Pride in Place board to be assembled for Rossington, with new Chair appointed

A new chair has been appointed to lead the Pride in Place (PiP) board for Rossington. This group will lead local decision making on how to spend Government funding in the area over the next ten years, in order to deliver long-term improvements that residents want to see.

As part of the Government’s £5 billion PiP programme, Rossington is set to receive £20 million over ten years. Through Pride in Place, residents, businesses, and community groups will deliver real improvements that matter to residents. This is led by local people and backed by the UK Government.

Communities will be able to spend the funding on what matters most to them, whether it’s improvements to pavements and high streets or investing in culture and green spaces.

Rachael Blake has been appointed as the Chair of the Rossington Pride in Place board, with Elaine Spencer appointed as Vice Chair and further members of the group set to be recruited. Rachael was Rossington’s ward councillor for ten years, before stepping down in May 2025, but has continued to be involved in community groups in the village.

When the board is fully appointed, a plan will be created setting out the vision for the use of Rossington’s Pride in Place funding and to develop investment priorities for the local area.

Chair of the Rossington PiP Board, Rachael Blake, said: “I’m excited to be appointed to lead the new neighbourhood board and make sure that this exciting opportunity delivers the improvements that the residents of Rossington want to see.

“I am delighted to have Elaine as the vice chair as her knowledge and experience of our community is going to make a huge difference to the board. Early consultation has already been started by Lee Pitcher MP’s office, and I want to thank people for sharing their views. The consultation will be the starting point for the board’s work and I’m eager to get started.”

Lee Pitcher MP added: "I'm really pleased to see Rachael appointed as Chair. She's a long-standing Rossington resident who cares deeply about the village. I'd encourage anyone who wants to play a part in shaping Rossington's future to put themselves forward for the board. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and the more local voices we have around the table, the better."

Residents in Rossington are being asked to put themselves forward if they would like to become part of the new team working on the long-term PiP plan.

Expressions of Interest can be submitted via a short statement (no more than 500 words), or via a short video (no more than two minutes) outlining a candidate’s previous experience and what this can bring to the make-up of the board.

The successful applicants will work alongside Rachael, Lee Pitcher MP, and an elected member to help put together the long-term plan.

Any applications must be sent via email to [email protected].

The Pride in Place programme will deliver up to £20m of funding over the next ten years across three areas (those being Rossington, Mexborough and Conisbrough) with the aim of bringing together residents, businesses, community groups and leaders.

To find out more about the Pride in Place initiative, please visit the Team Doncaster website.