Britain in Bloom
Henley has won the regional Britain in Bloom competition for the third year in a row, picking up another three awards at the same time.
The town won the top prizes in the Chiltern and Thames region and in the best community section, Valley Road School pupils also won an award in the schools category for their floral efforts.
henley partnership
The Henley-on-Thames Partnership
The Henley-on-Thames Partnership is a not-for-profit organisation set up to identify, plan and run collaborative projects benefiting the town of Henley. It raises funds in generous measure from private sponsors, the Town Council and its individual members.
The Partnership has evolved from a shared belief that Henley needs active, determined and collective effort to preserve yet develop the town’s unique qualities.
To achieve this takes a team effort from both the private and public sectors. Certainly, the combined efforts of the town’s elected representatives, local enterprises and societies - as well as enthusiastic individuals - add up to a powerful resource.
The Partnership’s focus is on where Henley is heading, where its residents want it to go and what changes are needed to achieve this vision. The foundations for a way forward through partnership for Henley-on-Thames were laid during the late 1990s by the Town Council, South Oxfordshire District Council and a body called the Henley Town Working Group, made up of representatives of local authorities, business and commerce and the town’s societies
Goals
Its vision:
Henley: an environment in which people are pleased to live and work, where commercial and leisure opportunities flourish, which visitors find attractive and whose historic character is enhanced.
Its strategy:
To increase the economic health of Henley. Its tactics: To attract residents and visitors to the centre of the town to enjoy on a regular basis the shopping, entertainment, leisure, and eating and drinking facilities.
Its actions:
• Recommendations for improvement of traffic access, movement and parking.
• Promotion of the range and quality of shops, services and other attractions.
• Improving the quality of the local environment.
• Facilitating the success of enterprises in the centre of town.
• Improving and promoting the enjoyment of visiting the town and its surrounding areas.
• Developing residents’ support and pride in the town.
• Creating new marketing initiatives to keep Henley on the map.
Achievements
Founded only in 1996, the Partnership can already point to several important achievements:
• Development of unified and professional marketing materials.
• Production of a “Welcome to Henley” brochure, shopping and eating guides and a promotional leaflet aimed at tour operators
• Creating a tour programme for national event organisers
• Setting up and co-ordinating special town events days for Christmas and Summer
• Initiating NVQ and other training programmes
• Creating, with the assistance of the Henley Standard, the “Henley Matters”, together with a Newsletter
• Commissioning extra, in-depth market research on business performance, footfall, occupancy etc. as a basis for informed decision-making by elected representatives.
• Funding environmental projects Projects currently under review include:
• Themed markets
• Cultural programmes
• Environmental monitoring
• Development of a Henley “welcome” web site
• Local business loyalty schemes
• Tourism and leisure promotions.
The Partnership is also considering:
• Integrated transport and traffic studies
• The Cross-Thames transport study
• Town security and safety
The Partnership is run by a management committee comprising representatives from the Town, District and County Councils, four working groups and other members.
The working groups cover commerce, environment, tourism and culture. Through this simple structure, practical short- and long-term action plans are developed, aimed at complementing and reinforcing those being undertaken by the area’s local authorities.
The Partnership is a successful major initiative for the town and cited as an example to others because it:
• Concentrates on promoting Henley-on-Thames.
• Agrees and sets out clear, long-term goals
• Through matched funding achieves at least double what normally might be possible.
• Taps into the town’s professional skills and experience.
• Attracts volunteers who want to make a difference to the town.
• Generates new enterprise opportunities
• Provides a broader town perspective for special interest groups.
• Ensures positive communication, dialogue and agreement.
Participation
Join the Partnership and help us to improve Henley! Throughyour personal commitment to help, you could:
• Join one of the working groups
• Bring your own skills to bear on the Partnership’s work
• Contribute your views first-hand • Help tackle specific tasks
• Aid our efforts to promote Henley and develop local pride
• Raise sponsorship for projects
• Pass on the benefit of your experience to young people in the town. In return you can gain the satisfaction of knowing you will be making a difference to the town’s future, benefit from meeting and working with others in Henley and be recognised in associated local advertising and public relations.
Annual Membership
Special sponsors: £500 + Business: £100 over 25 employees, £50 under 26 employees Individual member: £10
PLEASE DO JOIN THE PARTNERSHIP! Ask for details by telephone, fax or letter from:
The Secretary, Henley Partnership The Town Hall, Market Place, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 2AQ Email info@henley-on-thames.org