First projects in £19.5m Pride in Place investment for Barnsley begin

The first projects have started as part of the Pride in Place programme, which will bring £19.5 million of Government funding to Barnsley over the next ten years.  

The first project focuses on additional investment in community safety measures to support the evening and night-time economy. This includes expanding the successful town centre Nightlife Marshals, and the Nightlife Angels. They help identify risks, support vulnerable people and de‑escalate situations. Pride in Place is also funding more work with PubWatch to deliver training to hospitality staff, including initiatives such as Ask for Angela, to help prevent harassment and violence against women and girls and create safer spaces for everyone. Our teams are focused on making sure everyone can enjoy Barnsley’s town centre safely, confidently and responsibly. 

The Government selected Barnsley as one of the first 75 towns included in the programme, which was initially known as the Long-Term Plan for Towns. The scheme requires the funding to be spent in the Barnsley Urban Area, which is the town centre and some surrounding residential areas. 

In line with government guidance, the Barnsley Town Board was set up to draw up a ten-year vision and a series of long-term investment plans. Local business leader Edward Naylor chairs the board and includes representatives from the council, local businesses, cultural organisations and charities. 

The UK Government has now approved a ten-year vision and the first four-year investment plan. Projects include community safety measures to support the evening and night-time economy, repurposing and revitalising vacant units on the high street, and improving connections between Oakwell and the town centre through art and culture interventions – which will be known as the Barnsley Way. 

The Nightlife Marshal service patrols the town centre to ensure public safety in the evening. They already work successfully on Saturday nights and Bank Holiday Sundays. They help identify potential hotspots, diffuse situations before they escalate, offer basic first aid, and provide care to vulnerable people, supported by South Yorkshire Police.  

The Nightlife Angels provide additional support to anyone who is vulnerable or finds themselves in difficulty, with a particular focus on women and girls. This includes help with  finding transport home, contacting a relative, or offering a safe haven, which all helps everyone enjoy their night out safely.  

The funding has enabled both the Nightlife Marshalls and Nightlife Angels to be expanded to cover Friday nights, and this is already in place.  

The Nightlife Marshals also help manage the queues at the taxi ranks. They are one of the key elements that have helped Barnsley Town Centre achieve Purple Flag accreditation, which recognises excellence in operational standards within the evening and night-time economy. 

Pride in Place is also providing additional training for hospitality staff around violence towards women and girls, including the Ask For Angela scheme. This will improve the safety of women and girls when visiting the Town Centre. It includes specific training for door staff working within the Town Centre to help address incidents of violence against women and girls in the evening and nighttime economy.  

Edward Naylor, Chairperson of the Barnsley Town Board, said:  

"On behalf of the Barnsley Town Board, I’m thrilled that our vision for the Pride in Place Programme has been approved, and that we’ve been able to get the first projects underway so quickly.  

“There will be lots more opportunities for the community to have their input into the use of this fund in the coming years."