The group who will decide how £20 million of funding for the West End of Morecambe will be spent have held their inaugural meeting.
The Morecambe West End Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board formally came together for the first time over the weekend, marking a significant milestone in a programme that will see £2m of government cash invested in the area every year for the next decade.
The Board met at West End Impact on Heysham Road for its inaugural launch session and first formal meeting, setting the tone for long-term, community-led change in the area.
Chaired by Helen Bingley OBE DL JP, a former West End resident who is passionate about hearing the voices of local people, the Board brings together senior leaders, local residents, public sector representatives, and community voices with a shared commitment to delivering lasting impact for the West End.
The launch session focused on building trust, agreeing a shared ambition for the next decade, and establishing how the Board will operate to ensure robust, evidence-informed decision-making at pace.
During the formal Board meeting, members began operating as a decision-making body, approving key early steps including recruitment of operational staff, commissioning branding and communications tools, agreeing the proposed project boundary for submission to the national team, and exploring options for early “quick win” projects that will deliver visible improvements for residents.
Helen Bingley OBE DL, Chair of the Board, said: "This programme represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the West End. Our responsibility as a Board is to provide strong, disciplined and inclusive leadership that enables community-led change.
‘’We are determined to work at pace, listen carefully, and deliver visible improvements while building long-term foundations for success and I am absolutely committed to ensuring the voice of residents is properly heard before decisions are made.”
Lizzi Collinge MP added: "The strength of this Board lies in the mix of lived experience, professional expertise and deep local commitment around the table. Pride in Place will only succeed if the community’s voice remains central to decision-making, and that is a principle we are firmly committed to from day one."
Over the coming months, the Board will develop an Expert Panel and a Community Voice group, recruit a dedicated operational team, begin community engagement activity, and develop a comprehensive Pride in Place Plan for submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in November 2026.
Local residents will have early opportunities to meet Board members and contribute ideas for investment priorities.
Further information about Pride in Place in the West End of Morecambe will be shared as the programme develops.
The board members are:
Helen Bingley OBE DL JP – Chair
Joanna Young – Vice Chair and CEO of Citizens Advice North Lancashire and local resident
Mark Davies – Chief Executive, Lancaster City Council
Lizzi Collinge MP – Member of Parliament for Morecambe & Lunesdale
Phil Sykes – Local resident; facilitator at the Morecambe Bay Poverty Truth Commission and representative of local arts organisations
Eleanor Adamson – Local resident
Joe Mount – Local resident and economist
Ceri Hamer – Local resident and teacher
Vicki Mathews – Duchy of Lancaster
Lindsay Brown – Lancashire Police
Tarnia Elsworth – Local resident and business owner
Margaret Pattison – Mayor and West End Councillor
Karen Kyle – Former local resident, representing the NHS
Kristopher Bishop – Representing local veterans
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