The importance of a volunteering culture

It’s not often you can say that your morning coffee was paid for by a drugs baron. But today was that day. This morning, I had the privilege of attending the Thames Valley Police Community Fund presentation event—an inspiring occasion recognising grassroots organisations working tirelessly to make our communities safer, more resilient, and more compassionate….

This afternoon I had the pleasure of joining around fifty Oxfordshire St John Ambulance volunteers, along with the county leadership team, for their annual carol service at the beautiful Church of St Mary Magdalen in Woodstock — a twelfth-century parish church that has welcomed its community for generations. Revd Andrew led the service with warmth…

Last night, my Chamberlain, Mark Johnson, represented the Oxfordshire Shrievalty at the BBC Make a Difference Awards at Oxford Town Hall. It was an evening that reminded us of the extraordinary good that happens quietly in our communities every day. A young writer, a fitness instructor and even a much-loved therapy dog were among those…

I confess something slightly shameful. As an alumnus of the other university in Oxford, I had never properly set foot in the Bodleian. No studying there, no late-night essays under watchful portraits, no quietly reverential wandering between shelves. Until today. What a joy to finally put that right. This afternoon’s visit to the was a…