Celebrating Small Charity Week: Big Impact from Small Organisations

It’s #SmallCharityWeek, and at Home‑Start Oxford we’re proud to celebrate the enormous contribution that small charities make to communities across Oxfordshire. We may be small in size, but our impact is anything but.

Small charities make up 96% of the UK’s voluntary sector, forming the backbone of local support networks and delivering vital services where they’re needed most. Home‑Start Oxford is one of them. We continue to provide free, confidential support to parents and carers with young children who may be facing challenges such as postnatal depression, loneliness, isolation, bereavement, health issues or disability.

Demand for support continues to rise, and like many small charities, we are navigating increasing costs and a competitive funding landscape. Yet despite these pressures, our volunteers, staff and supporters enable us to deliver life‑changing support to hundreds of families each year — including over 600 families so far this year. 

Our CEO, Katharine Barber, reflects on the importance of this week:

“Small charities are often closest to the people who need them most. We may be small in structure, but the difference we make is huge. Every week, our volunteers and staff walk alongside families facing incredibly tough circumstances, offering practical help, emotional support and a listening ear. Small Charity Week is a chance to shine a light on the essential role organisations like ours play in strengthening communities — and to recognise the people who make it all possible.”

This week, we’re encouraging local people to champion the small organisations they care about and to consider turning one week of awareness into year‑round support. 

As Katharine adds:

“There are so many ways to support a small charity — from volunteering a few hours, to holding a fundraiser, becoming a regular giver, or simply sharing our work with others. Every action, no matter how small, helps us continue to be there for families who need us. We’d love to see more people get involved and help us keep making a difference.”