LISTEN: How Pride in Place team hope to make difference in West End of Morecambe

Monday, 14 September 2026 at 14:36

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Kara Cooper, Sarah Newton and Isabel McGurn from Pride in Place West End Morecambe

A team have spoken about their work on a government-run scheme investing £20m into the future of the West End of Morecambe.

Pride in Place West End Morecambe is a programme injecting funds into the area over the next decade.

The team are based in an office at 37 Alexandra Road - a former launderette - which is set to fully open later this month.

Sarah Newton, Pride in Place manager, and Kara Cooper, community engagement lead, spoke to us about the project and how they hope it can make a difference in the West End.

LISTEN to Sarah Newton and Kara Cooper

Greg Lambert from Beyond Radio with Kara and Sarah at the Pride in Place West End Morecambe base

Pride in Place is currently inviting applications for grants of up to £15,000 from the 'Early Wins' scheme, with a total pot of £260,000 available.

Grant applications opened on September 1 and groups can apply HERE.

The £20m boost over 10 years was announced in September 2025 as part of the Government’s Pride in Place (Plan for Neighbourhoods) programme.

Nationwide funding will be invested in more than 330 of the UK's most overlooked communities.

Locally, the money is being administered by a board made up of local people, chaired by Helen Bingley OBE, former High Sheriff of Lancashire.

How the money is spent is determined by local residents and businesses.

Pride in Place ‘Early Wins’, the first round of the programme, focusses on fast, visible improvements to the West End that build trust and community engagement, and which can be delivered within six months.

The money has to be allocated by March 2027.

Have you got a local news story? Email us now, newsdesk@beyondradio.co.uk

Join our free WhatsApp channel and get the latest news direct to your phone: