Our successful partnership with Oxfordshire County Council has resulted in a new two-year contract extension that will focus on West Oxfordshire, where there is an increased demand for community‑based support, particularly among older residents in rural areas.

The programme has already delivered significant benefits in Oxfordshire.

In Cherwell, 89 community micro-enterprises (CMEs) completed the programme, collectively providing more than 4,000 hours of support and 118 activity sessions each week to 2,028 people. They also created 150 jobs and 142 volunteering roles.

In the Vale of White Horse, a further 37 CMEs have been supported since 2023, many offering activities for people with learning disabilities who previously had to travel much further afield.

Anita Wingad, our Catalyst in Oxfordshire said:

“I’m really excited to begin this next chapter in West Oxfordshire. Every community has people with the passion and skills to make a difference locally, and my role is simply to help them turn their ideas into safe and sustainable micro‑enterprises that support others.

We’ve already seen how powerful this model can be in Cherwell and the Vale of White Horse, and I’m looking forward to working with residents and local organisations to build community‑based support for people across West Oxfordshire”.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care at Oxfordshire County Council, said:

“Community micro‑enterprises are a vital part of our vision for a more personalised and sustainable care system in Oxfordshire. They give people genuine choice about who supports them and how, while creating new local jobs and strengthening communities.

We’re delighted to extend our partnership with Community Catalysts and bring this approach to West Oxfordshire, where it will help ensure that more residents are able to live well, independently, and close to the people and places they know best.”

As part of the launch, we will be running public drop‑in sessions at Witney Library over April and May.