Campaign with us

Oxfam exists to prevent and relieve poverty, to offer support to people facing extreme vulnerability, and to advocate for their rights alongside them.

Right now, governments and institutions are making choices that make inequality, climate change and conflict worse, in the UK and across the world. Those choices mean more people have to go without food, clean water, medicine, shelter or education. They mean people are denied rights, dignity, and choices about their own lives. It’s pushing millions of people deeper and deeper into poverty.

Oxfam has always campaigned alongside its other humanitarian activities - to challenge the root causes and unjust systems that cause and keep people trapped in poverty and continue to make life so much harder for many. Without systemic change, we would only ever treat the symptoms of poverty. We work towards a fairer world, justice and lasting change for everyone, everywhere.

We campaign on issues that aim to prevent and relieve poverty, including promoting human rights and equality. This includes:

A fair economic system that means everyone can thrive, and prioritises the health of our planet and its people, instead of profit and power for a privileged few.

Climate justice, so that the people who have done the least to cause the climate crisis aren’t paying the highest price.

Protecting people's rights and dignity during conflicts, and prioritising human life over economic and political advantage.

Oxfam GB often campaigns alongside our local partners and other Oxfams across the world.

In the UK, we tend to focus on influencing our government and British institutions, and the role they play in the global systems that trap people in poverty.

Oxfam also has teams that specialise in influencing the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales. Learn more about how that works here.

We use different tactics in our campaigning work, depending on the issue and who has the power to create change. Approaches might include:

Speaking truth to power: We publicly hold decision makers to account and make the human impact of their policies clearly visible. Through the media, stunts, open letters, social media and other kinds of public communications, we make sure people’s collective voice is heard by those in power.

Building people power: We help raise awareness and turn people’s passion into action. That might mean signing petitions, joining marches, or deeper, long-term activity like supporting community networks. Democracy works best when we are all empowered to participate and shape the world we live in.

Direct advocacy: Sometimes the most effective approach is to build relationships with people in power, such as politicians and people who work for the government or other institutions. They can often influence decision makers directly, or may have the power to change things themselves.

Legal challenges: We may support legal challenges that help ensure people can access their right to live in freedom, dignity and peace.

We believe that how we campaign is just as important as what we do. These principles are important to us:

Working together: We are strongest when we stand together, united against inequality and injustice. We work with other organisations, coalitions and partners in the UK and across the world.

Amplifying lived experience: Our campaigns are led and informed by people with direct experience of the issue. It is our responsibility to bear witness to people’s stories, to share their experiences in their own words, and to give a platform to people already doing vital work in their communities.

Building solidarity: Our struggles and experiences can look different on the surface. But often they're deeply connected. Our collective wellbeing lies in our ability to recognise our common humanity and support each other – so we can build a fairer world for all, together.

Yes - campaigning makes a difference. And even small actions can add up to make big changes.

Over the years, our campaigning work – stunts, press releases, petitions, meetings with MPs, building community networks, marches - has helped to create real change in the UK and across the world.

Ready to take action for a fairer world? Join our community of more than a million campaigners in the UK.

Explore our key campaigns (at the top of this page) to find out how you can get involved in the campaign you feel passionate about. We’ll then share regular email updates on the progress of our campaigns and other ways that you can get involved. That might include petitions you can sign, resources to support your own campaigns in your community, opportunities to engage directly with politicians, or helping us shape our plans.

You will be part of a huge movement working together to bring about vital change all over the world. Thank you!

If you’d like to contact us directly about our campaigning work, please email campaigning@oxfam.org.uk