Looking Ahead
The Brighter Futures Partners will continue to develop links with the community in the Brighter Futures wards, and with the organisations which exist to support the members of the community living there. Continued targeted programmes such as HAF and You Move focusing on children eligible for free School meals to offer targeted support. Support for residents who have Long Term Conditions as part of Move Together which has shown a 51% reduction in GP appointments from residents on the programme.
We will continue to work to mitigate the effects of low income and health inequalities by developing community assets, and by listening to community aspirations, giving us strength and focus.
There are some specific items on the Brighter Futures horizon detailed below. However, it is important to remember that the strength of the partnership also lies in fast responsive action when required – for example during the Covid pandemic or the cost-of-living crisis. This means that not all the work can be planned for the long term. The partnership is particularly well placed to work in this way because so many of the partners have existing, genuine relationships with community groups.
Brighter Futures will be part of the Oxfordshire wide strategy around working towards Oxfordshire becoming a Marmot Place and reducing the gap in inequalities with a focus on 3 key principles below which fit perfectly with what BFIB currently works with partners on:
- Give every child best start in life
- Create Fair Employment and good work for all
- Ensure Healthy standard of living for all.
Working with the Community
Charlotte Morgan from the Wales Centre for Public Policy has produced a report on working with communities, in which she comments
“By listening to and valuing the insights of communities, the public sector can build better services, improve outcomes and use limited resources more wisely”.
This is very much the spirit of the Brighter Futures partners. Partners are responsive to Community aspirations, and actively seek out local views.
Seeking long term sustainable change, while acknowledging the need for short term interventions is a balancing act which the Brighter Futures partners have performed since the inception of the partnership. For example, organisations such as the Banbury Larder are moving from immediate support like food banks to empowering co-created projects – such as their Job Club.
One of the ways in which communication is facilitated through the Brighter Futures Partnership, is through two neighbourhood forum groups focused on the Brighter Futures area. The North Banbury Network (covering Ruscote and Neithrop) and the Grimsbury Network both meet quarterly, and perform a vital role in joining up work within the communities.
The forums act as a conduit for community concerns to be brought to the attention of local voluntary and statutory agencies.
In addition to this, the Brighter Futures communities benefit from two popular community festive events each year – Winter Wishes in the North Banbury network area and New Year wishes in Grimsbury. Residents are invited to join together in free or low-cost activities, designed to appeal to all ages, with the benefit of building both families and communities. The unseen added benefit is that residents are also invited to express their aspirations for themselves and their communities, and that this information is shared amongst community organisations and policy makers through the Brighter Futures partnership.
The “wishes” can cover a wide range of topics, but all are valued. For example, here are some of the topics suggested at the Grimsbury New Year Wishes Event, held in February 2024.
Wishes for the community, from the community
The Grimsbury New Year wishes included sharing resources between groups including the creation of a DIY tool library. Residents wanted more fun community events, including a social group to meet outside working hours and more children’s indoor activities, plus parent and toddler groups, and for better joining of different cultures when community events take place.
The wishes also included practical ideas, such as better maintenance of parks and more frequent emptying of the recycling bins, plus reducing dog mess.
The events involve many of the local Brighter Futures partners, and the partnership also performs the role of sharing the intelligence which has come directly from the community. This enables agencies working there to have an insight into the matters which are of concern to local residents.
Providing the glue to unite community and organisations also means that organisations are better placed to respond effectively when funding opportunities occur.
Continued support and learning opportunities for partners
Events will include a market style networking event, and in the Spring a focus on Older People, and the Age Well area of Cherwell’s Wellbeing Strategy.
The Partnership will continue to support and develop the Buddy Scheme, learning from the experience of the current members and offering the experience to partners when requested. The Partnership works as a great information exchange, as all theme leads are encouraged to report on the activities in their area. Partners also contribute when planning new activities or to share good practice. Many agencies use the partnership to distribute information about their work or training opportunities – for example Making Every Contact Count, Food Poverty training and other opportunities offered by stakeholders.
Oxfordshire County Council Hub
A key development during the coming year is the hosting arrangement that Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) has made with The Sunshine Centre. OCC is planning a menu of support starting in Spring 2024. This is being developed with stakeholders and professionals.
