THEME:Leisure & Culture

THEME:Leisure & Culture

VISION: TomakeLuton a place where people want to live, work and socialise by expanding on existing leisure and cultural facilities to create a vibrant urban lifestyle, and working collaboratively amongst partners to contribute to improvements in lifestyle choices and stimulating positive leisure and cultural pursuits.

PRIORITY OUTCOMES:

OUT 11 - Improving leisure and cultural opportunities for all and promoting better access

Linked outcomes and objectives: OBJ 3 – to improve life and learning opportunities for all and OUT 10 improving services for carers

Associated Themes: Young People and Community Involvement

Area(s) of Intervention:

Provision of sports and leisure facilities
Community sports and leisure activities
Libraries Service
Arts and cultural activities
Museums service

Evidence of Need:

Deprivation Indices
JSNA
Skills shortage

Measures of Success:

The people of Luton are enabled to develop skills, knowledge and understanding, and participate in activities that promote both learning and entertainment
A greater degree of community cohesion, and depth of understanding of and respect for Luton’s diversity
A better image for Luton as a centre of sporting and cultural excellence
A greater awareness of the history, heritage and cultural richness of Luton

Interventions Required:

A comprehensive Libraries service, providing a high level of coverage through a range of suitable and accessible outlets and giving access to a wide range of media
Accessible and affordable leisure and cultural venues offering a wide range of activities, suitable to, and reflecting the demographics of, the diverse communities of Luton
Facilities that promote the development of excellence in both individual and team sports
A range of cross-cultural, cross-community, inter-faith and inter-generational activities
The safeguarding and promotion of Luton’s cultural heritage

OBJ 2 – To improve health and promote health equality

Linked outcomes and objectives: OUT 12 – improving the health of children and young people, OBJ 1 – To empower, support and protect the vulnerable and OUT 8 – supporting people to live independently

Associated Themes: Health and Wellbeing, Children and Families, Young People, Community Involvement and Citizen Enablement

Areas of Intervention:

Provide activities targeted at hard to reach and vulnerable groups
Develop a programme of activities which will support equitable access for all

Evidence of Need:

59% of Luton residents are in the two most deprived national quintiles compared to 40% for England as a whole.
At least one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life and one in six adults have a mental health problem at any one time.
Physical activity levels are lower than the national average with only 17.8% of residents taking part in moderate intensity sport and active recreation for 30 minutes at lease 3 times a week (2011-2013)
JSNA

Measures of Success:

Increase in participation amongst targeted groups of adults participating in at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity sport and active recreation on 3 or more days per week
Increased throughput in Leisure & Culture Facilities
Reduction in obesity/excess weight in children and adults
Improved mental health
An increase in female participation

Interventions Required:

Promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle
Provide opportunities for participation in leisure, cultural and learning activities
Develop close links between partner agencies to support the development of arts and cultural, leisure and learning activities in the communities
Promote the concession scheme
Continue to provide early intervention initiatives in relation to health poverty
Promote performance management and improvement
Target specific groups (women, disabled and deprived) to increase participation.
Continue to work with partners to deliver a dynamic range of health initiatives both through facilities and outreach programmes including new initiatives
Strengthen “Exercise on Referral” programme and increase GP and health care professional’s awareness on benefits of exercise to prevent and control chronic disease.
Continue to provide early intervention initiatives in relation to health poverty
Promote the concession scheme
Offer affordable activities in areas of deprivation

OUT 1 – Strengthening communities: building capabilities and resources of community, voluntary and social enterprise groups together to work out shared solutions

Linked outcomes and objectives: OUT 16 – providing positive activities for young people and reducing anti social behaviour, OBJ 5 – to reduce crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear it causes and OBJ 7 – to strengthen community cohesion

Associated Themes: All

Areas of Intervention:

Promoting community engagement and building effective partnerships between different sections of the communities

Evidence of Need:

The super-diversity of Luton’s population as per the 2011 Census.
Disproportionate impact of austerity and particularly of welfare reforms on both groups of people and certain areas of the town – as evidenced by welfare reform impact and evaluation workstream

Measures of Success:

More sports and cultural clubs being formed- Belonging to a club can provide a sense of community, bringing people together, offering community hubs and often a support mechanism for many people
Reduction in crime & antisocial behaviour
Local residents feeling safe within their neighbourhood

Interventions Required:

Ensure services, facilities and employment opportunities are accessible and meet the diverse needs of the community
Provision of diversionary activities in problem areas
Develop an extensive programme of activities which will support social inclusion
Work with partners to help people access taster sessions for a wide variety of leisure and cultural activities
Support sports clubs, arts groups and individuals helping them to secure external funding, training and encouraging peer support.
Encourage and support town wide community festivals and outdoor arts programmes as a means of uniting communities and engendering civic pride

OUT 7 – enhancing skills for employability and entrepreneurship and reducing differences in achievement levels between communities

Linked outcomes and objectives: OUT 14 – supporting our children and young people to achieve skills and experience to enhance their prospects for the future and OUT 15 – reducing the differences in educational achievements between ethnic groups

Associated Themes: Children and Families, Young People, Environment and Economy and Citizen Enablement

Areas of Intervention:

Reducing the differences in educational achievement between ethnic groups
Providing positive cultural & physical activities for young people and reducing anti social behaviour
Meeting the needs of children and young people with disabilities/learningdifficulties

Evidence of Need:

Luton Sustainable Community Strategy
Deprivation Indices
JSNA
Community Planning Outcomes
Joint Health Analysis
Anti-Cohesion Activity

Measures of Success:

Increase number of people participating in volunteering
Provide support to new arts and leisure businesses
Number of Community leisure & cultural training programmes/projects organised
Number of participants taking part in and completing training programmes/projects

Interventions Required

Improve the employability of individuals through the provision of activities and services which improve physical and mental health and well-being
Support and develop voluntary organisations to enable their capacity to sustain learning, sport and recreation and cultural activities in the community
Work with Active Luton, Luton Culture and other partners in the local arts and cultural sector, in the provision of coaching and learning opportunities
Develop ways for local volunteers to access training thereby improving their chances of securing employment
Encourage participation in team and outdoor activities and through achievement of leadership and coaching qualifications