Case Studies

Active Surrey

“We work alongside the Spelthorne Leisure and Community Development Team to reduce levels of inactivity in the area and enable residents to live healthier, happier lives by being active.  As an Active Partnership, we translate the national strategic direction in relation to physical activity to local partners.  Spelthorne Borough Council is always inventive, engaged and committed in how they embrace learning opportunities, new initiatives and different ways of working, maintaining their commitment to community development and activity levels.

The relationship we have with SBC goes in both directions – we have brought the energy and investment of the new place partnership to Stanwell, SBC have shown really strong leadership through the Spelthorne Healthy Communities Partnership Board.

Our focus has been on Stanwell in particular.  We are in the final stages of securing a long term investment from Sport England into physical activity in the area.

 In parallel, we have continued to focus on the objectives coming out of the Healthy Communities Partnership Board to increase uptake of cycling and reduce ASB.  We have been taking an ABCD approach in the area, working through community partners to deliver HAF camps, to distribute free bikes and increase uptake of bikeability training and to increase opportunities in the community to be active.

We have laid really solid foundations through our partnership working – I am looking forward to seeing what will  happen over the next year.”

Lil Duggan, Managing Director, Active Surrey

Dynamo Ukraine

Dynamo Ukraine was an initiative started by Spelthorne Borough Council in 2022. The Leisure and Community Development Team subsequently secured external funding to enable this important service to continue.

“Dynamo Ukraine offers weekly sessions every Saturday, which include football, tennis, badminton, trampoline, and multigames. These activities have provided a safe space for Ukrainian children to engage in sports, promoting physical fitness, building friendships, and enhancing their sense of belonging within the community. I became involved to support Ukrainian children in adapting to their new environment through sport. This role has deepened my connection with the community and allowed me to witness the positive changes in the kids. Working together has strengthened community bonds, created a supportive network for families, and facilitated cultural exchange, enriching the experiences for both volunteers and participants.”

Dynamo Ukraine Coordinator

Spelthorne Resource Centre

“Laleham Primary School are a member of the Resource Centre and we often visit for supplies for our varied school projects. This includes DT projects and art projects. We also use items for arts and crafts activities that are held at our PTA events such as our summer craft stalls and Christmas fair stalls.  We have also donated items to the Resource Centre from the school.

Our membership has helped to reduce the cost that would usually be incurred by a school for art supplies and therefore more money can be spent on education… and items can be recycled in the community.”

Natalie Watson, Laleham Primary School

Surrey County Council - Placemaking

“The Surrey County Council Placemaking team worked with the Spelthorne Leisure & Community Development Team on the development of two new murals underneath the Iron Bridge in central Staines. This collaborative approach has resulted in two bright and attractive murals on the approach to Staines Town Centre, in what was a previously a dark and damp footway.

Residents now benefit from a much more attractive and safer environment in this location, particularly important given its strategic location on the edge of the town centre. This welcoming approach additionally reflects much of the important history of the town and enables residents to connect to this.

Working together enabled the project to not only be completed successfully and with greater community engagement, but also to be secured in the future, given the partnership approach to construction and ongoing maintenance.”

Simon Lowe, Principal Placemaker, Surrey County Council

Visit Staines BID

“Visit Staines BID have a great working relationship with the Leisure team and have collaborated on various projects and events ranging from Outdoor Theatre seasons, Christmas Parades and the upcoming Spelthorne Artists Unlocked programme. We also actively participate in the Spelthorne Arts Forum and connect with other local artists and groups.

Partnering with SBC means we can increase our impact on the local community and grow the number of events in our programme. This year we engaged 2,000 people who attended our free outdoor theatre season and given 15 local groups a chance to perform on our stage at the Christmas parade.

By working together we have both been able to… increase the quality of work delivered and widen the reach of our projects. They are a committed, supportive and enthusiastic team who are a pleasure to work with.”

Andy Edmeads, Marketing and Business Liaison Manager

Voluntary Support North Surrey

VSNS is a key partner for Spelthorne Borough Council and their work is crucial to the ambitions that we have.  Along with larger charities the voluntary sector includes local community sports clubs and arts groups as well as those that cater for specific needs within the community enabling people to come together as well as being active.

“Voluntary Support North Surrey support circa 300 charities locally and these in turn affect and improve the lives of most if not all Spelthorne residents at some point in their life.

The partnership with SBC enables;

· VSNS to support the recruitment of local volunteers, including training and development to help local charities to flourish.

· Membership at Healthy Spelthorne Communities Partnership Board and Food & Welfare Network, and lead Dementia friendly Spelthorne and the Older people forum.

· Offering of capacity budling communities and groups helping with constitutions, plans and finances so that our third sector is vibrant and sustainable.

· Fundraising for charities and brokering Corporate support and corporate volunteering.

· Futureproofing.  By imparting skills in business planning and longer term funding plans, identifying future pots of money and saving the groups time.

Our reach is stronger together, we can cover more ground and assist each other when faced with challenges.  Certainly, in Covid we were essential partners and our team acted swiftly to support the Borough on the ground.  Our residents were well supported with all that they required in covid, Food, medicines, PPP etc as a result of teamwork.

We feel well supported by the Borough. We have worked collaboratively on joint social media/video content to promote the support available. We feel valued and that we have a valuable role to play.  We are included in Borough initiatives. In turn this demonstrates the value placed on the residents we support. The Borough match funded monies to start a local community fund, we are an active member of this panel and help to award local funds. These funds are the life source of many small local charities supported beneficiaries with protected characteristics and more. The prosperity funding has enabled us to strengthen support to groups in Spelthorne. This team/BC were the only one to share government prosperity fund with the voluntary sector thus directly strengthens the offer to residents.

Solette Sheppardson, CEO Voluntary Support North Surrey

Walking and Cycling for Health

“As a Walking for Health leader, I have regularly led walks since the start of the scheme. 

From observation and numerous conversations with walkers, I would say that the impact of the Spelthorne Scheme goes far beyond the obvious benefits of keeping active through walking. For example, many walkers have become firm friends and have been greatly helped when going through periods of ill health or through times of bereavement by being able to share their concerns with others on the walk or over coffee afterwards.

I have been an active walker all my life and on retirement wanted to pass on to others something of the deep pleasure that walking gave me throughout my life.  As a Local Historian, I have written and devised walks in the local area many of which were used in the original scheme set up by Spelthorne.  The benefits to me therefore have been many, particularly enabling me to keep fit and active into my advancing great age!

Whilst the membership of The Walking for Health leadership team has seen many changes over the years, it is right to say, that everyone on the team has always worked together extremely well to ensure that all our walkers get the best possible experience from being out in the open air in all weathers!  We remain a very happy team of people who care for each other and those in our charge.”

Walking for Health Volunteer Leader