Our Town, Our Future
We are excited to launch Our Town, Our Future, a new Q&A series designed to introduce you to the passionate individuals behind the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board. First in the hotseat is our newly appointed Chair, Sophie Johnson.
Sophie has lived in Dewsbury for over 12 years. With a rich background in voluntary and community sectors, she supports multiple charity and public-sector organisations locally, regionally and beyond.
Under her leadership, she is dedicated to ensuring that funding delivers visible and positive change for the people of Dewsbury.
Why did you get involved with the Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board?
I’ve always worked in the charity sector and for many years of my career, worked with the prison system focused on substance misuse and prison healthcare. For the last eight years, I’ve been freelancing for a range of different national charities, supporting them with work on strategy, business development and transformation.
Alongside this, I am the chair on RASAC (Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre) Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield, where I provide support to sustain and develop the charity’s essential work – helping survivors of sexual violence and their families. This is something I’m incredibly passionate about.
I am also an independent governor at Kirklees College., one of the largest FE colleges in the UK with over 12,000 students, including many in Dewsbury. I help oversee the college’s direction and performance, making sure we keep delivering a great education and the right skills to students from all walks of life and ages.
I’ve been involved with Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board for over two years, where I oversee implementation of investment in local regeneration. My reason for joining the board was because I’m really passionate about doing everything we can to make Dewsbury a great place for people to live and work, for now and for the future.
As a professional and an individual, what do you feel you bring to the board?
Well, I’ve lived around Dewsbury for most of my life and in the town for twelve years, so I bring a strong, local connection. I’m raising my kids in Dewsbury and I do the same day-to-day activities in Dewsbury that we all do, so I understand its challenges and strengths.
From my charity background, I bring an understanding of some of the challenges that people can face and the work that needs to be done to engage and support people in the best way we can – creating a Dewsbury that works for everybody.
What is your long-term vision for Dewsbury?
There’s two really important things for me at the moment.
One is making progress on the Dewsbury Blueprint projects and keeping the momentum. For example, with the Arcade, the Town Hall and the Market, people will begin to see things changing and taking shape in the town centre.
Secondly, I want Dewsbury to be a place where people want to be and spend time in, whether that’s to shop, work or bring their families. I want people to feel there’s a reason to be in the town centre.
I want to challenge the perception that it’s somewhere people try to avoid, by providing many reasons for people to come into the town.
It’s an exciting time with the new funding coming in! We’ve already done lots of work to understand people’s thoughts and ideas about what they want to see in the town.
Everything people have told us is important, insightful and valued. Taking that feedback on board will ensure that we’re using the funding in ways that will make the biggest difference to the people of Dewsbury.
Is there one project you’re particularly excited about?
For me, it’s all about the overall regeneration. It’s not going to be about one single project transforming the town – real change will come from all the different parts connecting together. It’s not just the Neighbourhood Board, it’s also the council, college and local businesses – everyone has a role to play in shaping the future.
That being said, I’m so excited about the Dewsbury Market redevelopment. The market was always Dewsbury’s pride and joy. Everyone recalls the bus trips full of people that used to come to the market and it was brilliant.
I’m really looking forward to it being a market that has got more stalls, food opportunities and brings people in from far and wide to enjoy it. It’s such a source of pride. The people of Dewsbury used to be really proud of the market and getting that pride back is so important.
What does success look like for Dewsbury in the next 5-10 years?
For me as Chair, I think it’s really important to set a clear vision for Dewsbury. I want to be clearer in our communication, making sure people understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, and to ensure people are engaged with our work.
What’s been one of the biggest challenges or misconceptions about Dewsbury that you’d like to help change?
I do think people often feel like it’s not safe, but actually when you look at the crime statistics, the reality is often better than the perception.
That said, perception matters and we need to earn that positive feeling. If people feel unsafe, they’re less likely to come into town – and that in turn can make places feel emptier and less vibrant. It’s a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation: the more people we can attract into the town, the safer and more welcoming it will feel.
If you had to describe Dewsbury in three words, what would they be?
History – we’re proud of our heritage, our industrial roots and amazing architecture.
Community – we love being a diverse, youthful community with vibrant connections.
Opportunity – we are optimistic for the future and are dedicated to our plans to transform Dewsbury.
What’s your favourite place of Dewsbury?
I love to take my kids to Dewsbury Market for the sweet stall. The selection of pick and mix is unmatched. Clogg’s Café is also super. They are so welcoming and warm there, and the food is incredibly good.
What do you love most about the people of Dewsbury?
I love that the people of Dewsbury really care about their town and have a strong connection to where they’re from. Although they do have their worries and concerns, it’s because they care and want to see us doing the best we can for Dewsbury. I hope the work we are doing now and in the coming years can really start to restore that pride.