Collaborative Working

Collaborative working and shared strategic vision key to the successful creation of Dorset 'Picnic in the Park' events

Active Dorset worked alongside 5 organisations; LiveWell Dorset, Natural Choices, Stepping into Nature, Dorchester Town Council and Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group to create 'Picnic in the Park', a health and wellbeing event for Dorset residents. All organisations involved credit the partnership working approach to the project's success; with the event being created due to shared strategic aims and objectives.

Emma Scott, Community Development Officer at Dorchester Town Council, who worked alongside the group of organisations to create the first Picnic in the Park event, commented; "The Health and Wellbeing Picnic in the Park is a great project that really exemplifies the best of collaborative working. The idea for the event itself was born out of a joint conversation with several organisations about how to achieve their strategic outcomes, and a statement of aims was created to ensure that everyone involved was clear about the purpose of the event."

By working in partnership, the group of organisations shared their knowledge and expertise to create an event that would have lasting impact. The project has grown, and the county has now hosted 7 successful Picnic in the Park events since the Dorchester launch in September 2018.

Scott also stated that; "Good communication has been key to the success of this initiative, underpinned by confidence in the aims and delivery of the event itself. Plus, there is a lot of trust amongst the planning group and a refreshing lack of competition about who takes credit for its success."

For further details on the formation of the Picnic in the Park events and the need for strategic partnership working, please see our case study here;