The United Reformed Church (URC) Wessex Synod has welcomed the formal legal notice issued late last month.

Raise the Colours Oxfordshire has been placing England and UK flags all around the county in the name of patriotism.

But the movement has attracted a lot of criticism, with allegations of intimidation and threatening behaviour from some members towards people and council staff.

Oxfordshire County Council recently said they had spent £15,000 taking the flags down (Image: Raise the Colours Oxford)

The council said the installations were not an act of patriotism but “an act of intimidation and division that is having a real and damaging impact on our communities”.

Revd Dr Michael Hopkins, moderator of the URC Wessex Synod expressed praise for the council’s action and “commitment to social cohesion” and said: “Churches are called to be people of hope, not fear.

“We welcome any step that helps ensure our streets and public spaces are places of safety, dignity, and neighbourliness for all.

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“As A Million Acts of Hope approaches, we want to affirm all that brings communities together, and to bear witness to the God who calls us away from division into compassion, justice, and a shared common life.”

The URC is joining faith groups and other organisations in supporting the national “A Million Acts of Hope” week of action, taking place in May.

The initiative is designed to show that “there is more that connects us than divides us”, the church said.

Liz Leffman (Image: Oxfordshire County Council)

As reported, Oxfordshire County Council leader Liz Leffman said: “We are proud of our diverse communities in Oxfordshire and of being the first county council to be awarded local authority of sanctuary status.

“We proudly fly the Union Jack and St George’s flags, which are visible symbols of democracy and unity.

“However, the widespread installation of flags by Raise the Colours is not a sign of patriotism. It is an act of intimidation and division that is having a real and damaging impact on our communities.

“Our residents report feeling distressed, unwelcome and unsafe in their own neighbourhoods.

“Our teams removing the flags, together with residents who have challenged the individuals installing them, have been subject to abuse and threatening behaviour. This is totally unacceptable.”

Security has also been deployed by the council when staff are taking down flags put up in the streets following incidents of bad behaviour.

Police launched a criminal investigation into a “confrontational” incident while England flags were being put up along Oxford’s Abingdon Road in March.

“Where criminal offences are identified, we will take appropriate and proportionate action in respect of the offenders,” Thames Valley Police said.

GreenSquareAccord (GSA), a social landlord serving Oxfordshire, supported 29 community projects last year through its Community Impact Fund, awarding more than £50,000 in grants.

The fund supports customer groups, charities, and voluntary and community organisations working in GSA communities.

Sian Every, community investment and social value lead at GSA, said: “It is fantastic to see our Community Impact Fund continue to grow, supporting a diverse range of community organisations and awarding more grants each year.

“Thanks to increased donations from some of our suppliers, as part of their social value commitments, we were able to increase the maximum grant available from £1,000 to £2,000 per project.

“We are grateful to the GSA Customer Panel for judging the applications and to our supply chain partners for their contributions to the funding pot.

“Their support strengthens the impact we can make together.”

During the 2025–26 financial year, GSA awarded £51,467 through the fund—more than double the £20,542 distributed the previous year.

Projects supported include a £2,000 grant to Oxford Hospitals Charity for the refurbishment of the Jane Ashley Garden, £978 to Rose Hill Junior Youth Club, and £1,000 for a community kitchen supporting women on low incomes.

The fund prioritises projects that help customers develop financial and employment skills, improve digital inclusion, and promote health and wellbeing.

Other supported initiatives include strength and balance classes for older people in Walsall, coached netball sessions for women in Melksham, and assisted reading programmes in Oxfordshire.

GSA owns and manages more than 3,800 social homes across Oxfordshire.

The post-doctoral Academic Clinical Lectureship is designed to support nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, healthcare scientists, pharmacy staff, and psychologists (NMAHPPs) in Oxford who want to pursue careers in academic clinical research.

Professor Helen Walthall, director of nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals research and innovation at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH), said: “NMAHPPS play a vital and growing role in delivering high-quality, evidence-based healthcare.

“But unlike medical doctors, they don’t have a recognised clinical academic pathway, which can limit their ability to pursue a clinical-academic research career.”

The new roles, based within the Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School (OUCAGS), offer a two-year programme split equally between research and clinical practice.

Three posts are funded by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (Oxford BRC), and a fourth by the NIHR Oxford Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU).

Ms Walthall said the scheme addresses a key gap in research leadership training.

She added: “Developing clinical academic careers for our NMAHPPS workforce is a key strategic aim for OUH and the Oxford BRC.

“They fill a gap in research leadership training for NMAHPPS, and we hope that in future this will be seen as an important step towards developing a steady stream NMAHPPS who are confident, independent and successful principal investigators leading their own research groups.”

The four appointed NMAHPPs are all current staff at Oxford University Hospitals.