New Neighbourhood Board for St Nicholas

Through the Pride in Place Programme, the Government is empowering local people to shape the future of their community. St Nicholas has been selected to receive £20 million in direct funding from the Government over the next decade.

The St Nicholas Neighbourhood Board is made up of local residents and representatives along with Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia. The board will ensure the local community has a say in decisions about investment and which projects and priorities are most important to St Nicholas.

Now established, the board will begin working under the leadership of Chairperson John Arceno, with the local community to develop a long-term vision and investment plan for St Nicholas. The plan will be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for assessment and approval in February 2027. It will detail how funding will be used to achieve the community’s goals and ambitions.

Board members were appointed following a competitive interview and recruitment process. The appointed candidates each stood out for demonstrating a strong commitment to listening to local people, bringing together different perspectives, and ensuring the board remains community led. Each board member has a strong connection to St Nicholas and will act in a voluntary capacity to lead the project.

The new board members selected are:

• Alice McElroy,
• Ric Euteneur,
• Richard Smith,
• Emine Yeter,
• Barbara McDonagh,
• Rajendra Oza,
• Carolina Veres,
• Terrie Skulteti, and
• Kojo Wood.

Stevenage MP Kevin Bonavia and St Nicholas ward councillors Claire Parris and Matthew Hurst will also act as board members.

John Arceno, Chairman of the St Nicholas Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board said: “This marks an important step in our Pride in Place journey for St Nicholas. The Board and I are committed to listening to residents, understanding what matters most to them, and using those insights to drive lasting, transformational change. Residents will be at the heart of our decision-making as we work together to build a stronger future for our community.

”Kevin Bonavia, MP for Stevenage said: “Pride in Place is all about putting power into the community’s hands, giving a chance for local people to make decisions and invest in the future of the place they call home. Launching the Neighbourhood Board makes this a reality, and truly means the project is for the community, by the community. I look forward to working with the whole Board as we continue engaging with residents to develop a plan to benefit the St Nicholas community for generations to come.”

Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council said: “Thank you to everyone who put themselves forward for a position in the new Neighbourhood Board. We are fortunate to have had excellent local people who are committed to making a difference. We look forward to working in partnership with the new Neighbourhood Board and the community, to deliver the programme and bring about real change for everyone who lives and works in St Nicholas.”

Members of the community who aren’t members of the board can still play a significant role. The board, the council and the MP will be supporting the development of a Friends of St Nicholas group.

This will be an informal group which will give people the opportunity to volunteer some of their time and skills in a more flexible way as the project develops. If you are interested in this, please email the St Nicholas Pride in Place team. 

Further details about this scheme and how you can get involved see our Pride in Place scheme for St Nicholas  page.