“You’ve Got Nothing To Lose”Why Matt Smith Decided to Apply To Become a Decision Maker

For Matt Smith, applying to become a Decision Maker for the Growing Together Fund was not about titles or qualifications.

It was about Grimsby.

Born and raised in North East Lincolnshire, Matt has deep roots in the area and a strong belief that local people should have more influence over decisions that affect their communities.

Through his role at Barclays, Matt leads work around social responsibility and community outreach across the region. His work includes supporting digital skills training, helping people protect themselves from scams and fraud, and coordinating volunteering opportunities that support local communities.

But beyond his professional role, Matt is also a parent raising children in Grimsby and someone who genuinely cares about the future of the town.

That personal connection was one of the reasons he decided to step forward as a Decision Maker.

“I think a lot of organisations locally sometimes work independently rather than collaboratively,” Matt explained.

“I wanted to use my own influence, both personally and professionally, to help drive positive change.”

The Growing Together Fund is doing something slightly different from traditional funding programmes.

Alongside local people applying for funding through the Give it a Go fund, community members are also being invited to become Decision Makers, helping review shortlisted ideas and recommend which projects should receive support.

For Matt, one of the most important parts of the process is making sure local voices are properly represented.

Historically, he believes many residents felt disconnected from local decision-making.

“There’s been a feeling for years that decisions were being made by people who weren’t from here,” he said.

“And that creates scepticism.”

Matt believes things have started to improve in recent years through groups such as The 2025 Group and Our Future, where more local voices are beginning to shape conversations about the future of Grimsby.

But he also believes there is still more work to do.

“There’s a different level of trust when people know decisions are being influenced by local people who actually understand the area,” he explained.

“People respond differently to that.”

One of the biggest conversations during Matt’s interview was around the phrase “Decision Maker” itself.

Jose explained that some people had fed back that the title sounded formal or exclusive, as though it was designed only for professionals or people with specific experience.

Matt understood that concern immediately because he had felt something similar himself.

Like many people stepping into something new, he admitted there was a degree of imposter syndrome at first.

But ultimately, he realised that caring about the community mattered more than feeling like an expert.

“Passion matters more,” he said.

“The skills come through being involved.”

He also shared a message he hopes encourages others to step forward.

“Worst case scenario, if I wasn’t the right fit, I’d be told I wasn’t,” he said.

“So really, you’ve got nothing to lose.”

That message sits at the heart of what the Growing Together Fund is trying to achieve.

The aim is not to create a panel made up only of professionals or people already connected to formal decision-making.

The aim is to involve a genuine mix of local people with different ages, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

People who care about where they live.

People who want to see positive change.

People who understand the realities of the community because they are part of it.

During the panel process, groups of Decision Makers will review community project ideas together, with each participant helping decide how funding should be allocated across local projects.

For Matt, this approach feels important because it moves decision-making closer to the community itself.

Away from closed conversations and towards something more open, inclusive and rooted in local experience.

And perhaps most importantly, he hopes it helps more ordinary people realise that their voice matters too.

Because community decision-making should not feel distant from the people it is meant to serve.

It should include them.

If you live, work or study in Grimsby and would like to become a Decision Maker, you can find out more here:

https://growingtogetherfund.org.uk