The Inquiry

How to tackle inequality, exclusion and the imbalance of power through the following:

Igniting honest conversations about how to share power.
Discovering ways to give more decision-making power about the local area, to those with first-hand experience of poverty and inequality.
Taking time to understand power in order to challenge and change it, for the betterment of everyone in Oxford.
Supporting people impacted by systemic decisions made about them, to meaningfully take the lead in those areas that are important to them.

Learnings from 1-2-1 interviews

It should be encouraged for people to contribute their opinions regardless of their positions or job titles. So that rather than being intimidated by status, everyone can speak their truth about challenges being faced.
Explicitly demonstrate that own lived experiences and personal knowledge hold just as much (if not more) value than the power that official qualifications and titles have typically given people.
The language used should reflect that all voices are welcomed, by being clear and accessible for everyone, in order for all people to feel like they have a place in the conversation.

Use participatory grantmaking to share money, power, community and great ideas.
Giving some money decision-making power to Oxford citizens, by foundations giving away some of their actual assets and parts of their investment, so that the people being served can make decisions on how the money is used to help them.
Educate donors to take a more liberal approach to give donations. Where traditionally it has been ringfenced with much due process, supporting donors to comfortably give larger donations.
Ask questions about grantmaking to identify where it can be changed and improved. I.e. What's wrong with traditional grantmaking? Are there any new approaches we should be aware of and do more? If we were to do some of those new approaches, could this result in sharing parliamentary work?

Consider background elements of foundations and organisations when deciding on whether, or how to work with them whether through donations or other means. I.e. What is the history and origins of their wealth, different makeups of organizations, etc.

It’s not just about the money that's distributed, but also the kind of process and ethos behind how the money is shared. In particular, that process to vote power, as well as the learning and relationships built along the way. This will allow for better funding decisions as they’ll be informed by those facing the challenges that are being addressed. Additionally, it will gain more meaningful insights about local issues from all participants, creating a positive shift in power dynamics, and a greater sense of agency and belonging among residents taking part in the process. Finally, it’ll help to form better local relationships.

Having non-conventional panels of people who’ve experienced the services they’re commissioning, will make room for discussions that may not have taken place, otherwise.
The discussions brought by local people sitting on panels can facilitate meaningful insights and ideas that speak directly to what people really need, largely because of the personal connection and deeper understanding of the challenges at hand. This can also create a rewarding and empowering process for the panel.
It’s additionally important to make sure there are degrees of separation between panel members, so that there is greater diversity, reach and therefore a wider spectrum of perspectives, experiences, fund distribution and projects.

Want to be part of the conversations around Sharing Power? Get in touch.