A community arts organisation is to use its granular local knowledge to help residents get involved in spending three huge pots of Government cash.

Made With Many have been awarded the job of involving local communities in the three North Northants Pride in Place areas.

Community Powered Arts programme Made With Many, have been working with local communities for over a decade to create projects led by decisions made with local people, and are now using their specialist skills in community co-production to involve local people in improving their areas.

Pride in Place is a targeted funding pot from central government that has been awarded to three areas locally, Kingswood, Hazel Leys and Exeter in Corby, Avondale Grange in Kettering and Queensway in Wellingborough.

Each area will receive up to £20 million to be spent over 10 years, with 80 per cent for capital investment and 20 per cent for projects

The aim of Pride in Place is to make stronger communities, thriving places and to empower people to have a greater say in shaping their local area and to feel more in control of their lives.

Vicky Frayard, Co-Director of Made With Many, said: “We will be undertaking a resident survey to find out what people’s initial priorities and ideas are for their area, whether that is community regeneration, greening the neighbourhood, housing, work productivity and skills, cohesion, community power, health and wellbeing, transport, safety and security, education and opportunities or arts, culture and heritage.”

Made With Many will be working alongside the Neighbourhood Boards, community partners and residents in each of the three local Pride in Place areas:

● Corby - Kingswood, Hazel Leys and Exeter: Chair Alex Bonner

● Kettering - Avondale Grange: Chair Gail Lewis

● Wellingborough - Queensway: Chair Nicky Kingsnorth

Made With Many Co-Director Victoria Bell added: “We are keen to hear from other organisations working in the Pride in Place areas who would like to help get the local community involved in decision-making. As part of the process £8,000 for each area has been ringfenced in small grants to undertake targeted consultation.”

Over the summer, artists-in-residence will initiate creative interventions in each community to deepen conversations with local residents and help spark residents’ imagination for the future of their area:

● Corby: Phiona Richards will be based at Kingswood Neighbourhood Centre and popping up at events in Kingswood, Hazel Leys and Exeter

● Kettering: Lisa Lovett will be based in The Green Patch in Avondale Grange, Kettering.

● Wellingborough: Becky Carrier will be popping up around Queensway in Wellingborough.

Victoria Bell, Co-Director of Made With Many, said: “We hope to find out from residents what the existing strengths and opportunities in their community are, as well as what gives them a sense of belonging and identity in living there.

“We also want to hear people’s thoughts about how best to include everyone in the community in this process, plus the challenges and concerns in their area. We are especially interested in gathering residents’ dreams and ambitious ideas for the future of their area, as this is a really exciting opportunity to improve their community and create a lasting legacy where they live.”

Made With Many are keen to involve volunteers in the engagement process, so if you would like to get involved, please get in touch at [email protected] or call Caroline on 07512 313317 with any enquiries or text to arrange a call.

Links to all Pride in Place projects and the resident survey can be found here.