Grimsby are doing things differently: £20 million will be owned by the people

Plans for community ownership of £20 million investment in Grimsby, is one step closer to becoming a reality, creating a better future for residents.

Grimsby Together is shaping the town for the better – led by those who live here, work here and believe in listening to the community.

Aided by Our Future – an organisation that invests itself in supporting communities to effect long-term change – working in partnership with the Greater Grimsby Board and North East Lincolnshire Council, Grimsby Together will look at how to best invest the Pride in Place grant funding.

Grimsby is part of the Government’s “Pride in Place” programme, overseen by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The initiative spans 339 areas across the UK, supported by a total funding pot of £5 billion — with up to £20 million available for each area over a 10-year period. A key focus of the programme is ensuring that communities are actively involved in deciding how and where the funding is allocated. 

In Grimsby, this has taken the shape of nine working groups, focused on key themes such as housing, the environment, and the town centre.

In the third of three public events held since June, people from across Grimsby came to hear about the process so far, how it has brought together people from across the town, what the ambitions are for Grimsby and how this money can be used to achieve those goals.

What they also heard is that Grimsby is doing things differently, setting a national example in the ambition announced of setting up a Grimsby Fund – owned by the people of the town, for the people of the town. Rather than funding flowing through the local authority, a separate fund would give the town a way of attracting additional money and support, and last beyond the ten year horizon of Pride in Place funding.

With sign off from the MHCLG expected in December, plans are now underway to create that fund.

Joe Brumby, Director of Operations at CARE, said: “I think this is brilliant. We’re putting money to the public and asking them what the money can go toward to see how they think it can best be spent.

“There’s some great things going on across Grimsby with a range of sectors and I think, going forward, it will only be positive and I’m sure it’ll be spent in the right places to move Grimsby forward.”

Also attending the event was Mary Vickers who feels this can be a huge opportunity for the town. “There are some really good things here and if we all work together we can develop them further.

“I think the idea of a Grimsby fund is a really great idea. I’m quite excited about it and if we can keep topping it up it will enable people’s projects to breathe new life to this town.”

Councillor Philip Jackson, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Economy, Regeneration, Devolution and Skills, said: “We are dedicated to doing what is best for Grimsby and this is all part of that. 

“As others have stated, the constant injection of money will really help to build upon what’s already been created in this town and it can only be a positive for Grimsby.

“This, alongside the work already happening with the regeneration of Freshney Place, shows how determined we are as a Council to create a better future for this town and its residents.”