Forward strategy

Over the last seven years the Newlands community has changed, almost beyond recognition in certain parts. New housing has replaced derelict dwellings, multi-purpose play areas provide young people with a safe alternative to street corners and the community now benefits from state-of-the-art health facilities.

What's more, improved facilities and opportunities for residents and community groups have boosted community spirit and reduced crime. Individuals have greater access to education and training opportunities and there is more support and encouragement for existing and new businesses.

None of this would have been possible without both SRB funding and an enormous amount of hard work and enthusiasm from members of the community, volunteers and the Newlands Partnership team.

So what happens now?
It's vital that all the good work achieved over the last seven years continues after September 2004. To ensure that this happens, the Newlands Partnership SRB programme has had a forward strategy in place from the outset.

Many of the projects established through the Newlands Partnership are already self-sustaining.

The scheme has also built up an asset base valued at over £2 million. Income generated from these assets and other profitable projects, such as the Thorpe Edge Doctors Surgery and the hospital in Eccleshill, will provide financial support for further developments in the local area.

Responsibility for managing these assets and future projects will be the job of the scheme's successor - the Newlands Community Association (NCA). Over the last few months a number of projects have already been handed over to the NCA.

Working with Bradford Council and Yorkshire Forward, the NCA will play an important role in ensuring funding generated by the assets it manages is effectively distributed to generate new regeneration initiatives, delivered by and for the local communities.

The Newlands Partnership wishes to thank everyone who has helped to make the regeneration a success. In particular thanks go to Yorkshire Forward who were the lead funding agency providing £17.6 million of government money, Bradford Council who were the accountable body responsible for managing the bureaucracy, all of the many agencies who contributed staff time and funds, and all the project managers who worked tirelessly to get results. And above all thanks go to the many local people who contributed their time, their local knowledge and their talents to support the regeneration in so many different ways. Without them none of this would have been possible. Newlands was above all else a success for community leadership.