Council continues successful Civic Pride journey
Residents and community groups can further contribute to cleaner, safer and friendlier communities – and increased levels of pride – across Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is launching a new Civic Pride events programme for 2026 – part of a wider strategy outlining how residents, partners and other stakeholders can get involved in decision-making and local service delivery – which builds on a successful first year.
Civic Pride is a response to feedback from residents and captures a lot of the work that already goes on by the council, Aspire Housing, Staffordshire Police and other partners – under a unified #PrideInNUL badge – and is also a call to arms for local people of all ages to get involved.
Starting in Westbury Park and Northwood on Tuesday, 20 January, and ending in Maer and Whitmore on Tuesday, 3 November, the council is once again leading a range of co-ordinated activities in wards throughout the borough including litter picking sessions, community safety drop-ins, walkabouts, maintenance works at local sites and bicycle security marking.
Council Leader Simon Tagg said:
We’re pleased to unveil a new, borough-wide calendar of Civic Pride events for 2026. It builds on the excellent work done so far – by council staff, councillors, partners, community groups, businesses and residents – and reaffirms our commitment to the core goals: creating a cleaner, safer and more welcoming borough, and fostering stronger community cohesion.
Together we’ve achieved positive outcomes and generated a good momentum so far. We’ve listened to people who live in, work in, study in and enjoy Newcastle-under-Lyme. They’ve talked about what they do to help themselves, and each other, and what the council could do differently. This is helping to inform our plans as we move forward to embed Civic Pride in all aspects of our work.”
Last year, the council co-ordinated 15 events across Newcastle-under-Lyme following a week of action in Newcastle town centre.
Cllr. Gill Heesom, Cabinet member for Community Safety and Well-being, added:
Civic Pride is a feeling of belonging to, and being proud of, where you live. It reflects a sense of responsibility and attachment which motivates people to act in a positive way. These latest events are another opportunity for residents to get involved, celebrate what makes their communities unique and play a part in shaping a brighter future for our borough where everyone feels safe, supported and more included.”
James Fullford, Head of Neighbourhoods at Aspire Housing, said:
We’ve been extremely proud to take part in the Civic Pride events in 2025, and we’re looking forward to hitting the ground running in 2026 too.
The events have given us even more opportunities to make positive contributions to our neighbourhoods, and we’ve welcomed feedback from the local community, fostering better relationships together.
We’re pleased to be able to work closely with our partners again across Newcastle-under-Lyme for another packed year of events, collaborating to provide support, information, and services across the local area.”
The council’s first draft Civic Pride (Empowering Our Communities) strategy – a three-year plan guiding how it will work with communities – is now ready for adoption following widespread consultation. The delivery plan sets out practical actions; one of them is delivering Civic Pride events while another is working alongside Staffordshire Police to deliver a community safety action plan to help residents feel safer.
Meanwhile, the complementary Civic Pride Investment Fund, which has seen community groups receive small grants for the first time to help them deliver their own Civic Pride projects, is set to continue during 2026/27 subject to the approval of the council’s draft budget in February.