A new charter has been signed by Oxford City Council as it looks to continue its commitment to ensuring that the local economy is fairer for everybody.
The Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership’s Charter was launched earlier this year, with the council confirming its intention to sign it last week. It will be aiming to allow employers to show their commitment to making the area a more inclusive place to live and work, with 13 pledges being made by the council.
Some of the pledges are:
- Continuing to buy goods and services from local organisations, including small and medium-sized enterprises, where possible.
- Supporting employees to volunteer on local community projects.
- Improving the diversity of the workforce, through inclusive recruitment practices.
- Enduring that community centres are accessible and inclusive.
More than a hundred local organisations form the coalition that is the Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership, with these including businesses, further education, community groups and local government. The coalition works to share knowledge and resources to ensure that all residents can get the benefit of a more equal community.
Only three regions contribute a surplus to the UK economy, with Oxfordshire being one such region, however the work to ensure that the local economy is fairer is important because the wealth and opportunities in the county are not distributed evenly. This is mainly due to the global position and perceived affluence of the region, despite ten of Oxford’s 83 neighbourhood areas being among the 20% most deprived in the England, according to the government’s Indices of Deprivation Report 2019.
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council, said:
“We are fortunate to have a strong economy in our city that is growing. But we need to ensure that it works for everyone who lives in Oxford.
“We already take many actions to share the wealth of our city with those who have the least. We created and pay the Oxford Living Wage and encourage others to do so. We buy from local business, provide apprenticeships for young people, and are building affordable business space.
“Signing up these 13 pledges further underscores our commitment to this work, and we would encourage other businesses and organisations to follow suit and sign up to their own pledges to help make Oxford a fairer city.”
Photo credit: iStock
