Thriving Communities Strategy

We have tried to keep this document in plain English and easy to read. In parts, we have referred to ideas or programmes that might not mean much to all readers. We have defined these below:

Active travel

Travelling in an active way, for example by foot and bike.

Healthy place shaping

Creating areas that make healthy choices easier, by providing spaces to exercise, local access to daily needs like shops and community spaces, and where it’s easy and safe to walk, cycle and exercise. This includes places like leisure centres and parks, along with arts and cultural spaces.

Meaningful measures

Showing how we are performing and making a real difference to the lives of our communities.

Social prescribing

When health professionals refer people to services that are based in the community (e.g. health walks). These can be non-medical and are often delivered through community and voluntary organisations. It can include a supported conversation with a link worker, focusing on what matters to the person (not their condition or disability).

Whole system approach

Taking an overview of all the organisations and interactions people have when accessing a service (e.g. how someone might be referred to a health service) and using this information to better design and improve services.

If you’re unsure of anything in this document and require extra help to understand it, please email us at TCS@oxford.gov.uk or call us on 01865 249811.