With Penhill and Walcot both set to receive £20m Government funding - who will ensure it is spent properly?
The Government's Pride in Place scheme is set to transform both Penhill and Walcot and now two people have been chosen to oversee the investment
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Long term investment that has the potential to create a meaningful and lasting impact for the communities of both Penhill and Walcot
By Jamie Hill
It was last year that it was announced that both Walcot and Penhill would be benefitting from The Government’s Pride in Place programme, with each of the areas set to receive £20m in investment.
The Government’s Pride in Place programme places communities at the centre of shaping local priorities, with each neighbourhood receiving up to £20 million to invest in improvements identified by residents.
These range from enhancing local green spaces and community facilities to supporting local organisations, youth provision and other essential services.
So far in both Penhill and Walcot there’s been several meetings where the public had the opportunity to put together a wish list of how the money should be spent to improve the communities.
And now the two people who will be overseeing the schemes have been announced.
They are Charlotte Beckhurst, Headteacher at Swindon Academy, who was appointed to run the Penhill programme after an open recruitment process and competitive interviews.
And Jessica Higgins, the chair of Governors at St Joseph’s Catholic College, who will oversee what happens in Walcot.
Both will chair the newly-formed Neighbourhood Boards for each area which will see the £20m being invested over a 10 year period.
