Co-op Futures has joined a group of organisations to help deliver a project to boost the social economy in Oxford.
The six-month project, backed by a £35,000 grant from Oxford City Council through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, sees the co-op development agency team up with local organisations Aspire Oxfordshire , Community Action Groups (CAG) Oxfordshire, and OSEP CIC.
Co-op Futures says the project “will be guided by a set of comprehensive aims and objectives designed to bolster Oxford’s social economy and foster positive impacts on the local economy, society, and environment”.
Key goals of the project include support for grass-roots community businesses and community entrepreneurs.
A peer-led support group will be developed for the social trading sector and social economy, creating “a supportive community where knowledge and experiences can be shared, fostering growth and sustainability”.
The project will also explore the development of a local funding model to ensure sustainability and resilience within the social economy.
It is hoped the collaboration will harness the “collective impact of enterprising charities, social enterprises, and purposeful businesses in Oxfordshire”. Other partners, such as Owned by Oxford, will also be involved, “signposting to the wealth of mainstream and local support services and resources”.
Alice Hemming, co-op development worker at Co-op Futures, said: “To grow a more inclusive social economy, we know that tailored business development support for start-up community businesses and social enterprises is vital. Co-operative Futures is pleased to be working in partnership on this project to provide this kind of support. We are planning to train and work alongside local social entrepreneurs and community members, so that they can start new businesses and take control of community assets.”
Co-op Futures will be delivering: tailored training courses and skills share sessions on co-operative business development for ambassadors from black/global majority-led community anchors from the Owned by Oxford partnership.
It will also offer packages of intensive co-operative development support for community businesses.
Oxford Council leader Susan Brown said: “We are committed to making the local economy fairer for everyone. This initiative directly supports community businesses and entrepreneurs. In addition, the support for community focused start-ups comes from peers, rather than top-down.”
