(EVENT CLOSED) Grimsby Together is helping shape the future of the town and it’s being led by the people who live here, work here and who believe in what Grimsby and its communities can become.
Our Future is working alongside communities in Grimsby and in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council to explore how best to invest funding from the Government’s Plan for Neighbourhoods programme.
Last year, the Government announced a shift in its long-term funding for towns. Now known as Plan for Neighbourhoods, the programme awards up to £20 million over 10 years to each of 75 areas across the country with a strong focus on involving local people in the decisions about where the money goes and why.
Grimsby is one of those areas and in the coming months the town, with the council acting as the administrator must submit its plan. If accepted funding will be released from next April.
Having done work to bring North East Lincolnshire communities together already, Our Future is again supporting this and began with an event at Grimsby Town Hall.
Under the banner of ‘Grimsby Together’, the Town Hall was packed with people from all walks of life including community and business leaders, artists, creatives, councillors and environmentalists attended. In different interest groups depending on their areas of expertise, the people spent time discussing their work, celebrating what is already great and sharing their ambitions for the future of Grimsby.
Outlining the project, Emily Bolton, CEO and founder of Our Future, said: “Grimsby Together is a project where we are collectively coming alongside the brilliant leaders in this town, who are already building the future here.
Having worked with communities across the world, Grimsby holds a special place for Emily: “I love Grimsby and I think that the story of Grimsby that is sometimes told is so far from the truth. There are amazing entrepreneurial people in every sector here who are rolling up their sleeves, getting stuck in and doing brilliantly inspired things”, she added.
The project will look to champion the ideas of local people who are already making a positive impact. Spencer Hunt, Assistant Director, Safer & Stronger Communities at North East Lincolnshire Council, explained:
“This is a 10-year program with a £20 million investment in Grimsby and is an enabler for change. So, in other words, ideas that are locally generated, created and thought about by local people turn into a reality.; they have a genuine opportunity to shape the future of this town.”
Those attending the event vocalised their belief in the project. Mark Hodson, Director of Hodson Architects, said: “I think the most important thing here is the opportunity we have to reinvent our waterfront, connect some of those green spaces and reimagine some of the buildings that we have.
“I think this is a real call for people to get involved.
“What Our Future has done already is to bring together the community. The energy that’s developed and the connections they make amongst themselves coupled with the positivity that’s come from that has been a real benefit.”
Julie Walmsley , CEO of the Doorstep charity, added: “There’s lots of great people who’ve come from Grimsby. Lots of great creativity, invention, passion and some really hard work has gone into making things as great as they are today. I love the town.”
Speaking about the potential for the renewable sector, Katharine York Head of Sustainable O&M at Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, said: “Green economy is a vast area, and the group needs members with diverse experience to spot the opportunities for Grimsby.
“The obvious area for the group to focus on is green power and insulation because of the potential benefits for business bills, householder comfort and jobs in the area. We want to expand this to include cleaner air and water, reuse of more materials to help move away from throwaway, and more locally grown food.”
Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Economy, Devolution and Skills, Councillor Philip Jackson, said: “Grimsby Together is a great opportunity for Grimsby. We are already undertaking one of the biggest transformations in the area’s history in our town centre, and this can only be a positive addition to the town.
“This, along with the work already taking place, will help to shape the future of Grimsby and is led by the ideas of local organisations and people who are dedicated to improving the lives of residents and visitors.”
Want to get involved?
This is just the beginning.
Visit our-future.io/grimsby-together to stay up to date and find out how to take part.
