The Westgate Fund is an opportunity for the Oxford business community to create a city that is about more than shopping. The fund brings together companies that want to make Oxford an inclusive, healthy and happy place where everyone thrives and no-one is left behind.
Grant Thornton’s 2018 Vibrant Economy Index shows that Oxford already ranks in the top 20 areas nationally in terms of dynamism and entrepreneurialism, and is the number one ranking place in terms of trust, belonging and cultural life. However, Oxford falls down when it comes to measures of equality and social inclusion, reflecting the levels of child poverty, a lack of affordable housing, and joblessness amongst disadvantaged people in the city. The PDF download below gives a full report of the social problems affecting the city of Oxford.
The Westgate Fund provides a charitable vehicle for businesses to give something back – in particular via financial support for local charities, as well as places for interesting and diverse things to happen, or time and talent shared with the community. The companies that support the Westgate Fund are based in the Westgate shopping centre and across the wider city, and are demonstrating that they are good neighbours through their philanthropic support.
Grants are made from the Westgate Fund via OCF’s Delivering Impact grant programme. Note that charities cannot apply directly to the Westgate Fund.
Some of the charities supported by the fund include:
- My Life My Choice – a grant of £5,000 is helping a group of 15 young people with learning disabilities campaign for more paid work for people affected by special educational needs and autism. A project worker and film production team will support the young people to create their own lobbying project.
- Youth Challenge Oxfordshire – the funding has contributed to YoCO’s volunteering and fundraising programme for young people from vulnerable and chaotic family backgrounds. Typically at risk of school drop-out and anti-social behaviour, the young people tend to have low aspirations until they take part in a volunteering project helping destitute families in Kenya.
- Oxford Hub – funding is helping this volunteering centre to pilot targeted outreach to male Oxford University students, with the aim of increasing the number of male volunteers working in local primary schools, carrying out tutoring for children from deprived backgrounds.
For these organisations, the Westgate Fund was able to provide match funding for a grant from the Big Lottery/Home Office #iwill fund, which promotes social action amongst young people, such as volunteering, campaigning or fundraising. The Westgate Fund will award grants to organisations that are tackling the issues identified in the Oxford City research summary paper below.
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