By Neil Smith, ASCL Independent Sector Specialist

In March 2025, the government announced the introduction of its Plan for Neighbourhoods programme, in which £20 million would be directed to each of 75 identified local areas to rejuvenate some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country. 

Six months later, in September 2025, the government stated that this programme would be expanded into a new Pride in Place strategy, in which a further 250 of the most deprived areas in Great Britain would receive up to £20 million over the course of the next decade.

At the centre of the strategy will be Neighbourhood Boards in each of the areas who will develop a ten-year plan for the regeneration of their area and to which the £20 million will be allocated. An example of how the strategy will operate in practice is provided by Rotherham Metropolitan Council here.

Neighbourhood Boards will consist of the local MP, at least one ward councillor and residents, local businesses, grassroots campaigners, workplace representatives, faith leaders, and others with a deep connection to their area. The experience of the first wave of Neighbourhood Boards provides a clear insight into how the Boards will be comprised, with a strong political representation but also potential for school leaders to become involved.

Positive, measurable impact
The Pride in Place strategies also provide an opportunity for schools and colleges to play a part in developing local rejuvenation plans, highlighting what they currently do in support of local communities, adapting their current programmes to support Neighbourhood plans, and by sitting on Boards themselves. Through such engagement, they can not only have a positive, measurable impact on their local area but also illustrate how they can also play a part on a larger scale to support broader strategic priorities. 

Although involvement in the work of Neighbourhood Boards provides an opportunity for all schools and colleges to work in collaboration with each other and other community groups, for leaders in schools where there are existing partnerships. For example, for partnerships between state and independent schools, the Pride in Place strategies provide an opportunity to augment their existing partnership priorities in support of the new local rejuvenation strategies, highlighting what they currently do in support of local communities, adapting their current programmes to support Neighbourhood plans, and by sitting on Boards themselves. 

The list of areas to be allocated funding can be found here.

Differing aims for differing needs
Although the aims for each area will differ according to local needs, it would be surprising if there are not several areas in which schools and colleges can play an active role. For example, if one such objective was to provide indoor spaces for community groups then it might not be a huge stretch for a setting to provide these spaces. Equally, if an objective was to provide a greater number of sports and leisure facilities for the community, some schools may well be located in such a place and equipped with requisite facilities to meet this need.

Many Neighbourhood Boards are finalising their membership over the course of the next few weeks, and after that point will commence work developing their local strategic plans. Any school or partnership who wishes to be involved in helping to fulfil these strategic priorities should follow closely the work of their local Neighbourhood Boards,  liaise with the Chair over how they can get involved and be part of the solution to local problems. 

Long-term opportunities
We do not underestimate the challenges which many schools and colleges already face in meeting the needs of their own pupils, but the Pride in Place programmes provide a long-term opportunity to directly improve the lives of their students outside of the classroom which, in turn, may well have an impact on their life inside school or college. 

For schools in the independent sector, this provides a further opportunity to demonstrate the role which they can play in supporting their local communities and using their resources to positively impact young people, irrespective of their educational background.