WEEK 4 Sharing Task: 3FORALL - Research & How does it work?
- Wongani
- Oct 16, 2018
- 4 min read
This week I began to investigate the city of Oxford, its people, population and its culture. This was done to specifically tackle the issue of 'Why aren't things kicking off (with regards to the sharing economy) in this city as well as other cities?'
Oxford is Social
Oxford is a vibrant and social city, where lots of people enjoy attending events. The events draw people into the city and around the communities. Events that exist are things such as the IF Festival, Oxford Human Rights Festival, Oxford's Foodies Festival, Oxford Open Doors, many public (and free) exhibitions and art spaces, various music events and venues, pubs etc. I believe that Oxford is a social city and likes to take advantage of this through hosting public events across the city.
Oxford also has a strong sense of developing its own economy and businesses. Uber was banned in Oxford when all of the taxi companies in the area, as well as locals rallied against it in a bid to have control over how taxis are regulated in the city. The city has countered this by developing its own Uber-like bus system, PickMeUp, which runs as a form of on-demand bus service. It is due to run for at least one year, as an experiment to see if it can be feasibly run in the city. It is part of Oxford's own, Oxford Bus Company. The locals to Oxford have always had a concern on the expansion of the Westgate shopping centre, and this has been commentated on by others as well. People like the idea of keeping Oxford authentic and local, they like the cobbled streets and the small hidden cafes, pubs and shops. They do not want the pollution of other companies overtaking the city.
Oxford is Ever-Changing
At the same time, Oxford's community is quite transient. Oxford is the city in the UK with the highest percentage of people living in private rented property. 48.5% of people in Oxford live in homes they own, whilst 51.5% rent. People are moving in and out of the city contiuously, and this is especially due to the fact that it is a university city. It has a large student population and the highest concentration of 18-29 year olds in the country, with a third of its population belonging to that age category. One of the problems is that the large student population does not usually get many opportunities to naturally connect with the local population. There is a tension between the two, the townies and the gowns. It is a tale of two cities, one which is very different when the student population don't occupy its streets and many student homes. The contrast can be felt in many places across the city. (For more read a tale of Two Cities below). Central areas, especially Cowley and east Oxford, have a disconnect. Neighbourhoods are not necessarily as strongly connected when mixed in with the student population. But in areas with less students, (Barton for example), there seems to be more evidence of community activities and neighbours knowing one another.
Oxford wants Community
Oxford is a diverse city. Do the different sides interact? Compact yet not connected. Is it possible to counter this? Or encourage community in the areas? To Celebrate diversity. Celebrate youth. Celebrate culture and celebrate locality.
The cost of living is also very high in Oxford. Trust is an issue when property is at such a high cost and you don't know people. The transient community utilises Facebook, through Facebook there are initiatives like the Oxford community group, Oxgrad housing etc. Social media is active and the social connection is there, as people are moving to a new city and it can be daunting not knowing anyone or having any connections. However, these platforms tend not necessarily to be used to connect for striking friendships and relationships, but are merely places of exchanging information, and completing transactions for goods or offering property to rent.
How Does 3ForAll fit into all of this?
Through events and meeting a demand of sharing, social occasions, we can build an idea. Sharing through events.
I believe that through joining together with others to share in goods, we can build more locality, and more of a community aspect. When I consider car boot sales, garage sales etc. I see an element of diversity, a range of people bringing things that others may find useful. Conversations and stories behind objects. Each object has a story and a history, and we need to celebrate that. I'm proud of the fact that my home has several objects that have come from other people. That many things have a story that I can retell. I also recognise that the high cost of living in Oxford means that people want to earn extra cash when they can. 3ForAll allows for hosts to sell their goods in their homes in exchange for money or social interactions. Host an event, invite people and share. They can bring the food and drinks, you provide the goods. The aim of 3ForAll primarily is the social aspect, the sharing is secondary.
Some extra facts and sources:
Oxford Population Statistics - https://www.oxford.gov.uk/info/20131/population/459/oxfords_population
Love Thy Neighbourhood Project - https://medium.com/@bimblehq/love-thy-neighbourhood-project-by-bimble-246a05b35a8e
Contrast of Oxford City with / without students: http://cherwell.org/2017/01/16/oxford-a-tale-of-two-cities-sitting-in-the-same-space/amp/
Uber banned in Oxford - https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2016/07/29/uber-loses-bid-licence-operate-oxford/
- "The Office for National Statistics has estimated that more people moved into Oxford than out of Oxford in 2016. Despite more people leaving Oxford for other areas within the UK than those moving into Oxford, more overseas movers settled in Oxford than Oxonians who moved overseas. It is the addition of the overseas movers into Oxford that led to the growth of Oxford’s population."
- Due to the large student population, one-third of Oxford’s population is aged 18 to 29, the highest proportion in England.
- 48.5% Oxford live in homes they own, 51.5% rent. Highest percentage of people in private rented.
- Oxford is home to one of the most diverse and international populations in England.
Three in 10 residents were born outside of the United Kingdom. It has the third highest ethnic minority population in South-East England. More than half of babies born in Oxford in the last year were to mothers who were not born in the UK. Net international migration has been the main driver of Oxford’s population growth as well as its increasingly diverse make-up.
Commentaires