Former Labour councillor named as chair of new neighbourhood board in Enfield Wash

Rick Jewell will lead on the newly-created ‘Pride in Place’ board for the area with £20m of government funding available to spend over the next decade

Enfield North MP Feryal Clark (left) with Rick Jewell (right)

A former Labour councillor has been named as the new chair of a neighbourhood fund in Enfield Wash that will control a £2million annual budget over the next decade.

Ex-Southbury councillor Rick Jewell has been appointed as chair of the Pride in Place Enfield Wash Fund Board following what has been described as a “competitive interview process”.

Rick was Enfield Council’s cabinet member for transport and waste prior to last month’s election, when he lost his seat to the Conservatives.

Both 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.

Over the past month applications have been open for people to apply for the role as chair of both funds, with the chosen candidates then set to work in partnership with 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”.

The Pride in Place funding for the two areas is designed to support long-term regeneration, improve local opportunities, and help address issues that matter most to residents, with the three objectives being to “build stronger communities”, “create thriving places” and “strengthen local voices”.

The Enfield Wash neighbourhood board will span an area which includes parts of Brimsdown, Carterhatch and Bullsmoor wards.

Rick said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed Pride in Place chair. This is a major opportunity to deliver real, visible and lasting change for the residents of Enfield Wash, and I am proud to lead that work.

“Having lived in Enfield for 56 years, including more than 40 years in Carterhatch, I know both the strengths of these communities and the challenges they face. As a great-grandfather with deep family roots in the borough, I care passionately about the future of our area and the legacy we leave to the next generation.

“I am committed to ensuring that residents remain at the heart of every decision we make about this £20m investment. By building strong local partnerships, turning ambition into action, and maintaining a relentless focus on delivery, we can achieve measurable improvements that make a lasting difference to people’s lives and the future of our community.”

Residents, businesses, community organisations and local stakeholders will have a direct role in identifying priorities and helping to guide how Pride in Place funding is spent, with local people also able to apply to be part of the board’s membership.

As chair, Rick will lead the board in “bringing together local voices, building strong partnerships and ensuring that investment delivers meaningful and lasting benefits for the community”.

Enfield North MP Feryal Clark added: “Thank you to everyone who applied to chair the board. The quality of applications was exceptionally high, and it was inspiring to see so much talent, experience and commitment from across our community.

“Rick’s combination of deep local roots, nearly two decades of community volunteering, and extensive leadership experience as a councillor in local government makes him a great choice to chair the Pride in Place board.

“He has spent years bringing people together, listening to residents, and helping deliver real improvements for local communities. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for earning trust, forging strong partnerships and turning ideas into practical action that delivers tangible results.

“With local people at the heart of the Pride in Place decision-making, I am confident Rick will help drive the ambition, collaboration and momentum needed to create real and lasting change.”

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