Published Friday 22 May 2026 at 16:58
The Darwen Town Board is inviting you to have your say on how Pride in Place funding is spent over the next decade.
‘Let’s Talk Darwen’ is a new drive by the board members to ensure that the £20m of new Government funding is spent on the projects, improvements and ideas that matter most to local people.
And they’re encouraging residents, businesses and community groups to keep sharing their views to help guide the next chapter for Darwen.
Already, extensive consultation has taken place through both the Darwen Town Deal and Pride in Place programmes, helping to identify eight key priorities for the town:
- Improving the town centre and supporting local businesses
- Creating a safe, welcoming town centre
- Providing positive activities for young people
- Enhancing parks and green spaces
- Showcasing Darwen through music, arts and culture
- Supporting charities and community groups
- Helping manufacturing businesses stay competitive
- Removing barriers to skills training and access to jobs
Darwen was among the first 75 towns in the country selected to receive funding through the Government’s Pride in Place programme – previously known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns and later the Plan for Neighbourhoods initiative.
While the funding was first announced around 18 months ago, the full programme is due to officially launch this year once the Government has completed its review of the detailed investment plan developed by the boards across the country.
In the meantime, and in response to feedback, a new Darwen Community Fund pilot has just launched with £270,000 available for ‘quick win’ projects that will make an immediate difference across the town.
The first round of funding will support 12 projects, including investment in Derwent Hall, Darwen Heritage Centre, Sunbird Records, the new Youth Zone, Darwen Cricket Club, Two Gates Bowling Club and more. You can read the full list by clicking this link.
And now, through Let’s Talk Darwen, residents will have even more opportunities to influence future investment decisions.
People can share their views through a new online survey with a free prize draw, by speaking to the team at Darwen Live this weekend, and during a programme of free half-term activities taking place at Darwen Market from Monday, and this is just the start too.
Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council and Vice Chair of the Darwen Town Board, Councillor Phil Riley, said:
We’ve listened really carefully to what the people of Darwen have told us is important to them, captured in the eight priorities that are driving us and the investment plan we have worked so hard on.
Given that the £20m of Pride in Place funding will be delivered over the next decade, we want to ensure that the dialogue continues and ‘Let’s Talk Darwen’ will be fundamental to that.
For this first round, we’re focussing on the town centre as that has come out as a top priority for Darreners through our previous rounds of consultations and we want to now develop the detail around how the investment could be spent, building on the Town Deal funding already committed.
Over the coming week, there’ll be a chance to have your say at the hugely popular Darwen Live, at free half-term activities held in Darwen Market and through a new online survey, and this really is just the start – we are absolutely committed to representing the Darwen community in the very best possible way we can.
The free, half-term activities include a paper puppet workshop, a chalk garden, doodle jam and a theatre show called The Jeweller’s Daughter.
They’re being hosted by Culturapedia, which has run the hugely popular events previously, and at each session there’ll be a chance to ‘Talk Darwen’ – a friendly conversation while enjoying the family fun.
Over the coming weeks, there’ll also be interactive consultation posters at the likes of Darwen Leisure Centre and Darwen Library too.
Councillor Riley, added:
Listening to the people of Darwen and what really matters to them around future investment has been the board’s top priority right from the Town Deal being first awarded.
This Government funding is for the people of Darwen, for the businesses and for the community groups and we are absolutely committed to investing it in what matters most to them and what will have a real impact.
Let’s Talk Darwen is a fantastic way to continue that, and the Darwen Community Fund is a prime example of the difference having your say can have with 12 Darwen projects already benefitting from £270,000 of valuable funding.
The extensive consultation has included public meetings, workshops with older people and younger people, a drop-in session at Darwen Market, in-person surveys and online surveys too.
Representatives have also worked closely with volunteers, including the dedicated friends’ groups for the Darwen parks.
Andy MacNae, MP for Rossendale and Darwen, and a Darwen Town Board member, added:
Pride in Place is a fantastic way to bring pride and opportunity back to our neighbourhoods.
I’ve had some great conversations with residents who have exciting ideas about how to improve their neighbourhoods and I’m looking forward to seeing what else the people of Darwen can suggest.
The Let’s Talk Darwen survey is now live, you can take part now by clicking this link.
For more on Darwen Live and the free half-term activities, please head over to the Darwen Town Centre website or follow Darwen Town Centre on Facebook.
Look out for updates on the Darwen Pride in Place programme, the new Darwen Community Fund and the Darwen Town Deal on the Council’s Shuttle website – www.theshuttle.org.uk – and Facebook and Instagram.