The chance to get together in a room with other people who work in your area, plus a delicious free lunch and networking session, sounds like something from a bygone era when we met in rooms and had free lunches! Plus add in some optional free professional development training, and it almost sounds too good to be true! But that is what the #WellTogether team along with colleagues from Public Health have been organising in a collaborative fashion across Oxfordshire – collaboration events.
The Rose Hill Collaboration Event was on 9th July at Rose Hill Community Centre, and was for groups funded by Well Together and Public Health’s Community Insight Profile grants. It was organised by Jane from Well Together and Alexa from Oxford City Council.
26 people attended the event. The training on offer was MECC – Make Every Contact Count, run by Lucy from Oxfordshire County Council and Claire from Oxford City Council (another great collaboration!) “I’ve learned so much, MECC is a great approach,” said one training attendee.
The vegetarian lunch feast was made by Waste2Taste – colourful, healthy and delicious as their food always is. After a chance to chat with each other over lunch, we had a group discussion about existing and potential collaborations between groups.
New contacts were made, emails addresses and numbers were swapped – the start of stronger connections and ways of working. The group also discussed other ‘hot topics’ that affect small community and voluntary groups. “Thanks for today,” said one attendee, “It was really useful and we must remember the power of being in a room face-to-face.”
#WellTogether is a grants plus approach, which provides both funding and support to community groups to run activities in their area. The Collaboration Events aims to support groups by bringing them together to meet others, share good practice ideas, share and issues and create strength and support through collaboration. And have some well deserved lunch!
Jane Gallagher, Well Together
#WellTogether is being delivered in partnership by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and Community First Oxfordshire and has been funded by the NHS Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (NHS BOB ICB).