Stoke-on-Trent City Council has launched a new fund which will see improvements to community spaces, parks, high streets and public places across the city.
The Pride in Place Impact Fund will see £1.5 million invested in improvements that make a visible difference to local neighbourhoods.
Improvements could include fixing up community buildings, upgrading parks and playgrounds, improving high streets, or enhancing public spaces with lighting, benches or public art.
The aim is to boost neighbourhoods, unite communities and give residents more places of which they can feel proud.
And the process for selecting projects will be led by the people of Stoke-on-Trent – with residents, community groups, charities, businesses and other local organisations able to nominate projects they believe should receive a share of the money.
Jane Ashworth, leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the fund was about “confidence, connection and community”.
She said: “This funding will deliver rapid, visible improvements that strengthen local pride, enhance neighbourhoods, and lay the foundations for future investment across the city.
“The money will help shape our ambition of building a city for everyone. It will be invested directly in the spaces that matter most to residents and community organisations.
“We want to celebrate what makes Stoke-on-Trent unique, empower local people and ensure the city continues to be a place where everyone feels a sense of belonging and pride.”
Money for the Pride in Place Impact Fund comes from the UK Government. Ministers announced last year that Stoke-on-Trent would be among 95 areas to receive the cash. The fund will run until March 2027, with projects chosen and delivered in phases.
It comes ahead of a bigger Pride in Place cash injection which will see £40 million of government money spent on projects in two neighbourhoods that ministers have identified as in need of targeted investment - Meir North, and Bentilee and Ubberley.
A key difference is that money from the Impact Fund is available for projects across the city. These projects must however include physical improvements that make a lasting difference – routine maintenance and running costs will not be eligible.
Decisions on which projects to fund will be made by a panel including community representatives as well as MPs and councillors.
To learn more about the fund visit www.stoke.gov.uk/impactfund. The page contains full terms and conditions, as well as information on how to nominate a project. Nominations should be submitted by midnight 1 March.
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