Community Catalysts project expansion boosts local care options

Residents of West Oxfordshire are set to benefit from a successful initiative supporting small, local care providers.

Community Catalysts helps people access flexible, personalised support closer to home and has been working in Oxfordshire since 2020 – first through a pilot in Cherwell and later under contract with Oxfordshire County Council’s adult social care service.

And a new two-year contract extension means that Community Catalysts' project coordinator, Anita Wingad, will now focus on the West Oxfordshire district where demand for community‑based support has been growing, particularly among older residents in rural areas.

She will help people to set up and run community health and care micro‑enterprises (CMEs).

The programme has already delivered significant benefits in Oxfordshire.

In Cherwell, 89 CMEs completed the programme, collectively providing more than 4,000 hours of support and 118 activity sessions each week to 2,028 people, while creating 150 jobs and 142 volunteering roles.

And, in the Vale of White Horse, a further 37 CMEs have been supported since 2023, many offering activities for people with learning disabilities who previously had to travel much further afield.

Wingad said: "I’m really excited to begin this next chapter in West Oxfordshire.

“Every community has people with the passion and skills to make a difference locally, and my role is simply to help them turn their ideas into safe and sustainable micro‑enterprises that support others.

“We’ve already seen how powerful this model can be in Cherwell and the Vale of White Horse and I’m looking forward to working with residents and local organisations to build community‑based support for people across West Oxfordshire.”

Councillor Tim Bearder, cabinet member for adult social care at Oxfordshire County Council, added: “Community micro‑enterprises are a vital part of our vision for a more-personalised and sustainable care system in Oxfordshire.

“They give people genuine choice about who supports them and how, while creating new local jobs and strengthening communities.

“We’re delighted to extend our partnership with Community Catalysts and bring this approach to West Oxfordshire, where it will help ensure that more residents are able to live well, independently, and close to the people and places they know best.”

Fabia Cerra, who set up her own micro enterprise through the programme, said: “Community Catalysts gave me the confidence and support to turn my experience into something that helps others.

“My mentor was always there when I needed guidance, and being part of a network of other micro enterprises has been really encouraging.”

Extending the Community Catalysts model is expected to bring a range of benefits, including more-personalised care options, new local employment opportunities, improved staff retention, and better value for money for people using CMEs.