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Who we are

Who we are

Aspire is a multi-award-winning employment charity and social enterprise.

We empower people facing homelessness, poverty and disadvantage to find employment and housing. In 2020-21, we engaged with over 2,000 people across our projects and programmes throughout Oxfordshire and the wider Thames Valley.

Sadly, the need for our work continues to increase, and we anticipate demand for our housing, employment and homelessness prevention support to increase as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the end of protective measures including the tenancy eviction ban combined with the upcoming surge in inflation and energy costs.

About Aspire

Established in 2001, Aspire has now been tackling the most complex social issues in Oxfordshire for 20 years. We support local people into and towards employment and housing, as the most powerful way to break the complex cycles of homelessness, re-offending and poverty.

Our Enterprise Model

We tackle these complex social issues through our unique enterprise model. Aspire runs social businesses which offer professional services to local businesses, academic institutions and private customers. We work with companies who take their social responsibility seriously; who understand that they don’t have to choose between doing good, and doing good business.

Our enterprises are growing - in 2019 we launched our inclusive recruitment service, known today as Hire2Inspire, working to create meaningful employment opportunities whilst supporting local businesses to meet their recruitment needs through coaching, workshops and in-work support.

Working to change lives

Aspire's businesses don't just provide class leading professional services: they also offer life-changing work experience and employment opportunities to the individuals we support. Alongside this, our Employment and Development Workers provide these individuals with intensive 121 support designed to break down multiple barriers to employment. Together, this is a powerful approach that helps hundreds of highly disadvantaged people achieve their own change.

“Without Aspire's help I would never have been able to get back into work and move forward with my life. Thank you Aspire team!” - Jane

Our journey

We began as a small charity supporting a limited number of homeless people in Oxford city into employment. 20 years on, we now work with over 2,000 local people across ten different support pathways and achieve outstanding social impact throughout Oxfordshire and the wider Thames Valley.

The future

Aspire has achieved over 300% growth since 2012/13. We are proud to work in partnership with 31 organisations across Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley to reach those most in need of our specialist support. Our enterprise businesses now have eight teams working across Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties. We are doing more than ever before to tackle the growing homeless crisis that our community is facing, with new projects and programmes including supported housing in central Oxford, Witney, and expansion of the Housing First model. At a time of uncertainty and a challenging external climate, this growth is testament to the drive and resilience of the Aspire team.

We are working to change lives. Will you join us?

Banner photo credit: David Brugman

Published: 5th March, 2019

Updated: 11th May, 2022

Author: Helen Mariner

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Aspire Oxford, St. Thomas School, Osney Lane, Oxford OX1 1NJ Aspire Oxfordshire Community Enterprise Ltd (registered name) also known as Aspire Oxfordshire is a private not-for-profit company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales under No: 4270053. Registered Charity No: 111 77 26. VAT Registered: 309 4476 89. Registered company address: St Thomas School, Osney Lane, Oxford OX1 1NP. Aspire Enterprise Services is a wholly-owned trading subsidiary, registered in England & Wales under No: 11562943.