Where do we fit into what Oxfam does?
Oxfam’s aim is to reduce poverty and suffering for everyone in the world. There are two broad approaches that Oxfam takes to the problem:
- By directly helping people to help themselves, supporting local organisations in poor parts of the world.
- By campaigning for national and international policy changes that will help the world’s poor.
The Cambridge Oxfam Group is a group of volunteers in the Cambridge UK area who, in their spare time, help Oxfam in both directions:
- By local fundraising with events and collections to pay for emergency and development work in the developing world.
- By raising public awareness of development issues through stalls and the media, and by lobbying the local MP.
What are the different parts of Oxfam in Cambridge?
Oxfam has several identities in Cambridge, and it can be confusing at first.
Oxfam shops – The most obvious presence of Oxfam – there are four in Cambridge. These are on Bridge Street, Mill Road, Sidney Street (a bookshop) and Burleigh Street.
Cambridge Oxfam Walk Group – This is a group of volunteers who organise the annual Cambridge Oxfam Sponsored Walk.
Cambridge Oxfam Group – Our group of volunteers who have other day jobs. We work closely with the campaigns department in Oxford, and sometimes with the shops, to organise stalls, publicity and events.
What does the Cambridge Oxfam Group do?
Basically anything that we can think of that will help!
Campaigns stalls – The bread and butter of changing public opinion, and motivating people to take action. We’ll set up in a shopping center, at a festival or fete, or outside an Oxfam shop, and talk to passers by about the current campaign. There is a specific action that we get them to take, such as signing a postcard lobbying government on the issue. This is satisfying as you find out how much the public do care, and interesting when you see how relieved they are that they can help in a way other than giving money!
Fundraising events – These can include gigs, pub quizes or street collections.
Campaigning actions – These are more focused actions at a particular target, often the local MP. Other examples are public meetings, writing to the local newspaper and appearing on local radio.
What does helping with the group involve?
There are lots of different things you can do within the group, according to what you’re interested in and how much time you have.
- Helping at occasional stalls
- Organising/supporting events
- Promoting events in the media – newspapers, local radio and TV
- Making posters and publicity materials
- Running the group
- Enlisting the support of friends and colleagues
- Talking to and working with your MP or MEP
Some people in the group help out very occasionally, maybe once a year, and others are very active and come to the meeting every month. It’s up to you what you want to do, but the more you put in, the more you get out.
Why not get involved?
