Frequently asked questions
Who are CAG Oxfordshire?
Community Action Group (CAG) Oxfordshire is a network of almost 100 grassroots community action groups working on issues as diverse as organising events and projects to take action on issues including waste, transport, food, energy, biodiversity and social justice.
Started in 2001, the network is the largest of its kind in the UK, running over 4,000 events per year, attended by around 80,000 local residents and contributing over 50,000 volunteer hours to the county.
Is there a group active near me?
Probably! Take a look at the listings of all our groups here - you can filter the list by theme or location to find something you might be interested in getting involved with.
How do I get involved?
We know there’s no one size fits all, and we’d like to help you find the ways to get involved with community action that work best for you. The first step is to look at the groups in the Community Action Group Network to find one near you, or that inspires you to get involved. You can contact groups directly via their pages on our website, and also find links to their social media.
If you’re unsure exactly what group or activity might suit you, or would like to chat about volunteering with one of the Community Action Groups (CAGs) get in touch with our team at info@cagoxfordshire.org.uk.
We can also support you to start a group if there’s no group in your area or focused on the issue you’re passionate about.
If you’d like to find out about volunteering opportunities with groups working particularly on building a sustainable food system, in Oxford, then take a look at Good Food Oxford’s volunteering page.
Perhaps things like climate change, environmental issues, waste, sustainable transport, biodiversity not your thing? Or you’re looking for something a bit different than the Community Action Group Network? For more general volunteering opportunities check out OCVA’s Oxfordshire Volunteers website.
If you’re a student then definitely check out Oxford Hub or Brookes Hub (for Oxford Brookes students). They work with many amazing projects making a difference in Oxford and beyond, from conferences on international development, to working to reduce social isolation, to preventing food waste.
How can we join the network?
If you’re an established group
How do I start a group?
We’ve put together a guide on how to build up a grassroots action group from scratch which you can view here. It will give you lots of helpful tips and advice on how to get started and what steps to take next. You’ll find lots of additional resources on our website.
Where can I find out more about grassroots climate action?
Just take a look at our website where you’ll find a list of the 80+ groups working across Oxfordshire alone. You can filter your results by theme or location.
Some other resources you might find useful:
Replenish Oxfordshire Supporting Oxfordshire residents to grow and cook nutritious food with zero waste
Repair Cafe Oxfordshire A community of repair enthusiasts creating a sustainable future
Green Arts Oxfordshire Network Uniting Oxfordshire's artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency
Good Food Oxford Oxfordshire’s sustainable food network
CEE Bill Alliance Oxfordshire A network of individuals, organisations and businesses across Oxfordshire who support the Climate & Ecological Emergency Bill
Do you have a newsletter?
Yes! We have two! Our main newsletter, The Key, is a fortnightly round up of sustainability news from across Oxfordshire featuring news, events, jobs, funding opportunities and more, while our members-only newsletter, the Network Update, goes out on alternate weeks and shares information on what our groups are up to, opportunities, resources and training that may be of interest. Sign up here!