Over 130 activities across ten priority areas in Oxfordshire have received a boost of £1,000,000 from Well Together.
The programme of funding and capacity building, which has provided grassroots groups and organisations with financial and community development support, will run until November 2025. With a focus on promoting health equity, the programme aims to strengthen the role that grassroots organisations already play in their communities. It does this by recognising the existing trusting relationships that can help people when learning more about their own health and becoming better placed to make healthy choices for themselves and their families.
Over the last few weeks, the team have enjoyed the opportunity to meet health professionals, community partners and residents at two events, one in Banbury and the other in Rose Hill. The conversations and connections all help to boost the programme’s reach, and deepen the understanding of the needs of community groups, and the wider support that is available.
Vicki, Programme Manager, adds, “It’s great to be part of a much wider landscape of people, programmes, and organisations that are working towards creating healthier communities for all. We really appreciate the knowledge and expertise that is being shared with the programme”.
Programme Manager Vicki at a Brighter Futures event in Banbury to promote Well Together
A positive impact so far
As Well Together funding has been distributed on a rolling basis, all groups are at different stages of offering their activities. For some who received a grant earlier in the year, their activities are now well underway.
At South Oxford Community Centre, Maddy has been offering seated exercise classes, “[after class] we have a hot drink and cake in the community cafe (as part of the ticket price). This is a chance to get to know participants, they can ask me questions… it’s an opportunity to have a chat, make friends, and discuss other exercises to try out at home. As a result of these discussions, I’ve emailed them all the current workout plan with instructions, and also suggested exercises to help with specific health issues. I’ve also really loved how some of the regulars have started to bring their friends along to the class.”
At Oxford Contemporary Music’s Listen Up! sessions 10–14-year-olds have been excited to make more of their own original music. Tessa explains, “we all saw an interest in lyrically exploring complex themes from the young people and hearing them process them and write thoughtful lyrics about them was so inspiring”.
Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to work closely with grassroots groups to better understand local health needs through the activities being provided and the people who are taking part. Over the coming weeks we’ll be hearing from the Community Capacity Builders. They have raised awareness of the programme, guided groups through the expression of interest process and have now started visiting funded activities. Watch this space!
Strengthening community connections
After raising awareness of the programme, then guiding groups through the expression of interest process, the team of Community Capacity Builders have now started visiting funded activities. Reflecting on their highlights so far, Dolcie has identified work that has built “good community connections with groups that are supposed to be hard to reach, so they can have a voice and be included. I am referring to the work with UCARE cancer charity, they listened and have taken positive action by changing their publicity to be more inclusive. It is very important to see yourself in all publicity.”
Jane has remarked, “It has been a privilege to visit some of the Well Together funded activities, to see the magic that is happening there, and the wide variety of people these local groups are benefiting. ”
“Most of us do not have family in the UK. This group is our family, and this place is our second home. These people are now my sisters.”
Jane is one of the Community Capacity Builders liaising with the groups
Attendee at the Women’s Health Café run by AFiUK
Assia has valued the connections with groups at grassroot level – “due to my charity background, groups feel that they and I can have open conversations and being related to as a person rather than a funder relationship”. “Supporting groups at the level they require and understand… a comment I received was, ‘It’s great that you have the background of the community charity sector, as you understand it better at our level, and you are approachable’”.
For Rachel there have been many highlights so far. One of these has been, “the shared sense of satisfaction for the Well Together team on completing the Expression of Interest processing and funding allocation stage… no small task, and an immense team effort.” She has also enjoyed, “seeing and supporting growth of health literacy, confidence and personal growth amongst participants of all ages, sharing in enthusiasm for and growing engagement with the programme across groups and organisations, activity leaders and participants alike, also their growing desire to network with other Well Together funded projects”.
Well Together is being delivered in partnership by OCVA and Community First Oxfordshire and has been funded by the NHS BOB Integrated Care Board.
Main Photograph: Rose Hill Junior Youth Club has received funding for its healthy food activities
