Call to join in consultation on participation

People throughout South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse are being encouraged to have their say on future participation in local arts and leisure activities across the two districts.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils have, for the first time, produced a draft Joint Participation Strategy which outlines how they will work together, and with local communities and other organisations, to encourage participation in sport, physical activity, art and community activities.

The draft strategy is centred around five key aims which members of the public are now being asked to comment on:

• increase participation in arts, sport and active recreation by raising awareness among residents of activities and opportunities taking place in their community
• work in partnership to promote and enhance existing provision, to maximise resources and to reduce inequalities
• ensure good quality arts, sports and leisure provision by encouraging investment in leisure and culture and accessing funding to support future development
• capitalise on opportunities created from high profile national and international events to increase both participation and volunteering across the districts
• increase usage and range of activities at Wantage Civic Hall and Cornerstone.

Once approved, these aims will form the basis of annual action plans that the two councils work towards each year from 2013 until 2018.  The focus will primarily be on working in partnership with other organisations to increase the range and awareness of opportunities available across the two districts for residents in all that we do.

To find out more about the strategy, and to give your views by Monday 17 December 2012, please visit www.southoxon.gov.uk/haveyoursay or www.whitehorsedc.gov.uk/haveyoursay

If you have any questions or would like a paper or alternative format of the strategy and questionnaire please contact Jo Paterson, Shared Partnership Development Officer, on 01235 540379.

Cllr Bill Service, Cabinet Member for Leisure at South Oxfordshire District Council, said: “This joint approach is very much about working with a diverse range of people and organisations from across the two districts and beyond to ensure that we provide as many opportunities as possible for people to get involved in leisure and arts activities in their communities.”

Cllr Elaine Ware, Cabinet Member for Economy, Leisure and Property at Vale of White Horse District Council, said: “Sport, art and community activities play a big part in determining whether somewhere is a nice place to live, work or visit.  It’s therefore really important that people have their say on our draft strategy and help influence how we work together to encourage and increase participation throughout the two districts.”