Trustees

Our Board of Trustees is a group of amazing people from all sorts of backgrounds—strategic development, community outreach, education, health and safety, business, fundraising, and more. They bring a mix of expertise and enthusiasm to help guide Oxford City Farm’s vision and values. Each month, they meet up with our Farm Lead to catch up on goals, check off actions from the last meeting, and dive into updates on on projects and activities being worked on.

The Board is supported in its work by a number of sub-groups. Group members are a mix of volunteers and staff, led by a Trustee, organised around the strategic aims. The groups remit is to support and monitor progress, performance and impact of the work in the following areas:

GROW : site development  including animal welfare

The GROW strategic aim:  Increasing access to fresh, nutritious, and local food while reducing food waste through sustainable farming practices and community-based initiatives.

LEARN: learning opportunities at the Farm, including school provision and courses for adults and families. Outreach to children and families, different age groups and demographics.

The LEARN  strategic aim: Connecting people of all ages with food, farming, and nature by providing diverse educational opportunities.

THRIVE:  covers community connection for growth and wellbeing, including vulnerable adults’ provision, social prescribing, and partnership with other organisations.

The THRIVE strategic aim: Connecting people and communities to promote personal growth, social connections, and improved wellbeing.

SUSTAIN: covers activities to ensure the development and capacity building of the organisation, and its ability to deliver its mission and vision, including ways to enable the Farm’s finances to become more sustainable year on year.

The SUSTAIN strategic aim : Building strong partnerships and community networks to enhance community cohesion, organisational capacity, generate revenue, and support our long-term vision of an empowered, resilient, and healthy community.

Here’s a little about our Trustees and their areas of expertise:

• Cath Wilson (Co-Chair) – Cath co-leads the board with Martin Reed and is our HR go-to, helping us with policies and team support.

• Eliza Ader (Secretary) – With her background in environmental projects, Eliza is a pro at project management and fundraising.

• Martin Reed (Treasurer/Interin Co-Chair) – Martin keeps our finances in shape and makes sure our books stay balanced. Martin leads on the SUSTAIN sub-group.

• Nick Rose – Nick is an educator and one of our founding members, always focusing on health and safety. Nick leads on the LEARN sub-group.

• Jane Fisher – Jane supports local community building and has a background in trauma counselling.

• Catherine McCosker – Catherine lends her farming expertise from both the USA and UK. Catherine leads on the GROW sub-group.

• Dot Tiwari – Dot is all about partnerships and food justice.

• Ellie Dent – Ellie brings her professional experience in food and drink branding, marketing, and creative communications.

• Miriam Iqbal – Miriam’s expertise in community health and youth mental health makes her a valuable part of the team. Mariam leads on the THRIVE sub-group.