Atlantis Leisure and Adventure Oban Team Up to Launch 'Out and About' Project
We’re THRILLED to announce a new partnership with our dear pals Atlantis Leisure. We’ve come together to launch an exciting new joint initiative aimed at enhancing community engagement and promoting active lifestyles in Oban. The new ‘Out and About’ Project signifies a significant step forward in both organisations' commitment to fostering well-being and accessibility within the local community. With us both already working closely together, the project represents the culmination of three years of foundational preparatory work leading to the project recently appointing a new project coordinator, Hannah Shaw.
Hannah Shaw, the new Out and About Community Project Coordinator
With Atlantis Leisure's dedication to supporting a diverse range of sporting and non-sporting activities and Adventure Oban's overarching mission to make outdoor experiences more accessible to all, both charities share a common goal of encouraging people to lead active lives. This shared ethos forms the foundation of ‘Out and About’, with a mutual understanding that bringing the community together around activity not only strengthens our town, it also makes us all healthier and happier in the process.
The 'Out and About' project will serve as a catalyst for increasing Atlantis and Adventure Oban's presence within the community, providing a programme of opportunities for individuals to get involved and participate. What will the project actually look like on the ground? – ‘Out and About’ will draw alongside existing clubs, informal and fledgling groups to offer support in growth and development. The project will also continue both Atlantis and Adventure Oban’s reputations for dynamic and engaging events and activities. These will take the form of outdoor adventures and indoor activities throughout the year with the common feature of offering something for everyone and encouraging participation from diverse interests and abilities. The project kicks off with a rejuvenation of the One Million Miles initiative (current mileage: 169,030 miles), capturing our collective community exercise in a shared totaliser, hosted on Adventure Oban’s website at: adventureoban.org/onemillionmiles. One Million Miles offers a framework for ‘Out and About’ to enter into conversation with the local community, together identifying specific needs that the project can assist with.
The Community Project Coordinator role has been specially created for the project. Hannah Shaw steps into post having already been an integral part of the Atlantis Leisure team for the past year, spearheading initiatives such as the Winter Warmer and collaborating with local charities and groups. Having been involved with Adventure Oban since its inception, including organising previous iterations of the successful Big Bike Weekend series, Hannah is inspired by the positive impact both organisations have had on the community. With the full support of Atlantis Leisure and Adventure Oban, she is eager to complement the work of both charities work and find how best the community needs each.
Adventure Oban Trustee Ben Sunderland said:
‘Employing your first full-time worker is an exciting time in the life of any charity, it’s also a little daunting. So, it’s a huge boost for Adventure Oban to be launching Out and About with the support of Atlantis. They’ve supported us from the very beginning, and this is just one of the many ways they get alongside initiatives that help strengthen our community and safeguard its future.’
Atlantis Leisure General Manager Nick Wesley said:
‘Covid feels like a long time ago now but the interruption it caused our community-focussed activity has taken a long time to recover from. The launch of Out and About feels like a very strong return to the kind of direct, in-community engagement that has informed Atlantis’ activity and success throughout our history. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Adventure Oban and look forward to finding collaborative ways to enhance our community together.’
As the project gains momentum, Atlantis Leisure and Adventure Oban invite members of the Oban community to help inform its progress – providing feedback, input and first-hand experience of the needs and challenges facing the community that the project might be able to help. Don’t forget to log your miles with One Million Miles as a start.
For more information about the 'Out and About' project and how to get involved, please visit adventureoban.org and atlantisleisure.co.uk. To chat more about the work of both charities and about Out and About – contact Hannah Shaw on hannah@adventureoban.org.