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Happy summer! We've got some fun reflections and interesting project techniques for you this month - from annual duck races as a new engagement technique to how some of our staff spend their free time (spoiler alert - very cool punk band!). But we'll kick off with a more serious note about Local Government Reorganisation.
We've also got some dates for your diary of our upcoming training, and some key dates to look back on like the rural housing week.
We also wanted to share an updates from our Small and Mighty Programme team as well as some newly designed reports from Well Together. Our planning and community buildings staff also have some updates - scroll down for some lovely photos and stories from our planning team and village hall events.
(almost) Last but not least, we're sharing a funding opportunity for environmental projects.
Aaaand... we're hiring a new communications officer! Which means you could be writing the next version of this newsletter.... Scroll to the bottom for more info and please do share widely. |
Local Government Reorganisation – a brave new world? |
As we’re all no doubt aware, Local Government Reorganisation is now full steam ahead in Oxfordshire.
The government has confirmed that the existing structure of five District Councils and one County Council will be replaced by three new Unitaries. These are: Greater Oxford; Northern Oxfordshire; and Ridgeway. Greater Oxford will include the City of Oxford plus areas including Kidlington, Wheatley and Berinsfield, while Northern Oxfordshire brings together the current Cherwell and West Oxfordshire District Councils and Ridgeway will include most of the current South and Vale District Councils, plus West Berkshire. Parish and Town councils are unaffected.
For now, nothing changes. The existing District Councils and Oxfordshire County Councils will continue to operate and in May 2027 residents will vote for councillors to the new Unitaries. These will run as shadow authorities until April 2028, at which point the existing structure will be dissolved.
Communities have relayed to Community First and others their concerns about the reorganisation. There is uncertainty about the how the transition will work in practice, existing Local Authorities becoming distracted by the process of setting up the new Unitaries (to the detriment of residents), and how the new authorities will best ‘connect downwards’ to residents.
Community First shares these concerns but also recognises opportunities within the reorganisation, such as services being brought under one jurisdiction, a more joined up planning system, a reduction in bureaucracies, and potential financial savings.
It is fair to say that the transition process is unlikely to be plain sailing - experience from elsewhere makes this very clear. But, again, there is the opportunity for Oxfordshire to learn from others.
Like everyone else in the voluntary and community sector Community First will be picking our way through this brave new world and establishing what it might mean for us. However, as a community development charity with many parish and town council members, we will be doing our best to make sure the reorganisation hears the voices of Oxfordshire’s communities loud and clear and keeps their needs at its heart. In the meantime, if you have questions about LGR, we’ll do our best to answer them.
Tom McCulloch and Emily Lewis-Edwards - Community First Oxfordshire |
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Asset Based Community Development training
This free online session will take place on Tuesday 15 September 10am -12pm and will provide an introduction to Asset Based Community Development. It is suitable for anyone in Oxfordshire wishing to create positive change in their community from the bottom up, whether a community group, charity, town or parish council or individual. |
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Community Led Plans training This free online session will take place on Monday 7 December 6pm - 8pm and will provide an introduction to Community Led Plans. It is suitable for anyone in Oxfordshire wishing to bring their community together to create and action a positive shared vision for the future. You could be a group of volunteers set-up to facilitate the plan, a town or parish council or an interested individual hoping to inspire others in your community. |
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As part of the Well Together programme, we captured some of the voices and experiences of people taking part in funded activities through a series of focus groups. These conversations explored what it means to belong to a group, what participants value most, and how taking part has influenced their health, wellbeing and everyday lives.
We're pleased to share a series of focus group booklets that bring these conversations to life and build a richer picture of the programme's impact.
A huge thank you to everyone who took part and shared their experiences – your stories are helping us better understand and demonstrate the value of community-led approaches to promoting health equity. |
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The personal lives of our staff! |
What do the Community First Oxfordshire staff do outside of work? Well, one of our community development workers, Jane, is in an over 50s all-female punk band! Called The HorMones (pronounced like the Ramones), they started three years ago, most of them having never played their instruments before – they have played at local venues and festivals, and last month they were invited to play at a festival in Surrey which was headlined by Supergrass and Happy Mondays!
Jane says, “It’s been such an exciting journey! When we first started, we chose two songs and learned to play our instruments. I had never played drums before, so I asked my teenage daughter’s drum teacher for a few lessons. Our very first gig was at the variety tent at Flofest in East Oxford, where we played all two of our songs! |
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Now we are writing our own songs, have recorded in a studio and are having a documentary made about the band, which will be coming out this autumn. Playing on the giant festival stage last month was mind-blowing, as was hanging out backstage with the other bands, including Bez from Happy Mondays. The whole thing’s been an incredible experience. If we had a message for other over 50s women, it would be, “Take up space! Make some noise! And have fun doing it.” The HorMones next gig will be at Bunkfest in Wallingford. |
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Recent Events and Updates |
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Small and Mighty Programme |
You may have heard of the Small and Mighty Programme, but if you'd like us to hear from you please get in touch on our very own special email address: samadvice@communityfirstoxon.org |
Our whole team are keeping an eye on this inbox so it's the best way to reach us if you are interested to learn more, or want to access support.
In case you've missed it, the Small and Mighty is an exciting new partnership programme offering advice and support for small community groups in Oxfordshire over the next four years. Bringing together some of Oxfordshire's amazing infrastructure and community organisations funded by The National Lottery - Community First Oxfordshire, OCVA, Oxford Community Action, Volunteer Linkup (West Oxfordshire), and Charity mentors - the programme is offering: Dedicated advice Mentoring Networking opportunities Outreach clinics
All to support small community and voluntary groups with volunteering, fundraising, partnership, development (governance, legal, buildings...).
You can also find more information on our website page. |
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A house is the starting point for a good life. Without an affordable place to call home, our rural villages are losing people that contribute to the community.
As Community First's Rural Housing Enablers, Kay and Fiona, told me last week, for a rural area thrive, you need people living there to run the shops, volunteer at the community fairs, send their children to local schools.... And to keep an area thriving, you need to make sure this housing is sustainable in the long term. Kay puts it nicely:
"People make a house a home—and homes are where community is built.
That’s why we need homes designed to last, not just 30–50 years, but well beyond. Quality matters. When homes are demolished, communities are often dispersed.
Revisiting traditional materials like clay, lime, and wood offers a way forward. These have stood the test of time—lasting 100 years or more in villages and towns across the country. By building more sustainable, long-lasting homes, we can support stronger and importantly healthier communities too"
Our Rural Housing Enablers are vital to communities developing successful housing projects. From offering advice, to collating information and writing up proposals, they offer invaluable support.
Why are our Enablers so useful?
Connections: they are connected to many different stakeholders, so they can link up people who need homes with people who build homes or determine policy.
Skills: they are skilled and knowledgeable, offering advice on tools such as Rural Exception Sites or undertaking in depth research into housing need.
Trust: they build trust as they support projects in the long term, and really listen to community need.
Last year, our Rural Housing Enablers supported 7 projects across Oxfordshire, not to mention all the meetings, conversations, research, and networking which inspire others to think more about rural affordable housing and get us closer to meeting housing needs across Oxfordshire. As Fiona sums up: |
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You can explore more quotes from Rural Housing Enablers and other local stakeholders on the rural housing week website below. |
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Annual Duck Race - a new engagement technique?Ambrosden village hall survey being promoted at the duck race |
On Saturday 4 July, a very hot day, Tessa from Community First Oxfordshire joined Richard Pearson, Hanifa Ditta and Odette Smith who are all trustees of Ambrosden village hall, at the annual duck race event which raises money for the local church.
The event was held in the lovely village hall gardens. As people milled around between the duck race, BBQ and bar they were asked if they had filled out the hall survey – if not they were encouraged to do so, either on the spot using the QR code or to lick and save the questionnaire to fill out at home. |
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Everyone responded well, many people would like their hall to be refurbished, it is a well-used place, but it really needs a new kitchen and loos amongst other improvements. A list of suggested improvements is given in the questionnaire, and people are asked to list them in importance.
Collecting the views of as many people as possible is a great help when applying for funding, the more people that back the project the more likely it is that funding applications will be successful. Some of the work will be funded with developer contributions from local housing developments. |
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The trustees wish to make the hall more welcoming and comfortable to use as well as more energy efficient. More trustees are needed on the hall committee to help them with the project.
While the duck race was running outside, a big inflatable ball pool kept the younger children very happily out of the sun inside! |
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Minster Lovell Neighbourhood Plan |
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On Saturday 30 May, Community First took part in a well-attended workshop for the Minster Lovell Neighbourhood Plan at the local village hall. The format involved local people going round the different themed “stations” adding comments on post it notes and asking questions.
