True to our name, our work really is Oxfordshire-wide! Explore the map of our work here: www.google.com/maps/d/viewe... Although we have rural roots as a former Rural Communities Council, our work now covers both urban and rural areas, recognising commonalities between these communities.

Last Tuesday was International Youth Day! We are keen to work with young people more in our organisation – but so is everyone else it seems. So why do we think this is important? Read our blog! communityfirstoxon.org/news-blog/in...

A great comic about the Social Model of Disability - worth a read! Fun and informative. gmcdp.com/accessibles-... This is part of a series called 'The Accessibles' written by the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People’s (GMCDP’s) Young Disabled People Taking Action

A new Community Right to Buy was recently announced in Parliament as part of the English Devolution Bill - making it easier for local groups to take ownership of valued community assets. Read the full response from our CEO James Alcock: https://plunkett.co.uk/community-right-to-buy-encouraging/

Did you know that the need for affordable housing is 50% higher in rural areas than urban areas? This #ruralhousingweek we explored affordable rural housing in Oxfordshire, and the work our Rural Housing Enablers are doing to meet local needs: communityfirstoxon.org/news-blog/ru...

Asylum Welcome is hosting a great range of events for refugee week, including Oxford Sanctuary Fair, football matches, an open house, a solidarity walk… Take a look! www.asylum-welcome.org/oxfordrefuge...

#Pridemonth marks the Stonewall Riots of June 27th 1969. The LGBTQ+ community have a history of protest for social justice, but also of community organising - something we can look up to and learn from as a community development charity. Read more here: communityfirstoxon.org/news-blog/lg...

This #VolunteersWeek2025, we’re giving a special shout out to Hall Trustees & Parish Councillors. These committed, proactive, & generous individuals keep community infrastructure thriving, supporting the spaces and activities which mean so much to local people: communityfirstoxon.org/blogs-news/

📢 We're hiring a Community Development Worker 📢 Join our team! You'll support community groups & events at Heyford Park. We're looking for someone who enjoys working with all sorts of people, takes initiative, and has great communication skills Details here: communityfirstoxon.org/news-blog/we...

🌟 We’re excited to launch our new website and logo this week, designed to make our services more accessible to people across Oxfordshire 🌟 communityfirstoxon.org - take a look!

Working together, local housing can be different…. come along and find out more! Community First Oxfordshire is hosting two events around housing: 📍 20th May, 7.30pm, Didcot Civic Hall, OX11 7JN 📍 10th June 2025, 7.30pm, Chesterton Village Hall, OX26 1UN 🎟 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/together-w...

'Build Community and Make It Enjoyable' - that's the theme for the next Let's Talk Volunteering. Join us & OCVA for our free session on Wed 21st May about: - Asset Based Community Development - Making volunteering enjoyable See you there! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-talk-...

What is a “do with” approach? Who decides what's best for a community? Should it be residents? Or perhaps ‘higher authorities’? Or is there a way where both have equal value?  Read about this & other interesting updates, news, and events in this month’s newsletter! eocampaign1.com/web-version?...

Calling Oxfordshire commuters and residents! Researchers want to understand the impact of zero emission buses in the wider community. They're offering a £40 gift voucher for 1.5 hours of your time in a focus group. Take a look at the poster for more info.

What is affordable housing and why is it needed? Last year, we shared this video as part of the Rural Thames Valley Partnership. It’s so good we thought we’d share it again! youtu.be/PNwsCW35OVA?...

Interested in Community Led Housing? Join our events where communities involved in community-led housing will share their experience, providing practical advice and inspiration More info & free booking here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/together-w... #communityledhousing #AffordableHousing #oxfordshire

Climate action is important – not only as a standalone project but also as part of all work. We made this infographic to share our work on climate and show how holistic climate action can be: www.communityfirstoxon.org/wp-content/u...

Eating well is one of the most important things we can do for our health, but for many people, access to affordable, nutritious food is limited. You can read our blog post about healthy eating in the groups we support here: ocva.org.uk/2025/04/15/w...

Are there eco words you don't understand? For Earth Day next Tuesday, we'll break down some environmental jargon. Comment with questions.... Some ideas: How are the climate & biodiversity crises different? What does sustainability actually mean? Or regeneration, zero carbon, and ecological..?

We're hiring a Community Capacity Builder! 21hrs p/w – £17,808/annum This 1-year position supports Well Together in Oxfordshire - an innovative programme tackling health inequalities through developing community activity. See here for info! www.communityfirstoxon.org/come-and-wor...

Last day and a half of Marmalade Festival in Oxford, bringing together people from around the world with global/local, strategic/grassroots perspectives. Catch their talks here: www.marmalade.io

Reminder to sign up to our event on rural housing on the 3rd of April! Looking forward to lots of insightful discussion...

#VillageHallsWeek kicked off yesterday with the launch of a wonderful book called ‘Halls for All‘ by Louise Beaton OBE and Dr David Clark! Read more here acre.org.uk/celebrating-...

This #villagehallsweek share an inspirational hall volunteer you know with the ACRE volunteer gallery to celebrate their contribution to their local hall and community: acre.org.uk/celebrating-...

Our placemaking staff are busy with Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDP) in North Leigh, Chipping Norton, Marcham,Bletchingdon, Ducklington… NDP are a powerful tool to ensure your community gets the most out of the planning system, detailing a community-led vision & policies for future development

We are hiring a Senior Administrator! 28hrs p/w (4-days) – £22,800 (£28,500 FTE)/ annum Join our proactive team to support the running of our office, be our company secretary, and lead on our membership scheme amongst other varied tasks. More info here: www.communityfirstoxon.org/we-are-hirin...

