OXFORD City Council will pump thousands of pounds into charities and groups that bring people together, in a bid to tackle hate crime in the aftermath of Brexit.

The plan is all part of the council's new campaign, #WeAreOxford.

The idea of the campaign is that residents will be bought together by things they have in common, like 'using the number 5 bus and their love of Oxford United' – rather than being divided by their opinions on Brexit.

Britain is set to leave the European Union on Friday, three years after the EU referendum.

The council said, in its launch for the campaign, that Brexit has ‘already divided communities across the country’.

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Reports of hate crime in Oxford have also risen by 29 per cent since 2016.

To slash the amount of hate crime and to bring people together, the council has set aside £35,000 that will be put into a grant specifically for charities and organisations putting on inclusive community events.

Council leader Susan Brown said: “Oxford means many different things to different people – education, history, Minis, Harry Potter – but to those of us who live here it means home.

“It means the number 5 bus, our football team, friends and family, the kids’ school. These are the things that make us feel part of the place, feel safe and welcome.

“With this campaign we want to celebrate the things we have in common, whatever our background.

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“Oxford is a hugely diverse city, not just in language and culture but privileges and opportunities, and while that brings many different benefits it can also make it harder to recognise our common values.

“We’ll be funding activities that bring people together to share experiences and build a future we all want to be part of in Oxford.”

As part of the campaign the council will also put on its own community events.

It will run an online photography competition in February and people are encouraged to take photos of places and activities that make them feel proud to live in Oxford.

The council will also celebrate ‘Community Heroes’ – people who put extra effort into welcome people and build a community.

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Existing youth groups and activities at the Museum of Oxford at the town hall will be involved in the campaign as well.

But Ms Brown added: “The council doesn’t build communities – people do.

“We want this campaign to be a way for people to celebrate what makes their lives in Oxford good, we’re kick-starting the conversation and providing some funding but we can’t do this without the people of Oxford.

"We want people to get involved in the conversation about what makes them feel proud to be part of Oxford.

“There’s amazing work being done all the time by amazing people.

"These people and places are part of what makes Oxford so special for those who live here, that make us all feel We Are Oxford.”