At the start of 2026, Renew Oxford is shifting gears. From summer 2024 to autumn 2025, our activities were focussed on a mapping project, which was guided by a steering group and administrated by staff from Viva Network. The mapping report has galvanised focus on key action areas (mental health / housing / children, youth and families) and led to many new opportunities for partnership with the wider voluntary sector and with the public sector.
Going into 2026, we are forming a new steering group for Renew Oxford, which will aim to explore these opportunities well, to prepare for significant funding, to coordinate these different activities and to provide our growing network with timely communication.
To achieve all that, our next step is to recruit three key volunteers, covering: communications, fundraising and organisational development.
We are looking for three individuals who can volunteer a few hours a week during 2026 (i.e. time limited to 12 months). Each will be part of our overall steering group, reporting to the group’s chair, and with relevant expenses met from shared funds.
Please read the role descriptions below, and if you are interested in any of them, or know of someone who might be, please reach out to us on info@renewoxford.org
Communications Lead
Meaningful and timely communication is the lifeblood of any network. We currently have a single mailing list, a website and a Facebook page, and rely on Oxford Community Church’s use of ChurchSuite to manage event comms.
We are looking for someone to:
- Send a simple bi-monthly update email
- Consider other social media channels and to generate social media content
- Ensure our website content remains up to date
- Publicise our calendar of events and write up stories from the network
- Ensure Renew remains visible to churches and civic partners
Training can be given in the use of Mailchimp, Facebook, etc., and technical support is available – but we do need someone who will think proactively about who needs to know what and when, and who can generate written content and do simple graphic design.
Fundraising Lead
As our activities increase, we see the need to appoint our first staff member: a ‘Network Coordinator.’ We are aware of public and charitable sources of funding that might supply this need, but we currently lack the capacity to submit funding bids.
We are looking for someone to:
- Receive a briefing on potential sources of funding
- Coordinate the writing and submission of grant applications, with the initial goal of raising £25k
- Draw on volunteer grant writers and partner churches for support
- Propose a longer-term fundraising strategy (i.e. for beyond 2026)
Whilst this role would be best suited to someone with existing fundraising experience, we could arrange training for someone who lacks direct expertise but is highly motivated and able to manage work towards deadlines.
Organisational Lead
Ther creation of a distinct legal identity for Renew Oxford (e.g. as a Community Interest Company) would significantly strengthen our work, providing us with clearer accountability and allowing for us to manage funds directly. We want to discover a structure that will meet our organisational requirements, while also remaining relatively simple and relating well to all existing stakeholders.
We are looking for someone to:
- Propose structures for sustainable organisation
- Organise consultation with stakeholders
- Identify (and cost) the processes needed to establish the organisation we believe to be best
This role would be best suited to someone with experience in charity management or governance, and who enjoys working with a range of leaders to identify a best-fit solution.
To find out more about any of these roles and to express interest, please contact info@renewoxford.org
Renew Oxford 