“People Like Me Don’t Get Asked About Things Like This” – Pride in Place Myth-Busting

There’s a phrase you hear a lot when big decisions are being made:

“People like me don’t get asked about things like this.”

And to be fair, plenty of people have good reason to feel that way. Too often, conversations about neighbourhoods can feel like they happen somewhere else, in language ordinary people do not use, with decisions made long before local people get a chance to say what they think.

But Pride in Place is meant to work differently.

Whitehouse and Stoke Park & Chantry are each in line for up to £20 million of investment over the next ten years. That money is not supposed to be spent by people guessing what local communities need from a distance.

It is meant to be shaped by local people.

People who live there.

People who work there.

People who raise families there.

People who use local services.

People who know the streets, parks, community spaces, shortcuts, frustrations, strengths and possibilities better than anyone.

So, let’s bust a few myths.

Myth 1: “You need to be an expert.”

No, you don’t.

You do not need formal qualifications to get involved in Pride in Place. You do not need to know how council processes work. You do not need to have a folder full of policies and perfectly worded answers.

What matters is that you care about your area and are willing to listen, contribute and help shape what happens next.

Local knowledge is expertise.

Knowing where people gather is expertise.

Knowing what young people need is expertise.

Knowing which spaces feel welcoming, and which do not, is expertise.

Knowing what your neighbours talk about, what people worry about, and what would genuinely make life better is expertise.

Pride in Place needs that kind of knowledge.

Myth 2: “It’s probably just for officials.”

It isn’t.

Each Pride in Place area will have a Neighbourhood Board. The Board will include local residents, alongside community groups, businesses, councillors and the local MP. Its role is to listen to residents, help set priorities, decide how funding should be spent, and oversee how plans are delivered over time.

That means local people are not being asked to simply nod along after decisions have been made.

They are being invited into the conversation.

And that matters, because Whitehouse and Stoke Park & Chantry are not the same place. They have different people, different histories, different strengths and different needs. Each area deserves decisions shaped by people who understand it properly.

Myth 3: “I’m just one person. I wouldn’t make a difference.”

One person can make more difference than they realise.

Every community has people who spot things others miss. The parent who knows what is missing for children and young people. The volunteer who sees where groups are stretched. The resident who understands why a certain space is not being used. The business owner who knows what would help a local parade or shopping area feel more active. The young person who sees the area completely differently from older generations.

None of those perspectives is small.

Together, they build a much clearer picture of what a neighbourhood really needs.

This is not about one person having all the answers. It is about making sure the right mix of people are in the room, asking good questions, sharing what they know and listening to others.

Myth 4: “I’ll have to speak for everyone.”

No one person can speak for an entire neighbourhood.

That is not the point.

The point is to bring together different voices, experiences and views so the Board can make better decisions. The Board is not made up of people who all think the same way. It has people who are willing to listen, disagree respectfully, ask questions and think about what will benefit the wider community.

Your view is not expected to represent every person in Whitehouse or every person in Stoke Park & Chantry.

You will be invited to bring your perspective, your local knowledge and your willingness to work with others.

That is very different.

Myth 5: “It’s only about joining the Board.”

Joining a Neighbourhood Board is one important way to get involved, but it is not the only way.

Residents can also share ideas, take part in events and consultations, join conversations, respond to questions, speak through local groups, and help shape priorities as the programme develops.

Not everyone wants to sit on a Board. Not everyone will have the time. Not everyone will feel ready.

That does not mean your voice does not matter.

Pride in Place will need lots of people to get involved in different ways over the next ten years. The more people who take part, the better the decisions are likely to be.

Myth 6: “They’ve probably already decided.”

This is the big one.

And it is understandable.

Many people have been asked for their views before and wondered whether anyone really listened.

But Pride in Place is specifically designed to be community-led. The Neighbourhood Boards will help shape the priorities for each area, decide how funding is used, and oversee projects over time.

That does not mean every idea will happen. It does not mean everything can be fixed at once. It does not mean decisions will always be easy.

But it does mean local voices should be part of the process from the start.

And that is a real opportunity.

So, who should get involved?

People who care.

People who notice things.

People who listen.

People who have ideas.

People who understand what is already good.

People who know what could be better.

People who have never done anything like this before, but are willing to try.

People who do not usually put themselves forward.

People who look at their neighbourhood and think, “Someone should do something.”

Because this time, “someone” could be local people.

This time, “someone” could be you.

Whitehouse and Stoke Park & Chantry have a rare opportunity to shape long-term investment in their own neighbourhoods.

Not for one month.

Not for one year.

For the next ten years.

And the people who know those places best deserve to be part of that conversation.

We’ll share all of the events happening in your area both on this platform and on our social media channels. Get involved in everything happening in your area to help make a difference.

Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Miranda Acres

Miranda has been a Freelance Marketing and Design Consultant for more years than she cares to remember, supporting local start-ups, SMEs and charities. A passionate founder of Ipswich.love. Huge supporter of Ipswich's bid for City of Culture 2029. Born, bred and choosing Ipswich.