Worthing ‘Pride in Place’ plans to bring together projects
Worthing Borough Council has approved plans to bring more community projects together under its Pride in Place intiative.
The proposal was agreed at the full council meeting on October 20, following recommendations from the joint strategic committee, which comprises councillors from Worthing and Adur.
Pride in Place replaces the ‘Thriving Together’ initiative and aims to work with residents and community groups to turn local priorities into action.
Thriving Together was launched in May, 2025, to help community groups support local people and build connections by supplying funding to awarded projects.
A report described Pride in Place as allowing residents, businesses, voluntary organisations and the council ‘to take shared responsibility for creating cleaner, greener, more-welcoming and more-connected neighbourhoods’.
It said the initiative was intended to help communities make practical improvements based on what local people say they need, rather than what is most convenient for the council.
The council could help residents and community groups with projects by removing barriers and providing small amounts of funding. Any decisions about priorities and investment would be guided by local data.
The report also said ‘residents should be able to see and feel a difference within months: a cleaner street, a repaired bench, a planted verge – not just read about a plan.’
Businesses, parish councils, voluntary groups, housing associations, churches and schools would all be involved in delivering the work.
Under the new plans, the councils will continue working with residents to develop ways for people to get involved.
The scheme forms part of the wider Fair, Green & Local plan, which provides guidance for both councils.
Councillors approved the recommendations including the change from Thriving Together to Pride in Place and the transfer of existing community projects into the new initiative.