Neath Port Talbot Neighbourhood Board Chairperson
Independent Chair sought for the Neath Port Talbot Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board
The UK Government has launched a major national investment initiative - the Pride in Place Programme (PiPP) - which will deliver £5 billion of funding to 284 communities over the next decade. As part of this nationwide programme, the Upper Afan Valley in Neath Port Talbot has been identified as a priority area, set to benefit from up to £20 million of targeted investment aimed at strengthening local communities and supporting long term regeneration.
PiPP focuses on delivering sustainable, community led improvements and is built around three core strategic objectives:
Building thriving places
The programme aims to create vibrant, resilient neighbourhoods where people feel genuine pride in their local environment. This includes revitalising high streets, enhancing public spaces, and ensuring public services are accessible, responsive, and shaped around local need. By investing in opportunities for young people and prioritising preventative approaches, PiPP seeks to ease long term pressure on public services and build the foundations for future prosperity.
Strengthening communities
PiPP is committed to fostering cohesive, inclusive communities where people can live well together. Reducing division and promoting mutual understanding contributes to safer, healthier neighbourhoods and supports a more resilient local economy. Stronger social connections create stronger places.
Empowering people to take back control
While talent is spread across all communities, opportunity is not. PiPP seeks to address this imbalance by giving residents a greater role in shaping decisions that affect their lives. Through supporting local leadership, encouraging participation, and enabling people to influence the future of their neighbourhoods, the programme aims to ensure communities can thrive on their own terms.
To deliver the Pride in Place Programme, Neighbourhood Boards are being set up in every funded neighbourhood across Wales and the UK. Each Board will be led by an independent Chair - someone who can bring communities together to share their ideas in an open and collaborative way and provide executive leadership to guide the Board and ensure the effective delivery of this significant investment.
We are seeking a Chair to act as a champion for Pride in Place in Neath Port Talbot, organising engagement that reaches out into the community, to ensure decision-making is community-led. The Chair will provide strategic leadership, effective governance, transparency and accountability and will support collaboration between stakeholders, ensuring that the programme remains focused on its goals and is accountable to the community it serves. The Chair should have a deep connection to the area but can be new to this kind of work. What matters most is a commitment to seeing change through and improving the lives of those in their community.
The Chair will lead the process of recruiting and convening the Board, with the support of the local authority and the local MP. The Board will be responsible for developing a Pride in Place Plan for the area by November 2026, setting out a 10-year vision and an initial 4-year investment plan with investment priorities for driving positive change.
We are looking for an independent Chair who:
Essential
- Is either from, living, or working in the Neath Port Talbot Pride in Place Programme area (the Upper Afan Valley), or has significant recent experience of having worked there
- Holds a prominent role in the community, or has a passion for the place
- Is deeply connected to the community and fiercely committed to making it an even better place to live
- Has experience of working with a range of stakeholders including community groups, local authorities, businesses and the voluntary sector
- Has experience of governance and board leadership with the ability to provide strategic oversight and ensure strong decision making
- Has strong communication and facilitation skills with the ability to bring together diverse perspectives and build consensus to shape a collective vision for the future
- Thinks laterally and creatively about solutions to problems and ways to draw in community voices
- Will ensure that all voices are heard and that Board discussions are collaborative and is adept at finding consensus, navigating conflict calmly and impartially
Desirable
- Project or programme management experience, particularly those involving regeneration, community development or local investment
- Experience of overseeing significant public or private investment, including ensuring funding is used effectively and delivers measurable outcomes
- Project or programme management experience with an understanding of how to oversee the strategic delivery of complex initiatives and managing risk
The Chair cannot be an elected representative, such as a:
- Member of Parliament
- Member of the Senedd
- Local councillor
- Member of the Scottish Parliament
- Member of the Legislative Assembly
This is a voluntary role. However, to ensure that Neighbourhood Boards have the right leadership, and to open the position up to candidates who might otherwise be unable to put themselves forward, a small basic payment may be provided to remunerate Chair time if required. Reasonable expenses to fulfil the role of Chair will also be paid.
The Chair will typically require a time commitment of a minimum of 4 Board meetings a year, involving meeting attendance and preparation plus additional development or engagement sessions as required. The role will however be more intensive in the first six months when the Chair will also need to commit time to liaise with the local MP and Neath Port Talbot Council to support the establishment of the Board and development of the Pride in Place plan. Applicants are advised that this time commitment is estimated to be approximately 60 hours a month for 6 months and then 8-10 hours a month after that.
The Chair will receive ongoing support from Neath Port Talbot Council as the Accountable Body with responsibility for proper administration of financial affairs, particularly in respect of financial administration and transparency of governance.
How to apply
If you think that you are a good fit for this role, please e-mail place@npt.gov.uk for an expression of interest pack.
Correspondence and applications are welcome in Welsh or English and will be given equal treatment.
All expressions of interest must be submitted via email to place@npt.gov.uk by 12pm on Wednesday 20th May.
Indicative recruitment timetable:
- 20th May - Application window closes
- 22nd May - Shortlisting
- 29th May - Interviews
- 1st June - Proposed start date
Please note that shortlisted candidates must be available for interview on Friday 29th May 2026 and the successful candidate must be available to attend an important community event on Saturday 6th June.
