Under the Government’s Pride in Place Strategy, Accrington has been awarded £20M over a 10 year period, starting April 2026. Led through the Accrington Neighbourhoods Board, local people and partners will shape how investment is used to address the needs of our communities, whether that means revitalising public spaces, improving connectivity, or strengthening local pride and safety.
Accrington: The Next Chapter, Pride in Place Funding 2026-2036
Accrington will receive up to £20 million of funding over a 10-year period. This endowment-style funding (75% capital, 25% revenue) is designed to help deliver local priorities such as regenerating high streets and neighbourhood centres, enhancing transport and digital connectivity, improving public safety, or supporting community wellbeing.
The Accrington Neighbourhoods Board will guide the vision and delivery of Accrington’s new plan – “Accrington – The Next Chapter”. The board includes community leaders, local organisations, councillors, and the local MP, ensuring that the voices of local people are at the heart of decision-making.
This neighbourhood-led approach marks a step-change in how towns like Accrington can shape their future – putting local people at the heart of the decision-making process and building a place we’re proud to call home.
The Pride in Place funding and structures give local areas the flexibility to invest in what matters most to their communities. Whether it’s restoring much-loved public spaces, supporting local culture and heritage, developing skills and jobs, or tackling anti-social behaviour, the funding can be used to address the unique challenges and opportunities within each neighbourhood. The focus is on empowering places like Accrington to create lasting change, driven by local knowledge and ambition.
Sami Smithson (Chair)
Sami Smithson was born and raised in Hyndburn and has a strong personal connection to the borough. Growing up in one of the area’s most socially deprived communities has given her first-hand understanding of the challenges facing local people and the importance of targeted investment in regeneration.
Sami’s career began in sport, where her achievements as an international athlete were matched by her leadership skills. She went on to serve for 18 years in the Royal Air Force, reaching the rank of Squadron Leader, where she held senior facilities management roles on UK bases and overseas, including Iraq and Afghanistan along with command roles in organisational management and personnel support. During her career she managed complex budgets of more than £30 million, oversaw infrastructure development, delivered stabilisation work within communities in the UK and overseas, and led teams of more than 300 personnel in operational support roles.
Since returning to Hyndburn, Sami has become Chair of Accrington Stanley Women Football Club. Under her leadership, the club has quadrupled its turnover within two years and established itself as a strong community asset. She has also led change programmes across other national sporting bodies, including British Horseracing and British and Welsh Judo Associations.
Sami’s combination of strategic leadership, budget management and community engagement makes her well placed to chair Hyndburn’s Neighbourhoods Board. Her priority is ensuring the £20 million Plan for Neighbourhoods investment delivers real and lasting benefit for local residents, rooted in authentic community voices and aspirations.
Sarah Smith MP
Sarah Smith is the Member of Parliament for Hyndburn, bringing to the role a strong background in the charity sector and a long-standing commitment to supporting young people. Before entering Parliament, Sarah spent over a decade working with youth-focused charities, where she led programmes aimed at improving life chances for disadvantaged young people across the North West.
Alongside her professional work, Sarah has volunteered for many years as a youth worker, helping to run local clubs and mentoring schemes. Her frontline experience has given her a deep understanding of the challenges young people face — from access to education and employment to mental health and community safety.
Since her election in 2024, Sarah has worked to bring that grassroots experience into national politics. She is a passionate advocate for investing in young people, supporting local services, and creating opportunities across Hyndburn. Her work in Parliament is shaped by her belief that strong communities are built from the ground up.
As a member of the local Town Board, Sarah is committed to working with residents, partners, and community groups to ensure that regeneration and investment reflect the real needs and aspirations of the people who live and work here.
Munsif Dad – Hyndburn Borough Councillor
Councillor Munsif Dad BEM JP is the Leader of Hyndburn Borough Council. He brings over 20 years of dedicated local political service both with Hyndburn Borough Council and previously with Lancashire County Council.
He has served 25 years as a Justice of the Peace demonstrating a life-long commitment to justice, leadership and public service.
Munsif’s local political career has seen him take up various positions across the Council, including as a Cabinet Member, Leader of the Opposition, Mayor of Hyndburn and now Leader of the Council.
He is a passionate community ambassador and advocate for many local groups, working for 15 years in the voluntary sector championing grassroots initiatives and supporting some of the most vulnerable members of society.
