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  • Who we are

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. We support over 2,000 people every year across Oxfordshire and the wider Thames Valley. Sadly, the need for our work continues to increase and 2018-19 saw a 46% increase in demand for our services.

About Aspire

Established in 2001, Aspire has been tackling the most complex social issues in Oxfordshire for over 18 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 facilities management services to local councils, businesses, academic institutions and private customers. We work with councils and 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 - during 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 our clients. Alongside this, our Employment and Development Workers provide these clients 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. 18 years on, we now work with over 2,000 local people across ten different client pathways and achieve outstanding social impact throughout Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. 

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 and in 2018 launched new projects focused on both homelessness prevention and housing support.

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: 9th February, 2021

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.