Oxford Mutual Aid

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Oxford Mutual Aid's Logo Oxford Mutual Aid Logo.png
Oxford Mutual Aid's Logo

Oxford Mutual Aid is an Oxford based mutual aid organisation, founded in 2020 [1] as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. [2]

Contents

Initially founded as a Facebook group to make and trade masks and supplies, [2] the organisation has since grown into one of the biggest food poverty organisations in the city, claiming to have over 1000 volunteers. [3]

Whilst originally providing food parcels to those self-isolating, the organisation now provides support in the form of weekly and emergency food parcels, and claims to feed over 1000 people every month. [4] [5] Based in the Cowley Road area of Oxford, the organisation delivers parcels direct-to-door across the entirety of Oxford City.

The organisation does not means test, unlike many food poverty organisations, but follows a similar model otherwise to many food banks. [6] [7] [8]

Oxford Mutual Aid is a part of the OX4 Food Crew, an alliance of 9 East Oxford based food poverty organisations. [9] [10]

History

The group has consistently campaigned on issues of local food poverty, inequality and cost of living in the City of Oxford. [11] [12]

In early 2024, the organisation was threatened with closure, as funding related to the cost-of-living crisis was reduced [13]

In 2024, the group partnered with Velocity Cycle Couriers, part-funded by Oxford City Council, to assist with 'awkward' deliveries in the cities controversial zero-emission zone. [14]

In November 2024, as a result of winter flooding at suppliers, Oxford Mutual Aid was forced to close for several weeks. [15] The organisation later warned in early 2025 of a steep rise in first-time requests, suggesting that food poverty was on the rise as a result of cuts to benefits [16]

See also

References

  1. "Oxford Mutual Aid Limited overview - Find and update company information". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  2. 1 2 "About us". Oxford Mutual Aid. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  3. "Oxford Mutual Aid - Open Collective". opencollective.com. 2025-04-22. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  4. "Our impact". Oxford Mutual Aid. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  5. Barradale, Greg (2025-03-26). "Five years on, what happened to the pandemic's mutual aid groups?". Big Issue. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  6. Oliver, Gill; Wagstaff, Anna (2020-12-11). "Inside the Community Groups Providing a Lockdown Lifeline". Byline Times. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  7. "'Not enough food to go round' say Oxford food banks as deliveries of essentials plummet". 2023-02-16.
  8. "Food bank expands operations to help people suffering from food poverty during cost-of-living crisis". May 9, 2022.
  9. "OX4 Food Crew". OX4 Food Crew. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  10. "OX4 Food Crew". Oxford Mutual Aid. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  11. "Demand grows for emergency food support". 2021-02-16.
  12. "Free school breakfast pilot properly funded, Oxford MP says". BBC News. 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  13. Features, OxStu (2024-01-24). "Saving Oxford Mutual Aid after a decade of Tory failure". The Oxford Student. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  14. "Oxford City Council extends electric cargo bike partnership". BBC News. 2024-06-04. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  15. "Food bank forced to turn away over 100 people due to flooding disruption". Oxford Mail. 2024-11-28. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
  16. "Oxford: Demand for food parcels and homelessness 'rising'". BBC News. 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2025-04-27.