Thriving Communities Strategy

Supporting Oxford’s 2050 Vision

The Oxford 2050 vision shows our plans for the future of the city. Thriving Communities are central to this vision, connecting each theme and playing a primary role in the people and communities and culture and leisure sections.

Our Corporate Strategy

Thriving Communities is one of the four mutually supportive areas of the Council’s Corporate Strategy. The diagram (bottom of page) shows the connections between Thriving Communities, Housing, Environment and the Economy. Together they help create our vision for communities:

“Oxford’s diverse communities should be equipped, supported and enabled to tackle inequality and ensure everyone is able to play a full part in the life of our city.”

Corporate Strategy, 2020-2024

To achieve this vision, we know the importance of working with communities and partners. An example of collaboration between local authorities and the community is the emerging Oxfordshire Food Strategy. This sets out how Oxfordshire’s food system can help achieve priorities for health and wellbeing, climate change and biodiversity loss, and fair income and employment.

Connectivity is a key part of the strategy; projects, objectives and partners often overlap across the council which can be confusing, making it challenging for people to effectively join up their work. The graphic below shows how these strategies connect to achieve the shared outcomes.

“Create shared agendas and ensure everyone understands how they fit into the bigger picture.”

City Conversations participant, 2022

Network of strategies and approaches

• Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
• Health and Wellbeing (Oxfordshire County Council)
• Children and Young People’s Strategies
• Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategies
• Green Spaces 
• Playing
• Pitch
• Strategy 
• Leisure Futures 
• Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership
• Central Oxfordshire Travel Plan
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Financial Inclusion
• Oxfordshire Food Strategy
• Safeguarding
• Asset-based Community Development
• Oxford Local Plan 2040
• City Centre Action Plan
• Economic Strategy
• Medium Term Financial Plan
• Business Intelligence
• Unit 
• Effective Governance 
• Asset Management 
• Oxford City Council Strategy

Outcomes

• Improved access to services
• Strengthened communities
• Reduced inequalities
• Improved life chances