CHRISTIAN Aid are at the forefront of relief efforts in more than 50 countries worldwide. And staff at the charity's Oxford office are closely involved in its efforts in disaster relief and reconstruction, reducing the effects of poverty and climate change and fighting social injustice and inequality.

As the charity launches a week-long fundraising and awareness campaign, ANWEN HOLMES, based at the office in New Inn Hall Street, outlines the charity's work – and why we should all get involved in Christian Aid Week

Christian Aid’s core belief is that the world can and must be changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty - and this is what we stand for.

Working in some of the world's poorest communities in around 50 countries at any one time, we act where the need is greatest, regardless of religion or nationality.

Everything we do is about ending poverty and injustice: swiftly, effectively, sustainably.

As the longest running community fundraising event in the UK, Christian Aid Week unites over 20,000 churches across the country to achieve incredible things. Last year we delivered seven million envelopes and raised more than £11m for our global neighbours in need. Together, we made sure some of the world’s poorest people had enough to eat and a safe place to live. This year, we’re going even bigger.

Christian Aid Week 2016 will see us knocking on our neighbours’ doors to collect envelopes filled with generous donations, inviting our community round for fundraising breakfasts, organising church collections and doing a whole host of other fun things to raise money. Will you join us?

What's happening....

Oxford Christian Aid supporters are holding street markets, station collections and Big Brekkies to raise money for the charity.

For this year, we are asking the British public to love every neighbour and support poor communities around the world, who are often forced to live without the basic needs of food and shelter. Together, we could help give some of the world’s poorest people enough to eat and a safe place to call home.

Volunteers across Oxford will be delivering donation envelopes through their neighbours' letterboxes, giving everyone the opportunity to help transform the lives of our global neighbours.

Look out for the Oxford Christian Aid group who will be running a collection at Oxford train station throughout the week. Then St Mary’s Church Iffley will be serving a fantastic breakfast at their Big Brekkie fundraiser on Saturday, 8.30-10am, bringing the week to a satisfying close.

We can aachieve incredible things to support our global neighbours in need, who are often suffering through no fault of their own, and this is a great opportunity for the people of Oxford to do their bit.

Last year people in Oxfordshire raised £180,000 to tackle poverty in some of the world’s poorest communities and I believe with enough people’s help we can do it again this year.

Why?

Among the focuses of this year's Christian Aid week is the impact of climate change on the world's poorest people.

Increasingly warmer and wetter weather can force families to flee their homes, causing homelessness and hunger. As climate change continues to affect communities around the world, including Bangladesh, it is the poorest that are bearing the brunt.

For the 80 per cent of Bangladeshis whose lives depend on agriculture, this unpredictable weather is making it much harder to grow the food they need and communities will barely have time to recover from losing their family members, homes, incomes and livelihoods before the next disaster hits. It will become increasingly more difficult to escape the cycle of poverty - almost impossible without help.

Morsheda fears the river. "I feel very scared of the river. When I look at it I keep thinking 'it is coming'," she says.

Christian Aid local partner organisation, Gana Unnyan Kendra (GUK) is supporting families, like that of mum-of-three Morsheda whose home on a low-laying island in the Brahmaputra river, leave her vulnerable to the annual floods which destroy homes, belongings and lives, leaving them with nothing.

A Christian Aid Home Safety Package (£250) provides an earth plinth, raising a home 6-8ft above water, creating a safe place for a family to rebuild their home and safely keep livestock. The package also includes a goat, seeds and a wormery, all of which will provide a long-term income.

You can help to change the lives of climate-affected families in places like Bangladesh this Christian Aid Week by donating online at www.caweek.org calling 08080 006 006, or texting ‘SAFE’ to 70040 to give £5.