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Oxfam in the UK

Women at a Routes to Solidarity networking event. The Routes to Solidarity project aims to empower black and minority ethnic women in England to influence policy decisions that have impact on their lives. Credit: Chris Worrall

From our staff

Kirit Patel, Race Equality Programme Co-ordinator

 Oxfam works in some of the poorest parts of the UK. We support the work of grassroots community groups and strive to bring about lasting and positive change by getting people with power to tackle the root causes of poverty.

Over time I have been with Oxfam, I have seen a greater and better engagement with the concerns and issues facing black and ethnic minority groups, particularly women, and as a result, Oxfam has developed a stronger and visible presence in their eyes.  It is has taken time to develop trust and confidence with fragile and smaller women's groups, often overlooked by government and communities.

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UK Poverty Post blog

Issues we work on: Poverty in the UK

Oxfam believes it's unacceptable that millions of people in the UK don't have enough to live on.

Poverty in the UK

In 2010-11 Oxfam directly helped:

10,350
people in
the UK

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Oxfam's projects in countries like the UK rely on your generosity.

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You may also be interested in:

What is Poverty in the UK? (62KB PDF)

Related reports and papers

Snapshot of Oxfam in the UK

Photo 1/10 photo by: Caroline Irby

Young people getting training with Fairbridge De Cymru, Wales, part of The Prince’s Trust. Fairbridge is one of Oxfam’s partners whose work focuses on engaging with young people in disadvantaged areas in Wales, teaching them lifeskills such as cookery and budgeting, to boost their confidence and motivation.

  • Young people getting training with Fairbridge De Cymru, Wales, part of The Prince’s Trust. Fairbridge is one of Oxfam’s partners whose work focuses on engaging with young people in disadvantaged areas in Wales, teaching them lifeskills such as cookery and budgeting, to boost their confidence and motivation.
  • Children at a Magic Breakfast school club in a London school. Because many children arrive at school hungry, Oxfam partners with Magic Breakfast to help them provide free (or reduced cost) nutritious breakfasts to 6,000 children in 200 primary schools in England every schoolday.
  • Local DJ 'JP' during his show on Oxfam supported Sunny Govan community radio station in an impoverished former shipbuilding area of Glasgow. The station increases people’s confidence and teaches them skills, as well as tackling issues affecting the Govan community. JP hosts a show that brings together members of the area’s rival gangs to DJ.
  • Mary McGee (left) with Patricia Devlin, Jean Arthur and Caroline Mockford (right) spend time at the 'Tea in a Pot' women's drop-in centre in Govan. Supported by Oxfam, the centre enables women in this impoverished part of the city to meet, share their problems, learn new skills and find out about opportunities in the area. It has become a vital resource for many women.

The impact of our work

 The more I do, the more confidence I get. Now if I care about something, I can talk and talk. It's all down to the people at Tea in the Pot encouraging me. If it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have a life. If it wasn't for this place, I'd probably still be lying in my bed and never be out.


Caroline Mockford, former Secretary of Oxfam supported women's drop in centre, 'Tea in the Pot', Glasgow