Lancashire projects backed by Pride in Place funding

The initiative will make up to £5.8 billion available for communities across the UK to spend over the next decade on projects chosen by local people.

In Lancashire, funding has already helped improve grassroots sport and community wellbeing.

At Towneley Sports Hub in Burnley, ageing changing rooms dating back to the 1930s have been replaced with modern facilities designed to support future generations of players.

Meanwhile, in Rossendale, Pride in Place funding is supporting a new Employment and Wellbeing programme. 

The scheme combines five-a-side football sessions with practical support for people who are out of work, helping participants connect with employers and improve their job prospects.

The community-led investment sits alongside the Government’s £400 million commitment to grassroots sports facilities across the UK.

During 2025/26, the Multi-Sport Grassroots Facilities Programme delivered improvements to more than 1,000 venues, including pitches, pavilions, floodlights and changing facilities.

The Government says Pride in Place funding will allow communities to go even further by backing projects that matter most to local residents.

Secretary of state for communities, Steve Reed, said: “The World Cup shows the true impact of sport - but the camaraderie it brings doesn’t need to stop with the final whistle.

“From better pitches for Sunday league to nurturing young talent, investing in grassroots football means investing in communities. That’s exactly what Pride in Place is all about.”

The Government has also announced new powers through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, which it says will provide stronger protections for grassroots sports clubs and facilities.

Ministers hope the measures will help keep local sports clubs at the heart of communities for years to come.