Sport and culture strategy development
Another ongoing piece of work is the development of two strategies covering Sport and Physical Activity and Culture and Arts.
These relate to all activities and relationships across these sectors in the Scottish Borders as a whole and therefore are not solely focused on us or Live Borders.
These will be ambitious documents but, given the ongoing financial and other challenges affecting the sectors nationally, they will be grounded in the realities of the national picture and the experiences of those operating within the sectors.
Sport and Physical Activity Strategy
This new strategy is being developed in line with the Public Health Scotland framework and will support our vision that everyone in the Scottish Borders can live healthy, active lives, which will improve the health and mental well-being of people of all ages.
We want to work together with partners and national governing bodies to deliver the key outcomes from the strategy.
Live Borders, sportscotland and Public Health Scotland are among those engaged in developing the strategy and initial workshops have been held and the results collated, along with relevant data.
Engagement with young people in schools is underway, whilst the consultation with the public and sports bodies will take place throughout November and December. A finalised strategy is expected in Spring 2025.
Culture and Arts Strategy
The aim of developing a new culture and arts strategy for the Scottish Borders is that it supports the enhancement of the quality, variety and accessibility of cultural experiences across the region. This aligns with national objectives to empower, transform and sustain the cultural sector, with leadership in targeted action to support the array of grassroots initiatives across the region.
Initial engagement with partners took place over the Summer and engagement with stakeholders, including young people, has taken place in the Autumn and further engagement with larger stakeholder groups is taking place through November.
Complementary input received through other engagement work, including placemaking, Community Conversations and the previous consultations undertaken as part of the Joint Review are helping to shape the initial draft strategy.
It is anticipated that public engagement on a draft strategy will take place through the Winter, followed by the development of an action plan.
A final draft is expected to be complete in late Spring 2025.