His deep understanding of community needs, combined with his experience in governance and justice, makes him a respected voice in both civic and political arenas. Munsif continues to use his platform to fight for equality, accountability, and social cohesion, always rooted in the belief that public service must be guided by compassion, integrity, and action.
He was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2019 which recognises hands-on service to the community.
Kimberley Whitehead – Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner
As the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, Kimberley brings extensive experience in public service, community safety, and strategic project delivery to the Neighbourhood Towns Fund Board. She has over 20 years’ experience in management roles, specialising in performance improvement, efficient public service delivery, and overseeing complex, multi-agency initiatives.
Her current role involves working closely with communities across Lancashire to tackle crime, support victims, and build safer neighbourhoods.
Alongside Kimberley’s policing responsibilities, she has recently played a key role in major regeneration efforts within Hyndburn as the Deputy Leader of Hyndburn Council. Working closely with partners and residents to ensure public funding is spent wisely, transparently, and delivers long lasting benefits.
As an Accrington resident, she has a strong understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our towns. Her focus is on ensuring that investment creates opportunities and delivers long-term benefits for all.
Adrian Leather – Active Lancashire
Adrian is the CEO of Active Lancashire and has worked in Lancashire for over 20 years, focusing his energy on making Lancashire a healthier and more equitable place through partnerships which enable active lives.
Adrian’s background is in community development and criminal justice; however, his passion is in collaborating with other organisations to help them be more successful and innovative.
Adrian is also Deputy Chair of the Lancashire Teaching Hospital Trust Board and Chair of the Trust Workforce Committee.
Andy Parkin – Accrington & Rossendale College (Campus Principal)
Andy Parkin has been an integral part of Nelson & Colne College Group Senior Leadership Team for the past nine years, bringing a wealth of experience and a passion for technical and adult education. Currently working as Campus Principal, Andy is a strong advocate for collaboration and believes in the co-design and co-creation of curricula with employers and stakeholders to successfully meet the skills needs of the region. He has championed technical and adult learning, emphasising the transformative power of education for disadvantaged individuals. His efforts have centred on social mobility, helping young people and adults acquire skills for further learning and employment, and ultimately improving their lives.
Graham Jones
Graham Jones is a former Member of Parliament for Hyndburn (2010–2020), bringing extensive experience in public service, governance, and community engagement. He served on several parliamentary committees. He also represented the UK internationally through the OSCE and played a leading role in transport and infrastructure discussions in Lancashire and established the Parliamentary Group with TfN, “Transport Across the North”.
Outside Parliament, Graham campaigned for and initiated regeneration initiatives, such as the award-winning Bee’s Card in Blackburn and the Place First housing scheme, securing a health centre for Great Harwood, and was pivotal in delivering the Todmorden Curve, restoring direct rail services between Accrington and Manchester.
Graham remains passionate about community development, public health, and environmental access, and established the transformational Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, which has delivered 11 Green Flag Parks and £10m in investment into Hyndburn, as well as leading on the designation of two of Lancashire’s largest Local Nature Reserves.
A lifelong Accrington resident, Graham has a background in design and education and previously lectured at Accrington and Preston Colleges. He managed a hospitality and leisure business while also maintaining deep involvement in the voluntary sector and is a passionate advocate for Accrington town centre.
Heath Groves
Heath Groves is the former CEO, Managing Partner and Founder of Sundown Solutions an Azure Expert MSP and was recognised as the fastest growing technology company in Lancashire in 2022. He is now the MD of Defence at the newly formed super company – Telana. Heath is a Microsoft Certified Master (SharePoint) with previous experience in the Microsoft O365 Product group. He holds domain expertise and specialisations in all blue light sectors specifically around sovereign security technologies, as a 20 Year Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) and Office365 Expert Administrator.
Heath is a Chartered IT Professional and Fellow of the BCS and is an elected professional member of the BCS council. He was awarded the RSI Silver Medal in 2021 for his contribution to Defence Digitals response during the covid pandemic. He has won three Red Rose business awards among many other accolades.
Heath is also serving as an Army Reserves Officer and is fiercely proud of his Lancashire heritage.
