During the Jubilee week, local charity Oxford Hub was also celebrating a significant milestone of its own - its 15th birthday.
To mark 15 years since Oxford Hub was founded by a group of students who wanted to make a difference, the charity held an exhibition showcasing the contribution that student volunteers make to the Oxford community.
The exhibition at Oxford University Student Union told Oxford Hub’s story and demonstrates the contribution that student volunteers have made to building a better Oxford, through stories, artwork, creative writing and photos.
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These included highlights from the Oxford Living Wage campaign in Oxford Hub’s early days through to Oxford Together during the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was curated by students with support from local artists, and visitors to the exhibition had the opportunity to contribute to a zine.
The launch of the exhibition was attended by Oxford students and residents including the Lord Mayor of Oxford, James Fry.
Charlotte Atkins, who coordinated the exhibition, said: “Students have made an incredible contribution to Oxford’s communities.
“We hope this exhibition will inspire future generations of students to get involved too!”
Oxford Hub was founded in 2007 by a group of students at Oxford University who felt the need for better coordination between student charitable groups.
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The vision was of a network that would connect students working across different causes so they could share insight, knowledge, and experience, thereby making all groups more effective.
The success of Oxford Hub led to the creation of Student Hubs, with other hubs being founded at universities across the South of England, and a number of national campaigns to raise awareness of student volunteering, and build on the long history of students making a contribution to society.
In 2011 the team had the opportunity to take on a building in Turl Street, to create a home for social action in the heart of the city.
It also set up the Turl Street Kitchen, a sister social enterprise restaurant to showcase a more sustainable approach to hospitality.
Turl Street Kitchen, which operated for several years but has now closed, provided a nurturing home for the growing network of people involved in Oxford Hub.
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During the pandemic, under the banner of ‘Oxford Together’ members of the Hub helped 5,000 people to come forward to support their neighbours as street champions, offering practical support and building friendships in communities. Students hope the exhibition can now be displayed at other venues. For further information about Oxford Hub visit the website oxfordhub.org.
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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.
Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk
Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF
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