Oxfordshire Community Wealth Building

In January and February 2025 Oxfordshire County Council will be hosting a series of thematically focused and co-produced events centred on community wealth building in Oxfordshire. The events will each feature expert-led discussions and inspirational case studies followed by conversations about changes we want to make together to support community wealth building in the county.  

The events are designed for public sector officers and community wealth builders on the ground in Oxfordshire. These gatherings aim to foster dialogue and collaboration, equipping attendees with the tools and knowledge to better support community-focused initiatives. Findings and recommendations will feed into developing County Council’s approach to community wealth building.  

Community wealth building is a powerful mechanism for strengthening communities, tackling economic and health inequalities and building a more just and sustainable Oxfordshire. This project complements other Oxfordshire County Council programmes such as the Marmot Place initiative and Oxfordshire Way.
‍
Community wealth building is not new to Oxfordshire, and these events have been co-produced with local experts by experience who have been involved in community wealth building for over a decade. The Big Conversations will seek to build connections, foster honest and constructive discussion, and identify some calls to action.

The members of the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership have been invited to the Big Conversations, and the outputs will call on the entire system of partners in Oxfordshire to better support local economic development that benefits people, place and the environment.

This project was developed in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council.

COMMUNITY WEALTH BUILDING - case studies

Intro from Annie and Makena

Annie and Makena are co-founders of Flo’s the Place in the Park, a community enterprise hub that gave new life to a decommissioned children’s centre in East Oxford. They have worked on a freelance basis for this project seeking to bring to light the impressive work of the community wealth building sector in Oxfordshire. Annie has had a long career in local authority, education and community work sectors. Makena is cofounder of several charities/community groups and is currently undertaking a Churchill fellowship project on community hubs.

For this project we’ve had the privilege of speaking with incredible people driving community wealth building across Oxfordshire. From grassroots activists igniting change to local businesses harnessing their energy and resources for good, their work is nothing short of inspiring. This is just a glimpse of the hundreds of groups making a difference in our county. It builds and adds to other reports and case studies which have also added to the picture of what good and transformational work is happening in the county.

We used the public narrative framework to structure each story, incorporating:
• The Story of Me: The founding energy and leadership behind the initiative.
• The Story of Us: The people and organisations working together to create change.
• The Story of Now: The challenges currently faced and the ideas or calls to action that could help this work grow.
‍
What stood out across all of these stories was how much these changemakers have accomplished—often against the odds. Instead of being supported, they’re too often drained by the wider systems that often extract their energy and resources that could be multiplied for the good of communities.  

The challenges our communities face are immense, and the ideas and calls to action in these stories are vital. Collective action is urgently required—from public sector, anchor institutions, businesses, communities, and individuals.  

Each case study concludes with powerful calls for collective action. These steps, often bold in their ability to reimagine how things can be done, show the transformative potential of collaboration between community, public, and business sectors. Together, they can pave the way for a more equitable county, improving life for communities and the environment.
‍
These case studies are in the voice of the people who gave them. They seek to honestly present that success as well as the challenges of trying to build a more just, sustainable economy and community. We encourage conversation—so if you want to get in touch and talk more to any of the groups, please do.