Applications open for new 'neighbourhood board' chairs in two parts of eastern Enfield

Alongside local MPs and the council they will be help produce a long-term plan for improving areas of Lower Edmonton and Enfield Wash

Lower Edmonton (top) and Enfield Wash (bottom)

Applications are now open for the role of two chairs who will help “shape the vision” of new government-funded neighbourhood boards for Enfield Wash and Lower Edmonton.

Enfield Wash and Lower Edmonton were named in March as being among 40 areas around the country chosen to receive £20million each in government cash through its Pride in Place Programme, with Enfield being one of three London boroughs to have two different areas chosen for the scheme.

For each area the funding will be spread over a decade-long period, meaning there will be £2m available for these communities every year between now and 2036.

The programme aims to “strengthen local pride, improve social infrastructure and elevate local voices to shape the future of their area through community‑led regeneration and improvement projects” and will be built around three “broad objectives” which neighbourhoods are expected to consider when identifying priorities and developing long-term plans.

The three objectives are “build stronger communities”, “create thriving places” and “strengthen local voices”.

Delivery of the programme will be led locally through a neighbourhood board for each chair, led by an independent chair but working in partnership with Enfield Council and local MPs Feryal Clark (for Enfield Wash) and Kate Osamor (for Lower Edmonton) to co‑produce a long‑term plan for the area and “ensure that decision‑making is genuinely community‑led”.

This week, applications opened for the neighbourhood board chair roles for both Enfield Wash and Lower Edmonton.

Clark, the MP for Enfield North, said: “The £20million Pride in Place fund for Enfield Wash is a once-in-a-generation opportunity and a real gamechanger for our community. I want to encourage everyone with a genuine passion for Enfield Wash and the future of Brimsdown and Carterhatch to consider applying to become chair of the Neighbourhood Board.

“This is a hugely important role. The chair will help bring local people together, shape the vision for the area and play a central part in appointing the Board members who will help decide how this massive investment is spent over the next decade.

“This funding has the potential to make a real difference to our high streets, public spaces, community facilities, opportunities for young people and local pride. That is why it is so important that the Board reflects the community it serves and is rooted firmly in local knowledge, experience and ambition.”

In an FAQs sheet for the application process, the neighbourhood board chair roles are described as “voluntary, similar to that of a school governor or charity trustee” but with expenses being paid. The chosen persons are then expected to lead board meetings, engagement events, and “partnership and community engagement activity”.

It explains: “The independent chair plays a central role in leading the local Neighbourhood Board and championing the Pride in Place Programme. Working in partnership with residents, organisations, businesses and the local MP and authority, the chair will guide the board to ensure the programme remains community-led, transparent and focused on local priorities.

“They will lead the recruitment and co-ordination of the Neighbourhood Board, ensuring its membership reflects the diversity, experiences and voices of the area. The chair will bring people together, create space for open and collaborative conversations, and ensure that decisions are shaped by local residents.

“Acting with fairness, integrity and a deep connection to the respective area, the Chair will unite local voices and advocate for the community throughout the programme. They will provide strategic leadership, help shape the long-term vision for the neighbourhood, and support the development of a strong and ambitious Pride in Place Plan for the area.”

For more information about the Pride in Place Programme for Enfield Wash:
Visit letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/prideinplace-enfieldwash

For more information about the Pride in Place Programme for Lower Edmonton:
Visit letstalk.enfield.gov.uk/prideinplace-edmonton

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