Social Vision has today published “Pride in Place: A Study of Three North Yorkshire Towns”

Selby District Council’s Regeneration Team commissioned Social Vision to undertake new and creative community engagement activities in the district’s three main towns of Selby, Sherburn-in-Elmet and Tadcaster. By testing new engagement processes and techniques Selby District Council aimed to reach a wider audience and engage with difficult to reach groups or organisations in the community. They were also keen to identify a better understanding of how spaces and places in each of the towns were used, or could be used in the future.

Using our own unique range of consultation activities, we were able to reach over 2,500 local residents from a wide range of demographics, and get a genuine and meaningful understanding of what they wanted for the future of their towns. Alongside general public consultation, we targeted hard-to-reach groups, working in partnership with local schools, colleges, community groups and social enterprises.

In Selby we found young people there felt disconnected from the town and unsure of their future’s there. In Tadcaster we found a town a bit isolated and off the beaten track but with lots of civic pride. Whilst in Sherburn residents were generally happy but mindful of the anticipated growth in population and how the local infrastructure and amenities will cope.

In all the places we visited, and with all the partners with whom we worked, we found lots of positive energy and inspirational community champions.

Our wide-ranging recommendations included working with these local leaders – harnessing their collective energy to co-create inclusive spaces where members of the community can come together, spark innovation and support one another. In line with Social Vision’s core values, and based on our findings, our recommendations will result in increased equality of opportunity, future economic and social prosperity, enhanced pride in place, and champion the three towns as trailblazers in community development.

We found an obvious and tangible link between the findings of this project and a number of current national initiatives, including the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, and the Arts Council England’s Priority Places scheme.

Find Out More

To discuss the full findings of the report, contact Melissa Pollard, Selby District Council
And to discuss Social Vision working with your community, contact Joe Gardham

View the Executive Summary below: