#NoChildLeftBehind is an initiative run by students at Somerville College, created in response to the growing child food poverty crisis in the Oxford area as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. To tackle this issue, we are working in partnership with local community action group Oxford Mutual Aid (OMA)
OMA is a volunteer-led organisation aiming to provide support to vulnerable members of the community during these difficult times. Their support comes in various forms, for example regularly supplying vulnerable households with food, toiletries and sanitary products.
OMA runs the Kitchen Collective, which supplies around 700 meals per week to the elderly, the homeless community in temporary accommodation and children who would normally receive free school meals.
Whilst the government has now pledged to support vulnerable families over the Christmas holidays, it is estimated that 1.7 million underprivileged children may be ineligible for assistance as their family income is not sufficiently low. These children still need our support; no child should ever have to go hungry.
What you can do to help
Volunteer: there are lots of remote roles available such as being a Phone Volunteer, Delivery Coordinator, Case Manager, Graphic Designer, Communications Assistant and more! More can be found at https://www.oxfordsu.org/activities/volunteering/browseproviders/provider/75/
Donate: Whatever you can! We’ll be asking your JCRs and MCRs too. Your donations will go towards:
- An increased food budget
- Buying a permanent delivery van
- Hiring a full-time driver for that van
- Buying toiletries and sanitary products for those that need it
- Paying for the general operational costs like petrol
Lobby your College: participate in your College’s Common Room meetings and encourage your officers to get involved with the initiative.