Recent heatwaves have affected us all and no more so in Oxfordshire, where the temperatures have soared above the national average.
Climate change is a source of anxiety for many residents, but in Oxfordshire, that anxiety is being turned into action by residents who are working together to build a more sustainable, resilient future, starting in their local communities.
Community Action Groups Oxfordshire (CAG Oxfordshire) facilitates a network of 127 groups around Oxfordshire that are taking action on issues such as waste, transport, food, energy, biodiversity and social justice. Groups in the network include over 16,000 volunteers who, between them have clocked in 87,000 hours according to CAG’s latest annual report for 2025/2026.
These volunteers in CAG member groups together hosted 7,800 events and activities promoting sustainability and bringing people together to take action, attracting over 80,000 attendees.
One standout example is the ever-popular Garden Tree Giveaway. In partnership with the International Tree Foundation, CAG member groups distributed 7,500 trees and hedgerow packs to individuals to plant in their gardens and community places.
Katherine Chesson, Director of CAG Oxfordshire says: “The challenges of climate change can feel overwhelming, but this report shows that hope is built through action. Across Oxfordshire, community groups powered by thousands of volunteers are demonstrating what is possible when people come together with a shared vision. We are incredibly proud to support this inspiring network of people who are proving that lasting change starts locally, but its impact reaches far beyond our county.”
Councillor Laura Gordon, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, said: “CAG Oxfordshire has been running for 25 years in the county and is the largest network of its kind in the country. It is full of committed and passionate groups doing great things in their local communities and it was a pleasure to meet volunteers and hear about some of their amazing work at the AGM.
“As a council, we are proud to have been able to support them over the years, including a recent one-year grant funding arrangement.”
You can read the whole report.