Ashley Joynes – Lancashire County Councillor
Though born in Washington I grew up under Arizona’s desert sun. After serving in the U.S. Army Reserves with a Combat Support Hospital, I hitchhiked across the States, then ventured out to see the world, until a spirited Lancashire lass in Ireland captured my heart. I followed her to Hyndburn, and we built a joyful life while raising three lively boys, settling in Rishton after a stint in Blackburn.
My UK jobs included caring for the elderly and working factory shifts before I qualified as a Naturopath, where I was able to help people heal for over a decade. I later joined the library service where I uncovered the joys of archives. Facing redundancy threats, I pursued my passion for the past, earning a Master’s degree in Archaeology. For six years, I worked as a field archaeologist, unearthing Britain’s rich history—a privilege that few experience.
Though rewarding, archaeology often kept me from family and limited me from forging closer ties to my community. I shifted to part-time community work and charities, which sparked my political journey. After an unsuccessful run for Hyndburn Borough Council, I won a seat on Lancashire County Council, where I now proudly serve my community.
Rev Paul Hunter
Paul is Lancashire born and bred. After studying Law at the University of Sheffield, he qualified as a solicitor and worked in private practice for a number of years. Later, his career path was diverted as he studied Theology and went out to Tanzania, East Africa, where he trained people to become leaders in the Anglican Church. The extensive experience of a different culture was a challenge and delight to Paul, and he learned a great deal about community and development.
After a total of 13 years abroad Paul returned to the UK and took a post as vicar of 2 rural Church of England parishes, before being called with his wife (who is also a vicar) to ministry in Oswaldtwistle. He is committed to continuing to learn and share experiences of building community as a member of the Neighbourhood Board.
Madison Gore
Madison Gore is a primary school teacher from Oswaldtwistle. Having lived in the area her entire life, she has experienced the challenges faced by families, and these experiences have shaped her belief that every child deserves the best possible start in life.
After attending Rhyddings High School, she went on to study at Burnley College, where she received an award for excellence in Early Childhood Development and Learning. Alongside this, she worked in a local nursery in Accrington and supported the delivery of the Lancashire Breaktime programme.
After college, she was awarded a scholarship to study Early Years Education with QTS. Since graduating, she has taught in primary schools across East Lancashire and returned briefly to Burnley College to teach and mentor future early years educators. She is currently completing her SENCO qualification to enhance her knowledge and ability to support children with SEND.
After recently becoming a first-time mum, her passion for ensuring strong early years foundations and accessible family support has grown even deeper. She is committed to championing opportunities that help all children and families thrive within our community.
Dr Jane Eccles
Jane Eccles: wife, mum, GP.
Jane graduated from Manchester University in 1991 and worked in various hospital posts until she completed my GP training and she has been working as a GP partner at Peel House Medical Practice in Accrington for just over 24 years now.
Over that time, she has taken on additional roles, and she is currently the Clinical Director for Hyndburn Central Primary Care Network and sit on the board of our local federation the East Lancashire Alliance. She also sits on the Hyndburn Health and Wellbeing Board and uses her experience of working in the local community to connect with partners from a wide range of other organisations to shape services going forwards which really work for local people. She is, at the heart of everything, a working GP and she is proud to say that she always has the care of my patients as the top priority.
Outside of work, as wife and mum of four, she spends most of her time enjoying life with her family: walking the dog, homework, cooking and getting away in our campervan. They enjoy going to the theatre and watching musicals, and in the quiet time reading and flower arranging.
Damian Cunliffe
Damian Cunliffe is an Accrington-born entrepreneur with a big heart for his hometown and its future. A proud family man and hands-on hospitality leader, Damian is the driving force behind several successful ventures, including Tiger Lounge and Shout Dry Ice—a company supplying dry ice to hospitality and health sectors across the UK.
His journey started early, delivering milk and newspapers at 14, from an early age Damian would work seven days a week to build and reinvest in new opportunities. As a DJ and entertainer in the UK and Spain, Damian developed a passion for people, atmosphere, and creating unforgettable experiences. His sporting background instilled the discipline and determination that fuel his business success today.
A lifelong football enthusiast and volunteer coach with Huncoat United, Damian champions teamwork, respect, and community spirit. Alongside his wife Vicky and their five children, he’s deeply committed to Accrington—its people, its businesses, and its growth. Damian’s mission is clear: to give back, support local enterprises, and attract the funding and investment that will help the town thrive.
