnworth, the recently appointed Independent Chair of the Pride in Place project.
“It is not about coming on to a group to mull things over.”
The Rev Farnworth, who is the vicar of four churches in central Telford, is a volunteer herself. She spent 23 years as a vicar in Manchester bringing people in the community there together.
Even though there is no salary the board is able to spend money on supporting people on becoming board members. That might include help with childcare to enable mums to be a part of it, or paying for transport costs.
A majority of the board’s members – currently set at 51 per cent – must live or work in Woodside, Brookside or Sutton Hill according to current rules.
But Shaun Davies, the Labour MP for Telford, told a press briefing at the Park Lane Centre in Woodside on Thursday, April 23, 2026 that they want to increase that.
Councillor Carolyn Healy, Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Planning and Sustainability, said the ideal candidates would be trusted members of the local community.
“We are looking for the hidden voices, so it might be the local hairdresser. We want to harness those people who are trusted in the community,” she said.
The Rev Farnworth added that she wanted to see a “broad section of people from the community, not just the loudest”.
One of the early decisions made by Telford & Wrekin Council under the project banner was to support The Elizabethan pub, in Park Lane, to open a fish and chip shop by working with Madeley Town Council.
Mr Davies said people in Woodside had been suffering a “sense of loss” when a local chippy closed. The venture is ‘more than a chip shop’, it is a community asset, he said.
“It is the kind of place where a 15 year old lad can bump in to a 75 year old woman and have a chat,” he said.
“When they meet again they are no longer strangers.”
The MP added: “We won’t get that from a YouGov poll. It also tackles the view that “we will believe it when we see it.”
The Rev Farnworth, who hails from High Wycome in Buckinghamshire, is married to vicar Roger Farnworth.
She describes Malinslee as “the best place I have ever lived’.
In 10 years time she wants “people’s lives to be better and for them to have a real chance to flourish.”
She added that she wants to see the south of Telford become a place not just where people go to live because they can afford it, but as a place where they don’t want to leave.
The Government’s ten-year Pride in Place plan came with £20 million and the council top it up with another £10million.
Mr Davies said interest is being shown by pension funds and charitable trusts in becoming involved.
In this way the public money could ‘lever in’ other investments to keep the project going sustainably after the 10 year scheme is up.
An open call for nominations has been made by Telford & Wrekin Council in the search for board members.
Nominations are open to:
- Individuals who live or work in Woodside, Brookside or Sutton Hill
- People who already give time, care or support to their community
- Residents with lived experience of their neighbourhood
- Individuals wishing to nominate themselves or someone they trust
Councillor Healy said: “If you’re reading this and someone has already come to mind, we really want you to put them forward, with permission. So many people do brilliant things quietly, without ever putting themselves forward.
“This is about taking a moment to make sure local people are part of what happens next. We’re looking forward to the summer and the various events as another opportunity to make sure everyone has chance to express their ideas.”
There is no requirement to be part of an organisation, and no formal experience is needed.
A short online form is available where people can submit a video (no longer than a minute), or fill out an online form, allowing people to share their ideas in a way that feels most comfortable.
Applications can also be submitted at community centres including Park Lane Centre, Brookside Local Centre or the Hub on the Hill from 9am on Wednesday April 29
The closing date for nominations is Monday May 25.
Further information about the project can be found here Telford & Wrekin Council | Pride in Place.