Stephen, our Community Planning Officer, led discussions with members of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group running the event, and provided his own expertise advice as and when required on the day. |
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Sewing Machines – from Neighbours to Women’s Groups |
As part of supporting Oxfordshire’s people and places to work together and thrive, Community First Oxfordshire’s community development officers connect with local community groups that run activities in their neighbourhoods, and we support them in their work, where needed. |
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When community groups, African Caribbean Autism Family Support Group (ACAFSG), One Planet Abingdon (OPA), and Transition Lighthouse asked Jane Gallagher, one of our Small and Mighty community development workers, if she knew where they might get some second-hand sewing machines to be used at their women’s groups, Jane asked her friends, neighbours and the wider neighbourhood if they had any working-but-unused sewing machines they could donate – eleven people responded saying yes. One woman was so inspired to support such great groups that she bought two brand new sewing machines and had them delivered to Jane’s house! |
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“The generosity of people is huge, and the sewing machines are already in their new homes with the groups, and making such a difference to those attending, many of whom are refugees,” says Jane. “The women meet others at the groups, have fun, learn skills, teach each other skills, and can use the machines at home to make items like clothes and curtains for themselves and others.” |
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Taiwo from ACAFSG says, “Our adult sewing workshops are about much more than learning to sew – they are about building confidence, developing practical life skills and becoming part of a creative community where everyone is encouraged to grow. Thank you to Jane and to Community First for your help in getting us these machines, we really appreciate it.” Michelle from OPA added, “These sewing machines are so important to the women and to the planet - repairing, reusing and recycling clothes is a great and enjoyable way to live sustainably.” |
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Community Halls Advisers Gathering 2026 |
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30 community halls advisers from all over England travelled to Yarnfield park in Staffordshire for the annual two-day event, run by national charity Action for Communities in Rural England.
It was lovely to meet with colleagues old and new (there were a few new halls advisers this year). |
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We had presentations and discussions on a variety of topics, including the Hallmark Accreditation programme, engaging hall committees, and how to work with CAF and Charity bank. As we all have different experiences with these in our counties, we were able to share and learn from each other.
Deborah Clarke, Village Halls Manager, ACRE, said: “Village halls are not just simple spaces-for-hire, but true community assets that have the power to bring people together and to enhance the lives of rural families.
Despite their enormous social contribution, most village halls are run entirely on goodwill, which makes our annual advisers conference so important.
By bringing village hall advisers together under one roof, we can guarantee that essential information – on everything from securing lower energy bills to negotiating complex insurance policies – can be shared with the volunteers on the ground who work so tirelessly, often without any training or prior experience, to keep their venue’s doors open and lights switched on.”
For more information about ACRE and its work in supporting the more than 10,000 village halls across England, visit www.acre.org.uk. |
Resources and Opportunities |
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Funding available for practical environmental action in your community! |
The National Lottery Community Fund’s Awards for All England Environment programme is open for applications from groups who want to take small, practical steps to make a positive difference to the environment and help people connect with and care for nature in their area. You don’t need to be an environmental organisation – we fund everyday community groups taking action close to home. We’re interested in funding a wide range of projects including: Climate adaptation and resilience projects Youth‑led or climate action Community growing and food projects Repair, reuse and waste‑reduction activities Greener community buildings and shared spaces Nature and wildlife projects close to home Transport decarbonisation projects
Grants range from £300 to £20,000 and can support running costs for your organisation, equipment, volunteer expenses, transport and utilities and more. |
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We're looking for a new Communications Officer! |
Interested in joining a friendly team supporting Oxfordshire's communities? Want to help us share our ideas and services with more people? Skilled at creating a variety of communications for different audiences?
We are looking for a Communications Officer to lead on all our communications, working closely with staff, trustees and members to better understand and shape how we communicate our work. You will shape and follow our strategy and lead on established and new communication content and methods of engagement, working with our Senior Administrator.
We are looking for an organised, proactive individual who has a gift for dealing with a wide variety of stakeholders within a small team.
This role offers you a platform to develop your skills, broaden your network, and contribute to long term changes within the VCFSE sector in Oxfordshire. For more information on the role and who we’re looking for, please see the job description below: |
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