About Pride in Place
The North Gate Swansea Pride in Place Programme.
The North Gate Swansea Pride in Place Programme is a long term investment in the communities around the northern gateway into Swansea city centre.
Over the next decade, up to £20 million could be invested into the area, creating a once in a generation opportunity for local people to shape the future of their neighbourhoods.
Local residents, businesses, community groups and organisations will work together to create a shared vision for the area, identify priorities, and help guide investment into the things that matter most.
A Neighbourhood Board, made up of local people and key partners, will help lead the programme, ensuring that local voices, lived experience and community priorities remain at the heart of decision making.
What is Pride in Place?
Communities shaping their own future.
Pride in Place is a UK Government programme that puts local people at the heart of shaping the future of their neighbourhoods.
Rather than decisions being made for communities, Pride in Place gives local people the opportunity to influence how investment is used, celebrate what is already great about their area, and work together to bring about lasting positive change.
The programme is built on collaboration, transparency and long term thinking, helping communities create a future they can be proud of.
The North gate Swansea area
The northern gateway into Swansea.
North Gate Swansea brings together the connected communities around the northern gateway into Swansea city centre, each with its own character, history and hopes for the future.
Through the Pride in Place programme, local people have the opportunity to create a shared vision, celebrate what is already great, and work together to shape long term positive change across the area.
How it works
Four steps, led by the community.
1
Listen
2
Plan
The Neighbourhood Board turns those priorities into a clear plan for the area.
3
Invest
Funding is directed to the projects that will make the biggest difference.
4
Deliver
Projects start on the ground — and the community sees real change.
The Neighbourhood Board
Meet the board members
Local people guiding the programme and helping ensure that investment reflects the needs, hopes and ambitions of the community.
Independent Chair Thom Lynch was appointed on 19 June 2026 by Torsten Bell MP and Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Thom is currently undertaking the role on a voluntary basis while creating space to dedicate at least one day a week to leading and chairing the North Gate Swansea Pride in Place Programme. One of the Chair’s first responsibilities is to establish the Neighbourhood Board. By the end of August 2026, a board of between 8 and 15 members will be appointed, including a number of mandatory positions required by the programme.
The aim is to build a diverse board made up of community heroes, local leaders, residents, businesses and organisations who are passionate about North Gate Swansea and committed to helping shape its future together.
Thom Lynch
Independent Chair
Torsten Bell MP
MP Seat
Cllr Hannah Lawson
Local Councillor Representative
Cllr Rob Stewart
Council / Cabinet Officer
Timm Dadds
Headteacher of Hafod Primary School
Rhianydd Herdman
Community Manager Tramshed Tech
Heather Allen
Gareth Richards
What is Pride in Place?
Communities shaping their own future.
Pride in Place is a UK Government programme designed to help communities shape the future of their neighbourhoods.
Swansea has secured Pride in Place investment for the communities around the northern gateway into the city centre, creating the North Gate Swansea Pride in Place Programme.
“North Gate is full of pride, history and potential. My job is to make sure that every decision starts and ends with the people who live and work here.”
About Thom (The Chair) and His Vision
About Thom Lynch
Thom Lynch is the newly appointed Independent Chair of Swansea’s Pride in Place programme.
A lifelong Swansea resident, Thom is best known locally as the Co Founder and Project Leader of Matthew’s House, a community organisation based on Swansea High Street that supports people facing homelessness, poverty, isolation and other complex challenges. He is also a leader at The Hill Church Swansea, the charity behind Matthew’s House. Thom is also the Co Founder of Hope in Swansea, a free app connecting people to support, services and opportunities across the city.
Over the past decade, Thom has worked alongside residents, businesses, schools, charities and public sector partners to deliver a wide range of community projects. Most recently, he led the development of Greenhill Gardens, a major heritage and wellbeing project that transformed a neglected historic site into a community greenspace for local people and visitors.
Alongside his community work, Thom co founded Grub Talks, a men’s mental health group that brings men together through food, friendship and honest conversation. He has spent nearly 15 years volunteering in youth work, supporting young people across Swansea and beyond. As a young adult, he also spent time living and volunteering in Zambia, supporting community projects and gaining valuable experience of working alongside people facing significant challenges.
Away from work, Thom is a proud husband to Hannah, dad to Barney and Marley, a lifelong Swansea City AFC supporter and a grassroots football coach. He is passionate about the simple things that bring communities together, whether that’s sport, food, conversation, volunteering or creating spaces where people can belong and thrive.
As the new Chair of Pride in Place, Thom is committed to ensuring local people are at the heart of shaping the future of their communities, building stronger connections, creating new opportunities and helping deliver lasting positive change. He is passionate about listening well, bringing people together and making sure the programme genuinely reflects the hopes, ideas and ambitions of local people.
Most importantly, Thom would love to hear from you. Whether you’ve lived in the area for a few months or your whole life, have a big idea or simply want to share your thoughts, your voice matters.
Feel free to pop into Matthew’s House during the week and say hello to Thom or one of the team, or connect using the details below. He would love that!
Email: [email protected]
Thom’s vision for North Gate
My vision for North Gate Swansea is simple: to listen well, work together, and help create long term positive change that is shaped by the people who live, work and care about this area.
These neighbourhoods are already full of incredible people, stories, strengths and opportunities. I want us to celebrate what is beautiful and unique about North Gate Swansea, while also honestly addressing the challenges and identifying the opportunities that could make the biggest difference for future generations.
I want this programme to be built on strong values of togetherness, transparency, openness and trust and for all involved to continue to be teachable, brave and have integrity for one another. At every stage, local people should feel invited to get involved, share ideas and play a part in shaping the future.
This is a long term opportunity. The investment available through Pride in Place gives us the chance to think beyond quick fixes and work together towards lasting change that can be felt for many years to come.
Ultimately, I would love to see North Gate Swansea become a place that local people are proud to call home, a place that others want to visit, walk through, invest in and be part of, and a place where communities thrive together.
Ready to help shape North Gate Swansea?
Whether it’s five minutes to share key information or a seat on the board, your voice counts.