Rashid Bhayat appointed chair of Hillfields Pride in Place Board
Rashid Bhayat has been appointed to chair a new board which will work with residents to shape priorities for investment and regeneration in Hillfields.
A community figure with longstanding links to Hillfields has been appointed chair of the area’s new Pride in Place Board.
Rashid Bhayat will lead the board as it works with residents, community organisations, local representatives and Coventry City Council to develop priorities for the programme.
Details of the appointment were provided to CW Today by the office of Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana.
The Pride in Place programme is intended to give residents greater involvement in how investment is brought into Hillfields and what improvements should be prioritised.
Bhayat, whose family has lived in the area for generations, said he was “honoured” to accept the position.
“For generations, my family have lived in the area, so it means a lot to me to be able to influence positive change for our community,” he said.
“Having spent my entire working and personal life in the area, I am aware of the challenges we face, but also the genuine sense of community that we see across Hillfields.”
Bhayat said the funding was important to the community and that he wanted to work with the local board, council and MP to deliver a programme which was “timely, transparent and led by the people of Hillfields”.
Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana said people in Hillfields had for too long seen decisions made about their neighbourhood without having enough influence over them.
“Pride in Place must be different,” she said.
“This is an opportunity for residents to help determine what investment in Hillfields looks like and where it can make the greatest difference.”
Sultana said priorities could include improving public spaces, supporting community facilities, strengthening the local economy and tackling other issues identified by residents.
She also welcomed Bhayat’s appointment, saying he knew the community and understood both its challenges and strengths.
Councillor George Duggins, leader of Coventry City Council, described Bhayat as a “stand-out candidate”.
He said: “Rashid has spent more than two decades building trust and changing lives in Coventry’s communities, and Hillfields will benefit enormously from that experience and dedication.”
Duggins said he had been part of the panel which appointed Bhayat and believed residents would find in him a chair “who listens and delivers”.
What happens next?
The Hillfields Pride in Place Board will now work with local people to develop priorities for the programme, with community engagement expected to form a central part of the process.
Applications are also open for places on the Hillfields Neighbourhood Board.
No specific projects are detailed in the announcement, with priorities for the programme still to be developed alongside the local community.