Local champions appointed to Greater Leys Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board

Thursday, 9 July 2026

The Pride in Place programme for Greater Leys is continuing to progress, with the selection of the Neighbourhood Board.

The Pride in Place Programme will see £20 million of funding and support given to areas across the country over the next 10 years to make long-term improvements that residents want.   

In Oxford, Greater Leys (which includes parts of both Northfield Brook ward and Blackbird Leys ward) has been chosen by the Government for the programme.    

The Neighbourhood Board is the main decision-making organisation for the Pride in Place project, and will oversee how the £20m will be invested in the Greater Leys over the next 10 years.   

The Board is made up of 16 people who live in, or have an interest in Greater Leys.  Recruitment for the Neighbourhood Board was carried out in June, and the following people have been selected to join: 

  1. Rhys Smith 

  1. Hassan Sabrie 

  1. Kirk Wheeler  

  1. Susan Fitzsimons 

  1. Sasha East 

  1. Carol Richards 

  1. Marwa Hazzouri 

  1. Roy Leach 

  1. Hannah Thomas 

  1. Dolcie Obhiozele 

  1. Beverley Harry 

  1. Ewa Gluza 

  1. Paula Fontaine (Vice Chair) 

  1. Dan Wadsworth (Independent Chair) 

  1. Councillor Linda Smith (Local Councillor) 

  1. Anneliese Dodds, MP (Local MP) 

Next Steps 

The Neighbourhood Board will be responsible for producing a 10-year vision for Greater Leys which will be called the ‘Pride in Place Plan’. 

Working with local people, the local authority, and local MP, the Plan will outline the community’s vision for changes in Greater Leys over the next decade. It will be co-produced by residents in the neighbourhood through community engagement, and will reflect local people’s priorities.  

To support this, a series of engagement events will be taking place over the coming months. A Meet the Board event will be taking place on Thursday 16 July at The Clockhouse at Leys CDI, from 6.30-8.30pm. This will be an opportunity for local people to meet the Neighbourhood Board and to share their views on the project. 

More information on the Pride in Place programme can be found on the Council's webpages.    

Comment 

“I am thrilled that we have now recruited the Neighbourhood Board for the Greater Leys Pride in Place programme. The expertise and passion that this group has for the area is very exciting and I am looking forward to us working together over the coming months and years. We are dedicated to making sure that the people of Greater Leys are heard and that the Pride in Place programme is a success.”  

Dan Wadsworth, Chair of the Greater Leys Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board

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