This last year has been an incredible one for the Community Action Group network. Eight new groups joined the ranks, from Westmill Sustainable Energy Trust’s wind farm in the Vale of White Horse to OxGrow’s educational food garden in Oxford city. Thirty six groups now share expertise, enthusiasm and experience across the county, and this number will rise to at least forty by the end of 2012.
Forty groups. All working on reducing carbon and waste and promoting sustainability. We feel that is something to take a lot of inspiration from. The CAG Project has now been going for over a decade, and the depth of the network is a testament to the commitment of hundreds of volunteers working to tackle climate change and strengthen communities.
Around £800,000 was secured by CAGs in the last year, with much of that money funding renewable energy installations and home energy efficiency projects run by groups for the direct benefit of communities. CAGs working on waste reduction, meanwhile, have helped Oxfordshire to the top of the tables for national recycling statistics.
But we won’t stop there. Over the coming twelve months the CAG Project hopes to support each and every group to push on and continue to make a real and long lasting difference in their communities and beyond. Through training, improved resources, better links with external organisations and a constant flow of information through the network we are confident that groups can improve on the fantastic record of over 250 events and almost 100 media hits in the last year. Closer working relationships between CAGs and district councils will also create a model for future partnership working, ensuring that local authorities and communities come together to reduce waste, reduce carbon and reduce barriers to involvement in the national and global movements to tackle climate change.
While there are plenty of huge successes to build on, from Cultivate’s innovative share model for local food to Low Carbon Oxford North’s solar project on Cherwell school, there are also new starts to be made for new members to the network. As the long term dream of real and worldwide sustainability becomes closer every day, more people in communities across Oxfordshire and beyond are starting to sit up and take notice. We must make sure that we can support anyone and everyone to get involved at the same time as developing pioneering projects.
With that in mind, we are always here to help. If you are an individual, tell us how we can help you form a group. If you are a group, let us show you the benefits of adding your dedication to the CAG network. If you are in the network, let us know how we can do even more to help you achieve your goals and continue to shape the future of nationwide community action.
Thanks for a great year!