Oxford City Council have now published their Oxford Community Centre Strategy for 2016 – 2020.

SLC was commissioned in March 2015 to develop the evidence which has informed the City’s Community Centre Strategy as published in February 2017.

The needs assessment undertaken by SLC contributed to the development of the Strategy, informing an understanding of the Council’s current position, and is described in the Strategy as being “of major importance.”

SLC provided the Council with a geographic and demographic analysis of community centres using the SLC Insight in-house Geographic Information System. A 15 minute walk time catchment was applied for each centre based on a judgement of how far Oxford residents can reasonably be expected to travel to access community centre provision. This has been overlain with ward boundaries, and the 2015 Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) ratings of each Lower Super Output Area (LSOA). SLC devised a methodology to objectively assess each centre and its impact on the community in terms of providing accessible coverage in strategic areas of importance.

From 2013 to 2015, SLC also provided a range of advice, including design, facility mix and business planning support regarding the future operational management of the new £4 million Rose Hill Community Centre to Oxford City Council. Rose Hill Community Centre successfully opened in January 2016 and is flourishing.

Duncan Wood-Allum, who oversaw the project said, “Oxford City Council has a bold vision for its community centres, aiming to provide world-class facilities which is clearly reflected in the Strategy and their recent investment. We are proud to have supported the Council.”

The published Strategy can be found in our Resource Centre

To learn more, get in touch by email or phone on 01444 459927.