PEOPLE can get creative with a range of arty workshops — and receive help with the costs involved.

The Taking Part initiative includes a package of workshops, covering a wide range of activities, from ceramics to circus skills, animation to sculpture and dance to poetry, suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

Led by skilled artists, communities or groups can choose which workshop or activity they want to try their hand at from West Oxfordshire District Council’s website, westoxon.gov.uk/takingpart, or by calling 01993 861080.

Prices for the workshops vary, and groups may be eligible to apply to the council for help with funding.

Partly funded by Oxfordshire Rural Community Council, the district council has introduced Taking Part to increase opportunities for local residents to try new activities and learn new skills.

Hilary Biles, cabinet member for leisure, young people, and health, said: “The council is committed to increasing leisure and cultural opportunities for our residents, and Taking Part is an exciting, inclusive project, which offers real scope for people to try something they may not otherwise have the chance to do. It is also a great opportunity for local artists to get involved with local communities and groups. We’ve already received positive feedback, and we hope that the project will go from strength to strength.”

Carterton Daytime Support, which helps adults with learning disabilities and is based at Carterton Community Centre, is one of the first groups to benefit from Taking Part.

Eight of its members, along with two from Witney Daytime Support, took part in an animation workshop with Clinton Osborne, director of Oxfordshire-based Animation Station. They devised storyboards and created model characters and drawings, before shooting their own short films.

Member John Parratt, of Witney, said: “I’ve really enjoyed the course and working as a team on all the different films.

“It’s been a new experience, and I’ve loved every minute.”

Carterton Daytime Support manager, Selina Crozier, said: “I knew it was going to be good, but I hadn’t realised just how good. I’m so glad that we got in touch with the council to find out more, and I’d thoroughly recommend the Taking Part project if there are groups looking for new experiences and learning new skills.”