‘Opportunity Bucks’ – ‘Levelling Up’ in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet has this week approved a new programme aimed at promoting opportunity for all in the county. ‘Opportunity Bucks’ aims to help all residents access the fantastic opportunities on offer in Buckinghamshire where education, skills, work, living standards and health are concerned.
Following the government’s ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper earlier this year, Buckinghamshire Council has carried out extensive work to draw up a local approach to promote better opportunity for everyone. The result is our new programme “Opportunity Bucks – Succeeding for All.”
The approach will vary by area depending on what is most important locally and will initially focus on creating action plans for ten wards where outcomes for residents are poorer than in other parts of the county. The ten wards are in parts of Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Chesham.
This is a long-term piece of work and importantly is a partnership approach with other key stakeholders in the local areas such as housing associations, local businesses, voluntary and community groups, schools, and charitable organisations. Activities will be locally led by neighbourhood Community Boards along with local councillors.
Martin Tett is Leader of Buckinghamshire Council. He said:
“This is a flagship policy for us. Addressing disparity is not easy, and there are no overnight solutions, but the government’s Levelling Up agenda gives us a great platform to really examine and find new approaches for this area of work. It is essential we find ways of making sure as many people as possible, regardless of situation, location or background, can make the most of what Buckinghamshire has to offer.
Our initial programme of work is informed by research that clearly tells us not everyone is benefitting from the opportunities here in Buckinghamshire. In the coming months we will start to roll out more activity, including hosting a series of workshops so communities can directly feed into forming action plans for their area.”