Pride in Place Bentilee and Ubberley

A £20 million investment into your local area.

The government’s Pride in Place Programme is investing up to £5 billion in nearly 250 areas across the UK. Stoke-on-Trent has received funding for 3 areas, of which Bentilee and Ubberley is one. Each area will receive up to £20 million over the next 10 years to make long-term improvements that local people genuinely want.

What is Pride in Place?

This is a real chance for community organisations, residents, and local businesses to work together and make changes that matter.

Pride in Place is led by local people and supported by the UK government, giving communities both the voice and the resources to shape their future.

Communities will be able to use the funding on the things that matter most to them — whether that’s improving pavements and high streets, creating better green spaces, or investing in local culture. This is your opportunity to help create lasting, positive change where you live.

Find out more about Pride in Place here

Meet the Board

Amy Harris, Co-Chair

Amy Harris is Co-Chair of the Bentilee and Ubberley Pride in Place programme, a government-funded initiative focused on empowering communities and creating lasting local change. Having lived in Bentilee for almost five years with her husband and young son, Amy is passionate about the area’s potential and committed to ensuring local people shape its future.

Professionally, Amy is Data Analytics and Insights Manager at Synectics Solutions, bringing expertise in evidence-based decision-making, strategic planning and collaborative problem-solving. Her leadership style is inclusive, transparent and pragmatic, combining data-driven insight with a genuine commitment to listening to residents’ lived experiences. She believes effective governance is built on trust, accountability and strong partnerships across public, voluntary and community sectors.

Amy is motivated by a desire to move from thinking “someone should do something” to being part of the solution. She is committed to working constructively with residents, community organisations, councillors, MPs and public sector partners to deliver meaningful, sustainable improvements for Bentilee and Ubberley.

Recognising the complexity of balancing diverse perspectives and priorities, Amy approaches challenges with empathy, resilience and diplomacy, ensuring all voices are heard while maintaining focus on shared outcomes. Her vision is for a thriving, connected community where decisions are shaped by both robust evidence and local knowledge, enabling people and neighbourhoods to flourish together. As Co-Chair, Amy brings credibility, curiosity and a collaborative spirit to help build a stronger future for Bentilee & Ubberley.

Simon French, Co-Chair

Simon French is Chief Executive Officer and Executive Principal of Alpha Academies Trust, responsible for the strategic leadership and educational provision for more than 4,000 children and young people across Stoke-on-Trent. Since becoming CEO in 2019, he has led a Trust-wide school improvement programme that has strengthened leadership, improved outcomes and contributed to Maple Court Academy achieving a Good Ofsted rating.

Simon has played a significant role in educational improvement across the city. He chaired the Government’s Priority Area Board, supporting efforts to raise school standards in Stoke-on-Trent, and currently serves as Chair of the CEO Stoke Partnership Board. He is also a member of the CEO Futures Forum, helping to shape curriculum innovation and aspirations for young people across the area.

Before becoming CEO, Simon was Principal of Discovery Academy, where he led a successful transformation from an Ofsted rating of Inadequate to Good between 2015 and 2019. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles at The Excel Academy, including Deputy Headteacher and Acting Headteacher.

A science graduate, Simon is passionate about educational excellence, evidence-informed practice and creating opportunities for all young people. He is a strong advocate of partnership working, inclusion and social mobility, collaborating with local organisations to address inequality and improve outcomes for children, families and communities. Simon believes lasting change is achieved through collaboration, shared ambition and empowering local people to shape the future of their communities.

Tracey Johnson

Tracey is Chief Executive of EPIC in Bentilee and brings extensive Board-level leadership, governance and partnership experience. She has successfully embedded tenant and community influence into strategic decision-making, including establishing a Tenant Insight Group to ensure lived experience shapes outcomes. Tracey offers strategic thinking, constructive challenge and a collaborative approach, working effectively with residents, local authorities and community organisations. Passionate about Bentilee and Ubberley, she is committed to ensuring local people shape investment decisions and that Pride in Place delivers meaningful, long-term benefits that strengthen communities and improve opportunities for residents.

Mereoni Jegesa

Mereoni is a dedicated Bentilee resident who has lived in the community for nine years and raised her family there. As an active PTA member at St Maria Goretti Catholic Academy, she has experience engaging with families, advocating for local needs and supporting positive change. She brings strong community engagement, organisational and communication skills, along with a practical understanding of local challenges and opportunities. Passionate about creating safer, more inclusive neighbourhoods, Mereoni is committed to ensuring residents’ voices are heard and that Pride in Place delivers lasting improvements for families and the wider community.

Lee Jones Jr.

Lee is the co-founder and lead SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) instructor of the Ten Count Centre. Ten Count Boxing Gym CIO is a community organisation based at the Ten Count Centre on Winchester Avenue, providing far more than boxing. Its services include youth and children’s clubs, SEND provision, support for older people, outreach programmes, SPACE and HAF activities, fitness and wellbeing initiatives. Led by Lee Jones Jr, Max and a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, the organisation has extensive experience supporting children, young people and adults, including those with SEND needs, young offenders and individuals accessing alternative education. Through its strong local presence and trusted community relationships, Ten Count brings valuable grassroots insight, community engagement expertise and a commitment to improving outcomes across Bentilee and Ubberley.

Steve Adams

Steve is Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for Staffordshire, the largest local grant funder in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. With over 15 years’ experience at the Foundation, including leadership roles in donor development, operations and grant-making, he brings extensive expertise in funding, strategic planning, governance and community investment. Through overseeing millions of pounds of funding and supporting grassroots organisations across the region, Steve has developed a strong understanding of community needs, local priorities and effective partnership working. His experience would provide the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board with valuable insight into maximising investment, avoiding duplication and delivering sustainable, long-term benefits for Bentilee and Ubberley residents.

Andrew Firman

Andrew has lived in the Bentilee and Ubberley area for six years and is passionate about helping ensure Pride in Place investment benefits as many local people and organisations as possible. He brings strong communication skills, a level-headed and practical approach, and a commitment to working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes. As a reliable team player, Andrew is keen to support initiatives that improve local facilities, opportunities and quality of life for residents. He recognises the significant opportunity this funding presents and is committed to helping ensure it delivers meaningful, lasting improvements for the Bentilee and Ubberley community.

Donna Firman

Donna has been a Bentilee resident for 13 years and is passionate about helping shape a better future for the local community. She is keen to contribute to the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board and support decisions on how funding can best benefit local residents. Donna brings strong organisational skills, a collaborative approach and a commitment to working effectively as part of a team. Her long-standing connection to the area provides valuable insight into local needs and opportunities. She is motivated by a desire to improve Bentilee and Ubberley, ensuring investment delivers positive, lasting outcomes for the people who live there.

Louise Davies

Sha Owusu

Sha is a dedicated student leader, award-winning biomedical science advocate, and a driving force for youth empowerment across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. Driven by early experiences with limited healthcare in rural Ghana, Sha relocated to the UK at 16, quickly becoming Student Union President and Governor at NSCG Newcastle College. His exceptional local impact earned him the 2024 Learning and Development Award at the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards. Now a Biomedical Science student at Keele University, Sha chairs the We Are Staffordshire Young Advisory Board. In this role, he champions community regeneration and connects local students to rewarding healthcare and science opportunities right here in Stoke, ensuring estates like Bentilee benefit from strong youth representation and local pride.

Board Meeting Minutes

Find out what’s been going on behind the scenes.