The Sunshine Centre is a long-standing and trusted community organisation, and it is anticipated that participation and access to services will be much increased by the co-operation between the two organisations. This pilot project is a fantastic demonstration of the strong partnership links which exist in the Brighter Futures wards, as well as the supportive and open-minded attitude of a member organisation.
Continued work on cost of living
As detailed above, low-income households continue to feel the effects of previous periods of high inflation. Partners will continue to offer imaginative and ways to support the community, from larders and free or low-cost meals to job support and free activities for children.
Behind this, will be the important work which goes on to support residents’ mental health to cope with the stress that living on a low budget can bring.
Building on Ward Profiling work
By focusing on areas of deprivation, the CHDO program can continue to make a significant contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of Oxfordshire's most vulnerable communities.
- Project outcomes: Continued analysis of project outcomes will inform future funding decisions and program adjustments.
- Community-Led Initiatives: Fostering community-led projects will ensure that initiatives are responsive to local needs.
- Sustainability: Exploring long-term funding sources and replicable models will ensure the program's sustainability.
- Collaboration and Partnerships: Strengthening partnerships with local businesses, schools, and healthcare providers will enhance the program's impact.
Well Together
Well Together is a grants programme, funded by the Integrated Care Board, which recognises the essential role community-based and voluntary organisations play in addressing health inequalities at a local level. The programme invests in community-led health and wellbeing activities and projects for all ages – children, young people, and adults.
Well Together will provide funding and support for new and existing groups and organisations in 10 priority areas in Oxfordshire, including the Brighter Futures area. Funding can be used to expand the reach and impact of current projects, or to establish new ones. Well Together seeks to complement existing programmes of work and funding in this area.
As well as supporting immediate health and wellbeing needs, the programme aims to address the root causes of preventable health conditions, enabling healthy independent living for longer, whilst helping to build more connected communities. Up to £100,000 is available for each of the 10 priority areas. The Well Together team will work in collaboration with local community networks as part of their process for deciding how funding will be distributed. It is planned that funds will be awarded from April 2024 to November 2024, providing groups with a minimum of one year of funding before the programme closes in November 2025.
Please go to the OCVA website for details of the well together programme.
Community Development at Woodgreen Leisure Centre
Woodgreen Leisure Centre is in the heart of the Brighter Futures wards. It hosts the local branch of Oxfordshire Libraries, and The Mill Arts Centre was temporarily based in Woodgreen Leisure Centre, due to issues with their building.
Some S106 funding is available, and the management team is looking at options on what can be in place to make it a community hub venue. They have conducted some stakeholder analysis on what can be offered with community organisations on site (physical activity, GP services etc) by visiting other venues to observe good practice. A Project team has been set up and is looking at different areas and will engage stakeholders to obtain feedback on what Woodgreen could look like. The team will be consulting with local residents and will be supported by Brighter Futures partners to do this.
The Everybody’s Wellbeing strategy goals will link into this work.
Building a closer relationship with Age Friendly Banbury
Age Friendly Banbury is a partnership between local organisations committed to making Banbury an age-friendly town. It brings together older people, community leaders, local charities, businesses, and local councils.
It is a natural partner to the Brighter Futures partnership – many of the things which make an age-friendly town are actually beneficial to other residents too – such as people with disabilities or parents of young children. In addition, Brighter Futures residents are more likely to be represented amongst older people with low incomes and health issues, making the Age Friendly partnership’s work particularly relevant to them.
During 2023/24, closer links were forged as the Age Friendly Officer became one of the Brighter Futures theme leads, joining the Stronger Communities and Volunteering theme. We look forward to building on this relationship during the coming year.
Working with OCC to understand links between areas of deprivation and negative effects of climate change
The Government’s State of the Environment Report was begun before the COVID-19 pandemic, and updated in January 2023. It states that
“The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed and amplified green inequality in society. Too many towns and cities in England, especially those with a strong industrial heritage, have too little green space, too few trees, culverted rivers, poor air quality and are at risk of flooding. This holds back economic growth and the building of new homes. It is also a fundamental moral issue. Areas of higher deprivation and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic populations have less access to high quality green and blue space, and this contributes to differing disease burdens and life expectancy."
Many of the Brighter Futures partners are aware of, and take note of, the effects of climate change. However, there is more that we can do to understand the effects of climate change and how they are particularly felt in our local areas, and with the support of Oxfordshire County Council, we hope to enable our partners with this drilled down information and enhance their understanding of the issues.