FinancialNewsOCFHand-drawn timeline showing progress on Age Friendly Banbury so far

The Age Friendly Banbury partnership has just learnt it has not been successful in bidding for Phase 2 funding from the DCMS and Big Lottery Place Based Social Action programme. Nonetheless, partners remain determined to continue the positive steps started.

The Age Friendly Banbury partners, who met on Friday to take stock of the news, declared themselves ever more determined, even if somewhat deflated that they had not been successful in their bid for Place Based Social Action (PBSA) Phase 2 funding. Having established such a well connected and trusted local network, the partnership remains steadfast in its commitment and ambitions for an Age Friendly Banbury, with all partners keen to continue working together within the community and for the common good of Banbury.

A list of successful applicants for the PBSA funding can be found here

Feedback suggested our application had many strengths, and that the project would make a measurable difference to older people in the area, and praised detailed plans to monitor and evaluate the initiative. The partners now plan to continue the momentum and seek alternative sources of funding. An overview of the journey so far is shown in the illustration above.

Sir Tony Baldry, Chair of the Age Friendly Banbury partnership, commented that whilst disappointing, there was still much to celebrate, in particular and most importantly the fact that our collective knowledge and shared understanding of what really matters to older people had increased significantly.

Local insight that now provides a strong evidence base against which to measure any future activities and to ensure they have an impact on local people’s lives. New toilet facilities planned for the People’s Park are just one of several examples where such insight is already starting to influence local decision-making. Another is students of Space Studio Banbury hosting intergenerational activities on their school campus.

Jayne Woodley of Oxfordshire Community Foundation hoped that match funders, who had generously pledged donations alongside the potential of support from the PBSA programme, would still be inspired to enable the partnership to progress with its plans.

Penny Thewlis of Age UK Oxfordshire shared details of the Age of Creativity Festival, which intends to build on ideas that came out of the Age Friendly Banbury survey and local town centre pop-up discussions. The Festival, which will run throughout the month of May, is part of a national event dedicated to enabling older people to engage in arts and creative activities.

If you would like to get involved in the Age of Creativity Festival, or find out about what else is planned and how together we can help make Banbury an age friendly place, please do come along to The Cornhill Centre on 2nd April between 3.00–5.00pm.