Owned by Oxford

A group of people stand in the Owned By Oxford Oasis smiling to camera

OBO is a pilot project seeking to bring wealth and power back home for local people and communities in Oxford.

Through a model known as Community Wealth Building, Owned by Oxford is working to build a community-led economy in our city. By partnering with local grass roots organisations and larger, more established institutions, the program is testing and innovating new ideas and models of economic exchange that stop wealth flowing out of our communities and put it back in the hands of local people.

Makespace Oxford is one of five partner organisations behind Owned by Oxford, alongside CAG Oxfordshire, Solidarity Economy Association, Oxford City Council and Aspire. Through our experience in accessing and reanimating meanwhile spaces, we're working alongside Owned by Oxford to provide the spaces that local organisations need to operate, connect and thrive.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING?

Community Wealth Building is people-centred approach to local economic development which redirects wealth back into the local economy, and places control and benefits into the hands of local people.

Simply put, it's all about supporting the positive, socially and environmentally ‘generative’ parts of the economy to grow while reducing extractive, damaging ones. You can find out more in on the Owned by Oxford website.

Inclusive ownership

Developing small enterprises, community organisations and co-operatives.

Local finance

Increase flows of investment within local economies by recirculating existing wealth.

Fair work

Improve local economies by recruiting from lower income areas, pay Living Wage and build progression routes

Progressive spending

Develop local supply chains that support local employment and retain wealth locally.

Land and property

Deepen function and ownership of local assets; allow financial and social gain to be harnessed by citizens.

The Oasis

Most recently, Owned by Oxford - in partnership with Makespace Oxford - have refurbished one of the unused offices in the Community Centre. Dubbed The Oasis.

Portrait of Dianne Regisford, Owned by Oxford resident focus

Where

The Oasis is situated in the now-condemned Blackbird Leys Community Centre.

Why

Envisioned as a base where the Owned By Oxford team can ‘presence place’ in the community. The Oasis is a space to enable interaction, exploration and experimentation.

How

The space is community-led and co curated, brought back to life by local tradespeople.

FIND OUT MORE

Learn more about Owned by Oxford and follow along below.

Visit the Owned by Oxford Website