The Ripple Effect of Employing Female Refugees in Oxford

When I set up Christina's Cleaners, the aim was straightforward: offer reliable domestic cleaning services and do a good job cleaning people's homes in Oxford. But I also wanted to give women like me—refugees looking for a foothold—a real job. Not charity. Work. That choice has had effects I didn't fully expect.

Employment does more than pay the bills. It gives you a place to be, something to do, and a way to prove yourself. For someone who's lost a lot, that matters. Every client who's happy, every house we leave in good shape, is a small step towards those women rebuilding their lives.

The effect isn't only on the individual. When our team members earn, they spend—locally. Shops, schools, GPs. The money goes into Oxford. And because domestic cleaning puts you in people's homes, clients get to know the person behind the service. They hear a bit of their story. That changes how people think about refugees: not as a problem to help but as neighbours and colleagues.

There's a narrative shift too. Instead of "refugees need support" it becomes "these are the people who clean my home and do it well." Kids see their mums or relatives working and respected. The women themselves get a sense of belonging. Our clients often tell us they value knowing who's coming and that we treat our team properly.

So employing female refugees in Oxford isn't just a nice thing to do. It feeds into the local economy, it changes perceptions, and it gives the team a stake in the community. We're small, but the impact is real.