In August 2025, Locality was commissioned to support the Dudley Neighbourhood Board as part of what has now become the Pride in Place programme. At Locality, we believe support works best when it’s done with local people, not to them. So, we partnered with a Dudley-based consultant who understands the local context. That local insight made a real difference.
My role was to provide training and development to help the Neighbourhood Board grow into its role and to make confident, informed decisions for the area.
The Neighbourhood Board brings together a wide mix of people and organisations, including those working in youth-led services, health and wellbeing, and community hubs. Many are already deeply involved in supporting residents. What stood out was their willingness to share their time, knowledge and lived experience so community voices could shape decisions.
That commitment is inspiring, but it also highlights a reality that many community leaders are already stretched. They are delivering services, providing support and managing funding pressures. Pride in Place asks a lot of them, and it underlines the need to value local knowledge and make a real investment in community capacity.
We chose to run sessions in person and rotate them across community venues, from Dudley Canal and Caverns to Provision House community hub and other community spaces. This helped members build relationships and see local work first-hand. Meeting in these settings grounded conversations in real places and reminded everyone what the funding is for.
One challenge has been encouraging a “board mindset”. Some members are used to representing their organisation, while others are new to governance. Supporting people to step out of silos and think collectively about the wider community takes time and trust.
Timelines have also been tight. Although commissioned in August, meaningful engagement began in October due to members’ existing commitments. It’s a reminder that community-led regeneration depends on people’s real capacity, not just programme schedules.
Our biggest reflection is the importance of starting early. Trust and shared culture can’t be rushed. Pride in Place is a ten-year journey and focusing only on short-term milestones risks missing the chance to build lasting leadership and confidence.
What’s most encouraging is the dedication we’ve seen. Neighbourhood Board members care deeply about Dudley and want residents to feel heard. The relationships and trust being built now will shape what’s possible in the years ahead.
Kashaf Ali is Locality's Development Manager for the West Midlands