National press coverage of chairman's regeneration charity
The work that Neil McArthur has been doing in his home town of Irlam through his charity, Hamilton Davies Trust (HDT), has been attracting national attention. In the Guardian, Helen Pidd asks if this can perhaps be seen as being in the great norther philanthropic tradition following the examples of Titus Salt and Joseph Rowntree. Neil McArthur see this more simply as restoring some of the former glory of the proud working town that he grew up in.
You can read the full Guardian article here.
Amanda Killelea of the Mirror sees it as a dying town being handed a lifeline following years of terminal decline after its huge steelworks closed down in the 70s. So far Neil has spent £12 million locally through HDT and another £11 million through his regeneration company that buys up and renovates empty commercial premises, giving the high street a much needed new lease of life.
You can read the full Mirror article here.
Find out more about Hamilton Davies Trust and its work in Irlam and Cadishead here.
Neil McArthur interviewed by the BBC about his philanthropic work in Irlam
Neil tells the BBC that he has spent millions of pounds of his own money helping to regenerate his home town because “you can’t take it with you”.
He said that he had spent the money over several years in a co-ordinated regeneration, and other towns could do the same if people can “get organised… and start planning.”
See the full BBC interview.