News from our partners: Oswestry Town Council books 28 groups for community wellbeing event

News from our partners Oswestry Town Council

Oswestry Town Council is holding a community wellbeing event on Wednesday 11 October at Hope Church, Market Gate, Oswestry, Shropshire. SY11 2NR. The event is designed to help residents meet and chat to groups and services they may wish to become involved with, and provide an opportunity to like-minded local organisations to network for the benefit of the community.

This forms part of the council’s plan to tackle social isolation, which was the focus of this year’s annual meeting back in February 2023 where partners and residents discussed how the town can work together to tackle this issue in our community.

Community wellbeing event in Oswestry on Wednesday 11 October 2023

The pandemic has made far worse a global epidemic of social isolation; highlighting the importance of finding and scaling strategies to generate social connections in our community.

Community event

Councillor Olly Rose, The Mayor of Oswestry, said:-

“We are delighted in the number of organisations that are supporting this event. There will be a wide range of local groups and clubs that deliver activities that help to reduce social isolation in and around Oswestry. You can even come and have your blood pressure checked.

“Loneliness can affect everyone – young, old, mums, dads, brothers, sisters. We all know someone affected by social isolation. Feeling connected is more important than ever for partner organisations and stakeholders, as well as the residents that we serve.”

The event is free, and over 28 groups are booked to attend. Meet local choirs, learn about dance, bridge, knitting and art and find support from caring, NHS, and recovery groups such as Connect For Life, Friends of Parkies, Cancer Champions and Women’s Aid.

Oswestry Town Council would like to offer special thanks to the Qube who have helped to facilitate this event.

Further information

Oswestry 

Oswestry is a historic market town of 18,000 people in north west Shropshire, close to the border with Wales. The name ‘Oswestry’ is thought to be derived from ‘Oswald’s Tree,’ a reference to the Northumbrian King who lost his life in battle here at the battle of Maserfield in around 641 AD and who was later canonised.

With archives containing records dating back to 1324 and many historic buildings, Oswestry is a town steeped in history and tradition. With its location on the A5, it is also the gateway from central England to north and mid Wales and with a large rural catchment area is a hub for local business and trade. At the centre of this are its markets, indoor, outdoor and livestock, a well-visited network of shopping streets and industrial estates for larger businesses.

The town, the second largest in Shropshire, also acts as an important beacon for leisure, culture, and the arts; war poet Wilfred Owen was born in Oswestry and spent his early years here.

Oswestry Town Council

Oswestry Town Council is headed by a Mayor and 17 councillors with service delivered by a town clerk. The council is one of the largest of its type in the country and manages the indoor and outdoor markets, Cae Glas Park, three car parks, the Guildhall, a cemetery, allotments, and the town’s archives. The council also delivers a programme of public events, conducts charitable fundraising, and organises floral displays around town in the summer and festive lights in midwinter.

Latest Oswestry Town Council Initiatives

• Leads the delivery of the town’s CCTV system working with West Mercia Police and Oswestry BID.
• Funds the weekly youth club and mental health support at The Marches School.
• Developed an Oswestry Youth Forum in partnership Shropshire Youth Association.
• White Ribbon accredited, supporting the campaign to end all violence against women.
• Funded eight vehicle-activated speed signs in Oswestry.
• Established a partnership to improve communication between the community and the police.
• Facilitates community meetings to provide the public with opportunities to question key decision makers.
• Helped to plant over 6000 trees as part of Shropshire’s net zero carbon target.
• Capital projects include a new accessible ramp at Horsemarket car park, improved central car park exit and fully accessible public toilets.
• Funded improvements to shopfronts in the town centre and to historic alleyways as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone Programme.