Become a foodbank star ⭐
Now more than ever, people are turning to foodbanks to feed their families, and demand increases at this time of year.
We work with over 100 food bank partners across our trading area, collecting food items in-store and donating the profits from our reusable carrier bags to support their vital work.
You can help by adding a few extras to your next shop and dropping them off at one of our in-store donation points.
Over the last 20 years we’ve given over £5.4 million to local good causes.
Give the gift of funding 🎁
Without funding, community groups and good causes are limited in the support they can provide. Together, we can change that.
The Doing Good Together Fund empowers members to apply for funding on the behalf of the community organisations that matter most to them.
And by booking your 2026 holiday with us and picking up your festive essentials at one of our stores you’re helping to grow this funding pot.
You can help by: Gifting a donation to a community group you care about. The Doing Good Together Fund is open to all members and it’s quick and easy to apply.
Since the Doing Good Together Fund launched in September 2024, it has distributed £238,000 to 800 good causes.
Extend a warm welcome
Rural community-owned shops can literally be lifesavers, offering essential supplies and warm spaces to meet and mingle, with many hosting Christmas events for those facing a Christmas alone.
We are proud to work with Plunkett UK to support community shops across our trading area, as part of our commitment to help establish 50 new co-operatives and community businesses by 2027.
You can help by: Supporting Plunkett UK’s Christmas campaign and the great work they do all year round.
Over the last 20 years our colleagues have provided 560,000 hours (equivalent to 63 years!) of community volunteering.
Be a volunteering angel 😇
Our members told us they were keen to volunteer with local community groups, and we were only too happy to help facilitate this, starting with initial volunteering schemes in Chipping Norton, Wem and Swindon.
Whether you have some free time every so often or a day a week to spare, local community groups appreciate whatever time you can give.
You can help by: Using the details below to find volunteering opportunities near you, then contact them directly, letting them know that you’re a Midcounties member.
Wem - Volunteering Opportunities
Become an Olio food waste hero and rescue unsold food from our Wem store. Volunteers get to keep 10% of the food they rescue and redistribute the remaining food with the local community via the Olio app - find out more.
Olio opportunities are also available in Swindon.
Chipping Norton - Volunteering Opportunities
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Name of group |
Volunteer opportunities |
Contact |
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Dementia Active |
Various roles available including volunteer drivers, working in their charity shop and supporting within the day centre. |
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The Branch |
Various ad hoc and regular volunteering opportunities available. |
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Age UK |
The group offers befriender volunteer roles supporting an individual, as well as activity and group volunteer roles. |
volunteering@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk
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Lawrence Nurses |
Fundraising and bereavement walk volunteers particularly welcomed. |
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Volunteer Link Up |
Volunteer drivers and befrienders required to support individuals in West Oxfordshire. |
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Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action (OCVA) |
OCVA run the Oxfordshire-wide volunteer website Oxon Volunteers where there are hundreds of volunteer roles available. Volunteering is also available with OCVA. |
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Home-Start Banbury, Bicester and Chipping Norton |
Get involved in your community by supporting families with young children while also boosting you own wellbeing, developing new skills and gaining a sense of belonging. |
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Swindon - Volunteering Opportunities
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Name of group |
About the group |
Volunteer opportunities |
Contact |
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STEP (Swindon) |
A registered charity that helps over 400 children and young people a year to build resilience, confidence and connection. |
We’re looking for creative volunteers to run or support single-session art activities within our therapeutic groups. If you have a passion for arts or crafts and want to make a positive impact and share your skills with young people, we’d love to have you involved. What we need: 1. Someone confident leading or assisting a one-off creative activity, such as painting, drawing graffiti 2. Warm, supportive communication 3. Reliable with a passion for helping others |
Please contact Hayley Finegan: hjfstep@outlook.com or Tel: 01793 209180 |
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STEP (Swindon) |
See above |
Group Support - face-to-face work with young people across evenings and Saturdays. STEP seeks positive adult role models (over 18 years of age) to work alongside Therapeutic Practitioners with small groups of 7–18-year-olds. Groups are activity based with a therapeutic aim behind them – for example, anger management, emotional well-being, building self-esteem or improving communication skills. Commitment is 2 hours per week for a minimum of 14 weeks. Induction and DBS required prior to being assigned to a group. |
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Swindon 105.5 Community Radio |
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1. Specific I.T. skills relating to networking. 2. Support with fundraising initiatives. 3. Ad hoc: A Board minute taker for monthly meetings. Ongoing. |
In the first instance, contact communityteam@ |
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East Wichel Community Association |
The StoweAway Community Centre in East Wichel is a charity that provides an amazing community space. |
The charity volunteers clean, decorate, garden in and around the hall, and litter pick quarterly. Anyone interested in helping with any of these opportunities would be welcome! |
In the first instance, contact communityteam@ |
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3rd Swindon Wichelstowe Scouts |
Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth movement which gives young people skills to help them in life. There is an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, hiking and sports etc. |
There are many opportunities to volunteer – even giving just one hour a month may make the difference between whether a group can be put on or not. You will assist the leaders in sessions which are held at The StoweAway Community Centre for between an hour and an hour and a half. |
In the first instance, contact communityteam@ |
Thank you
From all of us at Midcounties, we’d like to thank our members and colleagues for everything you do to help us make a positive difference. We are very grateful for your continued support and entering into the doing good together spirit.