Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) works to improve the lives of Oxfordshire’s most disadvantaged people by unlocking the power of community. We tackle our county’s most pressing social problems: homelessness, educational inequality, loneliness and isolation.
We want people in Oxfordshire to have better lives. For Oxfordshire to be a place where:
- everyone has a place to call home;
- every child has the opportunity to aspire and to thrive;
- community-based organisations work together to foster a greater sense of belonging.
A kinder place, where people feel more connected to those around them.
We foster trusted relationships to drive real change and improve the lives of Oxfordshire’s most disadvantaged. We strengthen community by leveraging and unlocking the power of many.
OCF recognises that statutory funding for community and charitable activity will not return to the levels seen in past decades. Our grantfunding needs to be one of several tools that will drive positive social change – alongside an ambitious collaborative effort with those in our communities who share our vision.
Our future strategy focuses on enabling the whole community – charities, businesses, the public sector, as well as individuals, to step up and take responsibility. We believe OCF can add most value by joining up the dots – optimising resources and creating greater impact by developing cross-sector partnerships that will deliver long-term preventative solutions to the social challenges we face. These are OCF’s strategic programmes.
For each of our key strategic programmes, we will carry out significant consultation, research and relationship-building, and our plan is to develop a suite of priority projects that we believe will deliver a long-term difference to those we are seeking to help.
Homelessness – Everyone deserves a place to call home.
OCF is a founding member of Oxford Homeless Movement, which is a city-wide partnership aimed at reducing rough sleeping in Oxford. This includes homeless charities, housing providers, Oxford City Council, health providers, funding bodies, community-based organisations and businesses.
Educational inequality – Everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive.
OCF is leading the Growing Minds project, an innovative and ground-breaking initiative to improve school readiness in disadvantaged communities. The project uniquely combines tested interventions to multiply impact.
Loneliness and isolation – Everyone deserves a sense of belonging.
OCF is working with partners to deliver Age Friendly Banbury, which aims to make Banbury a great place to grow older. Local people are encouraged to influence the things that matter to them, such as improvements to the built environment or greater access to social and health activities.
As we develop our learning, and build evidence, we can expand and grow our programmes into new areas.
If, like us, you want to see an end to homelessness, educational inequality and loneliness and isolation, we would love to hear from you. Our unique approach brings together partners from across the charitable, public and private sectors, as well as harnessing the contribution of philanthropy to make a genuine and lasting difference.
We are building our core capability so that we can take the lead in driving these strategic programmes forward. Together, with your support we can unlock the power of community.
