I have worked alongside Aspire for the previous 5 years and have witnessed first hand the life changing work they provide to the most vulnerable people in Oxfordshire, and it is truly amazing.

Rough sleeping is up 27% nationally. In Oxford, the increase is almost double: rough sleeping rose 50% between November 2022 and 2023. We've seen a 115% rise in households in temporary accommodation. People in some of the areas Aspire works in have a life expectancy 12 years lower than that of their peers.

In these extreme circumstances, Aspire's work is helping people to find housing, work, and hope. Every year we support over 1,700 people. Last year we supported 527 people into housing, sustained 342 tenancies, and created 96 new tenancies. Our coaching projects, which help people take steps towards employment, training, and education, support 1506 people a year.

These projects don't just save lives; they also change them. Aspire's work helps people to get off the streets and stay off the streets. I've seen firsthand the positive impact these programmes have, for some of the most marginalised members of our community.

I am doing this alongside Luke Coppuck and Chris Poole from Aspire who I have worked with to create the Fairer Access to Work Program. I have personally witnessed many clients come through this program that had previously experienced barriers to employment and gained valuable work experience within the Midcounties Co-operative Aaron Gee