AN American has been brought in to boost Yorkshire pride.
Katie Bishop's job is to help set up more civic societies - with Denby Dale as one target.
Katie, 23, from Tampa in Florida, has been appointed the first development officer for the Yorkshire and Humber Association of Civic Societies.
Her two-year post - the first of its kind in the UK - is being funded by English Heritage.
Her mission will be to encourage people to set up new civic societies and her target areas include Denby Dale, Haworth and Hebden Bridge.
This is because there are large parts of Yorkshire not covered by civic societies, which aim to improve the quality of life and conserve architecture in their local area.
There are 68 civic societies in Yorkshire, working under the umbrella of the Civic Trust.
"Civic societies are a way for people to make their voices count and shape the way neighbourhoods develop," said Katie.
"Everyone has an opinion about the places where they live, work and shop, but how often are these views reflected in the decision making process?
"Grassroot movements like civic societies are a way of ensuring they do.
"As well as get new societies up and running, we also want to recruit more younger members."
Katie is in the UK because she is studying for a politics doctorate at York University.
Her passion for preserving architecture comes from seeing first hand the effects of unfettered development that has blighted so many US towns, including Tampa.
Elizabeth Bailey, policy officer at English Heritage in Yorkshire said: "Without the support of civic societies our job of protecting the historic environment is made so much more difficult.
"That's why we have funded Katie's appointment and are so keen to see more groups established and the work of societies strengthened."