Halls are a really important part of both rural & urban communities, giving space for people to come together. Here's a video we created for #VillageHallsWeek 2025 to show some benefits they bring to people youtu.be/AeyYlqNGgUY #VillageHallsWeek2025 #villagehall #communityspaces

Are you a parish council, community group, or resident who wants to tackle Oxfordshire's crisis in rural affordable housing? Join our talk on our rural housing service & how to use small housing schemes to meet local needs: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rural-hous... 6-7:30pm 3rd April Abingdon Guild Hall

We’re running two events for village halls week! Join us to celebrate halls volunteers, learn from different halls, and network over tea and cake: www.communityfirstoxon.org/village-hall... #villagehallsweek

Take a look at our newsletter....! www.communityfirstoxon.org/february-new...

Nothing like spot of local community tree mulching and snowdrop planting to keep warm on cold February days... Huge thanks to @communityfirstoxon.bsky.social #Oxfordcityfootballclub, @cagoxfordshire.bsky.social #OXSRAD #OxfordBrookes for their support.

We’re proud to work with OCC creating partnerships to include community buses in transport schemes! We’ve supported Community Transport for 45 years with advice and advocacy. New MyBus Oxfordshire tickets give unlimited travel on most local bus services in the County: www.mybusoxfordshire.org.uk

Governments promote housebuilding through private developers & weakening of the planning system to solve our housing crisis. But where does this leave communities? Our Community Planning Officer Stephen highlights the problems & some alternatives here: www.communityfirstoxon.org/1-5-million-...

Recently, I heard from Karyn and Nicky from Watlington about how much passionate parish councillors are doing for their communities, but also some of the difficulties they face. London Colney Council made this great graphic explaining Parish Councils www.londoncolney-pc.gov.uk/council-resp...

£1mn to Oxfordshire community groups tackling health inequalities! We're working with OCVA & BOB ICB on Well Together - a programme of funding & support. From cooking clubs to nature activities, keep an eye on our socials for updates on the diverse projects www.communityfirstoxon.org/well-togethe...

We're a community development and placemaking charity. But what does this mean? Here's an example: a Community Insight Profile on health for W. Bicester. We'll talk to residents about local assets that support wellbeing, challenges and any solutions. Click: www.communityfirstoxon.org/community-de...

Big news: Our Newsletter is BACK! 🎉 We’re relaunching the Transition Network Newsletter – your space to connect, inspire and co-create a thriving future! 💌 Stories 💌 Tools 💌 Events 💌 Wisdom 👉 Sign up: news.transitionnetwork.org#/portal/signup 🗞️ Info: news.transitionnetwork.org/transition-n...

Is your #Combiz looking for group funding?🤔 Whether your funding needs are large/small, join us to explore the options available, including grants, loans and fundraising.  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-business-funding-options-and-opportunities-tickets-1145411158609

How does our work contribute to health and wellbeing across the county? Health is more than just not being ill. “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being” ~ WHO Here’s an infographic explaining how our work links to health:

As a community development and placemaking charity, stewardship forms a key part of our work. But what actually is it..? Flick through the graphics below to find out. Our stewardship services: www.communityfirst-stewardship.org Our placemaking services: www.communityfirstoxon.org/housing-plan...

Are you interested in exploring Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in rural communities? Join us next Friday for the launch of our Special Interest Group! A safe space for discussing EDI. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/plunkett-uk-special-interest-group-equity-diversity-inclusion-tickets-1106402081409

🌟 Pop up Pubs, Renovations, & Hire Space: How the Hall is a Cornerstone for Community 🌟 In December, I visited Tackley Village Hall with our Halls Advisor, Tessa. I heard about their great initiatives, some difficulties, and how Tessa supports halls: www.communityfirstoxon.org/visit-to-tac...

Does your community group have a project or a great idea to bring people together? This year’s Communities Fund is still open for applications! The Fund offers up to £5000 to grassroots projects offering community activities See here for details: www.communityfirstoxon.org/connected-co...

Rolling applications: COMMUNITY OUTREACH WORKER - Health Promotion 21hrs p/w - £17,808 We're seeking a self-starter with a range of skills to lead on health promotion. You’ll work to build connections and support healthier lifestyles and reduce smoking. www.communityfirstoxon.org/now-recruiti...

So much to look forward to this year! Our staff are excited to continue developing their current work and dive into some new projects in 2025. I’m always amazed by the breadth of work in Community First Oxfordshire, so here’s a few highlights to give you a flavour of the next year…

Oxford Community Action (OCA) released: ‘Empowering Inclusion: a Toolkit for Black and Racially Minoritised Led Social Enterprises‘ Both a practical guide & a theoretical framework, it uses a lived experience theory of change, exploring OCA’s journey. oxfordcommunityaction.org/press-releas...

Smoke Free Oxon is running a Free Very Brief Advice session on having 30 second conversations around smoking. Set up for 21st January 2025, this training supports non-clinical professionals working with Oxfordshire residents. Find out more here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/very-brief...

Wild Justice has shared a new report: Lost Nature – housing developers fail to deliver their ecological commitments: wildjustice.org.uk/general/lost... Planning policy is a powerful way to embed biodiversity & conservation into developments, yet developers often get away with ignoring requirements.

Well Together - End of Year Update! Please click on the link below to read the full article: www.communityfirstoxon.org/well-together-end-of-year-update/

Wild Justice commissioned a report written by Dr Kiera Chapman, Professor Malcolm Tait and Sarah Postlethwaite on housing developers failure to deliver on their ecological commitments. Click the link below to read the full report: wildjustice.org.uk/general/lost...