Chair appointed for St Nicholas Pride in Place Board

Stevenage Borough Council and Kevin Bonavia MP have announced the appointment of John Arceno as Chairperson of the Pride in Place Board for the St Nicholas ward.

Through the Pride in Place programme, the government is giving local people the opportunity to shape the future of their community. St Nicholas has been awarded up to £20 million in Government funding over the next decade.

The St Nicholas Neighbourhood Board, made up of local residents, community representatives and Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia, puts the local community at the heart of decision making, ensuring investment is directed towards the projects and priorities that matter most.

As Chairperson, John will lead the programme alongside the newly formed board. He will now work with Kevin Bonavia and Stevenage Borough Council to finalise the board's membership. Once established, the board will work with the local community to develop a long-term vision and investment plan for St Nicholas.

As Chairperson, John will lead the programme alongside the newly formed board. He will now work with Kevin Bonavia and Stevenage Borough Council to finalise its membership. Once established, the board will work with residents to develop a long-term vision and investment plan for St Nicholas.

His longstanding connection to St Nicholas, experience in governance and passion for strengthening local voices made John an outstanding candidate to help lead this once-in-a-generation opportunity. John has been an active member of the Stevenage community for many years, serving as both a school governor and charity trustee. He is looking forward to working with residents, community organisations and fellow board members to help shape a long-term vision for St Nicholas.

John said: “I am honoured to have been selected as Chairman of St Nicholas Pride in Place. Having lived in St Nicholas for 15 years, this community means a great deal to me. We have secured Government investment of up to £20 million, but what matters most is ensuring that investment delivers the changes local people want to see. My role, and the role of the board, is to listen, bring our community together, and ensure residents are at the heart of every decision we make. I am excited to work alongside local people, community groups and stakeholders as we shape the future of St Nicholas together.”

Residents who are not members of the board can still play an important role in the project. The board, the council and the MP will be supporting the development of a Friends of St Nicholas group, giving people the opportunity to volunteer their time and skills in a flexible way as the project develops.

More information on how to get involved will be announced shortly. If you are interested, please email the Pride in Place St Nicholas Team.

Find out more about the programme and how you can get involved on the Pride in Place programme for St Nicholas page.