Author: Kizzy Wardle

We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help at the London Marathon Expo from 21st to 24th April at the Excel Centre in the Docklands. It’s a great event for anyone interested in running or fitness (and for those who wished they were! ) and is also a great opportunity for us to raise the profile of Oxfam in the running world. 

We are expecting loads of people to visit our stand so are looking for volunteers to talk about how well Oxfam supports runners and how much difference the money raised will make (don’t worry, we’ll tell you all the answers in a training session at the start of your shift).

We have shifts available from Wednesday 21st morning right through to Saturday 24th afternoon so if you are able to give time during these days please get in touch. However we most need people for Wednesday 21st (4.45 – 8pm), Thursday 22nd (4.45 – 8pm), and Saturday 24th (8.30 – 1pm). Travel expenses will be paid for and we promise you’ll have a great time!

For more info or to get involved either leave a comment or contact James Terry (Sponsored Events Manager) on 01865 472 079 or [email protected]

This is the first meeting of the brand new Oxfam London fundraising group – a chance for everyone to meet over some wine and cheese and find out a little more about what it will mean to be part of a new fundraising team.

We’re looking for passionate and dedicated volunteers to get involved – your fundraising activities can be anything and everything – ranging from cake sales to gala dinners.

Please come along to find out more about how to get involved and to talk about your ideas for our first event. The address is:

Oxfam GB

232-242 Vauxhall Bridge Road

London

SW1V 1AU

If you want more information or just want to chat about the new group please give Ali a call on 0207-802-9980 or email [email protected].

Please RSVP by 13th April so we can make sure there is enough cheese and wine for all

If you can’t make it to the meeting, but still want to join the group please send us a message with your contact details and we’ll ensure you can make it to our next meet-up.

Location: Oxfam office in London
Commitment:Eight months (March 2010 until November 2010) 3-4 days per week. Regular travel to visit volunteer teams is required with expenses covered by Oxfam. Travelling to volunteer teams and music events will include some evening and weekend work.
Context:This role is part of the core team of staff and interns that coordinate Oxjam, working with the Regional Managers across the country. This role will be based in Oxfam’s regional offices in London where the chosen candidate will work alongside regional fundraising staff.

The chosen candidate will use their leadership and communication skills, pro-active attitude and ability to problem-solve to manage and support up to 10 Oxjam Regional Managers to put on successful large-scale music events and make Oxjam 2010 a success.

Key responsibilities:
1. Line managing 5-10 home-based volunteer Oxjam Regional Managers to coordinate Oxjam in their regions, and ensure objectives and deadlines are met. This will be done via phone and email, residential training events and travelling to meet with the teams.
2. Coaching and motivating these Regional Managers through the Oxjam event management process, helping them to develop their skills and overcome issues or barriers along the way. You will be helping them to find solutions to anything from creative fundraising to licensing and insurance issues, from managing a team to writing a press release.
3. Acting as the point of communication between Oxfam head office and the Regional Managers, monitoring the regional teams progress and activity and feeding information back to head office and vice versa.
4. Playing an active role in the core Oxjam team by helping to shape strategy, developing and delivering volunteer training, and leading on other specific areas of the project as required.

Skills and experience:
– Experience of leading or motivating others to deliver specific objectives
– Excellent project and time management skills
– Ability to use own initiative in dealing with complex situations
– Excellent communications skills both written and verbal
– Passion for / experience of organising music events or equivalent (desirable)

Application process:
To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to Michaela Gruenwald, detailing how you meet the skills and experience required for this post.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01865 472025

Closing date for applications: Sunday 21st March 2010
Interview date: Monday 29th March 2010
Start date: Week beginning Monday 5th April 2010

The Financial Times, 1 Southwark Bridge. Tuesday 9^th March, 7pm onwards.

Charlie Bibby’s ‘ Barak Obama and Gordon Brown at downing street, April 2009’

On September 29, 2009, an earthquake of 8.3 magnitude triggered a tsunami in Samoa, America Samoa and Tonga. The tsunami devastated villages along the southern cost of Samoa, killing 140 people, and displacing thousands of others. Oxfam have already responded in the immediate aftermath, providing safe water, sanitation and food to the villagers affected. They also plan to work in the longer term, providing psycho-social counseling to help individuals cope with their personal trauma, while helping families to rebuild sustainable livelihoods.

The auction features photography from top fine art photographers and photojournalists, including some limited edition signed works, featuring well known personalities and political themes. The photography will be sold by Sotheby’s auctioneer Adrian Biddell.

This fantastic evening will also include performances from London based ‘Beats of Polynesia’ and Special Guests on the night will include members of the Samoan rugby team. There will also be a raffle with some great prizes up for grabs.

Annabel Cook, a freelance picture editor at The Financial Times has organised this fundraiser. She has was motivated by her undiscovered Polynesian background and the kindness of the Samoans she met on her travels to explore her past:

“I was adopted as a baby and all I knew about my birth father was that he was Samoan. I grew up fascinated by my Polynesian roots and during my gap year, traveled there. In 2008 I returned to spend a month on a photographic adventure within a Samoan community”

“I finally met members of my family though you can imagine I was a little shocked to find out I was actually half Fijian and not Samoan after all!”

“When I heard of the devastation the tsunami had caused I was very sad. A good friend’s family had lost 11 members. I decided that I had to do something to help all the people of Samoa who were suffering.”

All of the money raised on the night will go towards Oxfam New Zealand’s Samoan Tsunami Appeal (AK.502175).