Strengthening Communities

One Maldon District Partnership

Driving positive change through co-ownership and community power

The One Maldon District (OMD) Partnership was established 3 years ago, bringing together senior representatives from local, statutory, volunteer and private sectors.

The Partnership was created to ensure a more joined-up approach, which better aligns strategies, resources and initiatives across the district, to positively impact communities. The Active Essex hub team have played an important role in this space, strengthening relationships with key organisations along the way.

Built on clear values that emphasise the benefits of investing time in collaboration and co-ownership, the partnership has helped those involved understand the power of placing communities at the heart of this approach.

This year saw a real strong cohesion of understanding the impact of the partnership, and reflecting on the actions achieved. It was identified that valuing communication is crucial for building stronger relationships both within the partnership and the community, and promoting a shared understanding through data and intelligence helps ensure decisions are well-informed, effective and work towards the partnerships’ shared vision.

Effective leadership and accountability have been central to the partnerships’ success. It has provided strong leadership, by challenging one another and holding each other accountable. This collaborative effort has helped overcome organisational blockers and fostered a culture of mutual support and accountability.

Hollie Wood, Active Essex Relationship Manager

The partnership has made significant strides in maximising funding opportunities. Seeking to pool resources together has made it easier for community groups and organisations to access funding and have greater impact of grant distribution. By aligning funding and being flexible in their approach, it is helping to meet more community needs. Working alongside the Mid Essex Alliance and Thriving Places Index to allocate funding based on data and community needs, the partnership have supported local voluntary organisations who focus on providing opportunities in green spaces, community safety and supporting residents with poor mental health. By empowering these organisations, the OMD has driven change and action based on community needs.

Additionally, the development of a clear communication strategy, mostly led by Active Essex, has helped devise a coordinated community engagement plan. The partnership has created quarterly bulletins to celebrate achievements and inspire other partners. Engaging with residents through various events and communication methods has ensured the communities voice is heard and valued.

The partnership has transformed community engagement by supporting local events, which included family-focused activities under the umbrella of ‘Living Well This Winter’. By partnering with organisations like the SOS Bus and Open Road, it has helped bring services directly to residents making them more accessible and impactful.

OMD Partnership representative