Thriving together: shaping the future of the places we call home

How you can get involved

You'll be able to take part online and in person - sharing ideas, connecting with others, and developing solutions to the challenges we face. Your input will help shape our proposals on devolution, which we'll submit to the government in September. This isn't just about informing devolution, it will also guide how we support our communities and work with partners and funders to take forward solutions to the ideas developed.

We're developing digital and in-person tools to support these conversations - tools that will also be used for other important work, like shaping Worthing's seafront, planning Adur's future, and strengthening engagement in our neighbourhoods. We'll support groups using creative methods to involve people to make sure our participation is inclusive.

Supporting stronger communities

Beyond devolution, this approach to engagement will help people and partners connect, collaborate, and bring ideas to life. We're investing in resources - including digital tools and training - to support communities in tackling shared challenges and finding solutions together into the future.

By building this together, we're staying true to our core principles:

• Participative: Bringing people together to shape the future in creative ways.
• Adaptive: Trying new ways to make participation easier, creative and more accessible.
• Resilient: Creating a lasting legacy as we move towards a new form of local government.

We believe the best ideas come from working together. This programme is about bringing people into the conversation - whether online or in person - so that everyone has a voice in shaping the future of Adur and Worthing. The support we are building will leave a lasting legacy, helping communities and organisations collaborate more effectively for years to come.

Cllr Jeremy Gardner, leader of Adur District Council, said:

"Our communities are at the heart of everything we do, and this is a real opportunity for local people, businesses, and organisations to shape the future of our district. By working together, we can create a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable place that reflects the unique strengths of our area. Devolution must be rooted in what matters most to our residents, and we are committed to ensuring their voices are heard and acted upon."

Cllr Sophie Cox, leader of Worthing Borough Council, said:

"This is an exciting moment for Worthing. We want a future that works for everyone, where people feel connected to their communities and have a say in shaping them. Whether it's developing our seafront, strengthening our local economy, or creating opportunities for all, we are committed to an approach that puts people first. We encourage everyone to take part and help shape the place we all call home. It's also important that we have a variety of different ways that people can engage and contribute and I look forward to seeing the next steps very soon."

Next steps

In March 2025 we held two in-person sessions at The Shoreham Centre with community groups and businesses to share initial thinking and test approaches to engagement.

The presentation we shared and an overview of the insights that we will be using to inform the detailed devolution plan we need to submit by the end of September are available below:

• Community leaders event - March 2025 (599KB)
• Community leaders event - record of session (887KB)

We're making it easy for everyone to get involved

Watch this space as we launch a programme of participation for you to get involved in and have your say!

Upcoming events:

Thriving Together pop-up week at Colonnade House
8th to 11th May 2025 | 10am to 5pm every day

Come and shape the future of Worthing - together.

Join us for four days of free, creative and friendly activities at Colonnade House.

Whether you're a lifelong local or new to the area, join us to create a shared exhibition which captures what we love about Worthing and what we'd like to change in the future.

The pop-up events will form part of our Thriving Together programme of participation - with the information gathered used to help shape our proposals for local government reorganisation.

No need to book - just drop in. Everyone's welcome. Come in, bring your friends, neighbours and colleagues. Dropping in after a school run? Bring your children.

Thursday 8th May: Sharing Worthing's hidden gems and our dreams for the future

• 10am to 1pm: Worthing's hidden gems
  Join us to create a map of Worthing's hidden gems using creative methods. Where is your happy place? Where do you go for love and joy?
• 12:30pm to 1:30pm: Listening session with the leader of Worthing Borough Council
  Share visions for the future of Worthing with Cllr Sophie Cox, Leader of Worthing Borough Council and discuss together what we love about the town and what future we want for our local area.
• 2pm to 5pm: Postcards from the past, postcards from the future
  Draw, collage or write your own postcards from the past and to the future. Join us to create a community timeline to help us understand what in Worthing we need to protect and what we'd like to see in the future?

Friday 9th May: What does living well in Worthing look like now and in the future?

• 10am to midday: Meet the Thriving Together team
  Find out more about the government's plans to reorganise local government and how we are inviting local people to get involved in shaping the future of our places.
• 2pm to 5pm: What could Worthing look like?
  Get stuck in with creating a giant community collage. Use art and ideas to show what you'd love to see in Worthing's future.

Saturday 10th May: Let's paint Worthing's future together

• 10am to 4pm Discovery day with Figment Arts:
  Help create a big community painting inspired by Worthing. Everyone's welcome - no art skills needed!

Sunday 11th May: Let's celebrate Worthing!

Come along and see our 'harvest' of this week's activities in a celebration of Worthing past, present and future.

• 10am to 3pm: What time is it in Worthing?
  Drop in and get creative! Design a clock that shows what matters most to you about Worthing now and into the future. A fun, hands-on activity for all ages.
• 1pm to 5pm: Paint that Pebble:
  Add your message or design to a community artwork made from painted pebbles. It's a creative way to share what matters to you about Worthing's green and blue spaces.

Events are free and are open to all. No need to book - just turn up and take part.

Your voice matters. Your ideas can help shape the future of Worthing through Thriving Together.

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