Our Town, Our Future

Our Town, Our Future is a Q&A series designed to introduce you to the passionate individuals behind Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board. This month we’re talking to Christine Fox.

Born and raised in Dewsbury, Christine comes from a long-established Dewsbury family who were heavily involved in the town’s textile heritage. Her career spans across the voluntary and community sector, including working on accommodation projects supporting homeless people. She spent some of her career in London working as a housing officer and housing manager for a large housing association, before making the move back North to Dewsbury in 2001.

Now, Christine is the Director of Customer and Community Services for Connect Housing Association, based in Dewsbury. She joined the Neighbourhood Board in April 2024.

Tell me a bit about you and why you got involved with Dewsbury Neighbourhood Board?

I first became involved with Dewsbury’s regeneration when Connect made the strategic decision to move its Kirklees office base from Huddersfield to Dewsbury.

We have lots of homes for social rent in the area, including homes specifically designated for older people and women’s refuge. It made sense from that perspective, but we also wanted to help bring more people into the town for work,  invest in the local community and contribute to the town’s regeneration.

In addition, my family has deep roots in Dewsbury, not just my grandfather, but my great grandfather and my great great grandfather were all from Dewsbury. Most of my family worked in the textile mills, but my auntie took a bit of a unique path, for our family, and became a health visitor. She inspired me to do something different and have a career helping and supporting people.

My role at Connect and personal connection to Dewsbury meant it made sense to be a part of the Neighbourhood Board and continue advocating for my home town.

As a professional and an individual, what do you bring to the board?

I bring my background and commitment to improving community safety and tackling anti-social behaviour plus a background in community engagement and support. Connect’s main priority is providing good quality affordable homes for people in housing need and creating neighbourhoods where people want to live, creating the foundation and opportunities for people to enjoy happy healthy lives.

I lead on equality, diversity, and inclusion and safeguarding in my role at Connect, which are very important to me. I want Dewsbury to be an inclusive place where everyone feels they’re welcome. It is a community of unique people bringing different backgrounds and different perspectives. Collaborating and working together in the interests of the whole town and all the people that live in, work in and visit the town is so important.

What does Dewsbury mean to you personally?

Well, it’s my home, it’s where I was born, brought up and went to school. I remember the shops that I used to go to with my mum for unique gifts and crafts, and going to town on a Saturday with my friends. I’ve got lots of fond memories of growing up in and around Dewsbury.

The market, for example, was where people would come from far and wide on coach trips to visit and there were all sorts of things on offer. Whether you needed fruit and veg, handbags or school bags, shoes, or meat from the butchers; it had it all.

Is there a project you’re particularly excited about?

Definitely the Market, but also the Arcade. It’ll be great to see it come back to life and see businesses start to thrive there.

The Market is a big thing for me because it was one of the main draws for the town. It was a key part of the town’s identity. It will bring footfall back into the town and will be more than just a market. I think developing the evening economy to offer places to eat and socialise will make such a difference.

I’m excited that Dewsbury will be a place that offers more opportunities and can be a destination where people will want to be.

What does success look like for Dewsbury in the next 5-10 years?

I want Dewsbury to be a vibrant place where people feel safe and can go about their day feeling proud of the town and its people.

Over the next 5-10 years, it is key to attract people to the town for work, to live and to visit. The Blueprint projects that are already underway are intended to help bring more people into the town, and with funding to support the town’s Regeneration Plan, and priorities based on what the people of Dewsbury have told us, there is a real opportunity to achieve this. It’s really exciting to be able to contribute to that.

What’s been one of the biggest challenges or misconceptions about Dewsbury that you’d like to help change, and how would you do that?

I think it would be around the public’s perception of crime. People feel that Dewsbury is an unsafe place, but the crime statistics don’t reflect that. For me, it’s a priority that we change that perception and make sure people feel safe and are safe.

Community safety was one of the key themes that came out of the community consultation. We’ve listened to that, and the Board has been discussing how we can respond to those concerns. It will be one of the key commitments in the Regeneration plan.

If you had to describe Dewsbury in three words, what would they be?

Challenging, Beautiful and Welcoming.

What’s your go-to independent spot?

My go-to place is Cloggs Café. A slightly hidden spot but it’s the go-to for a sandwich or box salad. It’s great food and you wouldn’t necessarily know it was there. We order from them when we need catering for board meetings or work events.

What do you love the most about the people of Dewsbury?

I love how down-to-earth people are, we call a spade a spade; but we’re friendly with it.