LCON was formed in 2011 and became a charity and a company limited by guarantee that year. It was led by the founder chair, Sam Clarke. The timeline below describes our key milestones.
In 2011 we ran a major outreach project funded by a government Local Energy Action Fund grant, when we identified street champions, had stalls in Summertown, held a big open meeting and knocked on doors across our area to build engagement. We also launched ONCORE (Oxford North Community Renewables) which went on to instal solar power systems on two local schools, funded by the local community.
LCON holds Annual General Meetings – records of these are here.
| 2010 | First board meeting took place in February |
| Became a Community Action Group | |
| First of monthly e-newsletters | |
| Election hustings with other Oxford environmental groups | |
| 2011 | LEAF funded Community Outreach with street champions and meeting |
| Became a company | |
| Registered as a charity | |
| Open homes – to share retrofitting energy efficiency experiences | |
| Oxford North Community Renewables (ONCORE) launched; over £150,000 raised from the local community; solar panels installed at the Cherwell School | |
| 400 trees planted in Cutteslowe Park | |
| Award for best community project | |
| 2012 | First of five Carbon Conversations courses |
| First of four Low Carbon Living courses | |
| Loan library created | |
| Joint venture with Energy Saving Coop on home energy efficiency | |
| 2013 | Recruitment of paid coordinator, Lucy Dickinson |
| Launch of e-car club car in Diamond Place | |
| 600 trees planted in Cutteslowe Park | |
| 2014 | Thermal imaging programme launched |
| First print newsletter to all households in our area | |
| Oxon EEK launched – a website giving advice on energy efficiency | |
| Two meetings with architects and builders | |
| ONCORE: Solar panels installed at Cherwell and St Barnabas schools | |
| 2015 | Food directory – first edition |
| Energy clinics trialled | |
| Election hustings with other Oxford environmental groups | |
| Summertown St Margarets Neighbourhood plan environment group | |
| 2016 | Food directory – second edition |
| Food campaign launched in partnership with Good Food Oxford | |
| Food campaign, research, social media and website launch | |
| 2017 | Food campaign – Midsummer Supper at the Vaults |
| Sam Clarke steps down as chair after 7 years | |
| ONCORE assets transferred to Low Carbon Hub | |
| ONCORE2 set up as a subcommittee of LCON | |
| LCON new strategy published | |
| 2018 | ONCORE2 starts work on air pollution in Oxford with other groups |
| Public events include former London Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan | |
| Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel set up | |
| LCON runs Big Clean Switch Oxford (green energy switching campaign) | |
| LCON runs campaign on cutting single use plastic waste. | |
| Cooperation with FairPlay Network to highlight Climate Justice issues | |
| Climate Cafes launched | |
| 300 trees planted by 30 volunteers in Cutteslowe | |
| 2019 | 700 trees planted in Cutteslowe Park and Sunnymead involving over 150 volunteers |
| Cosy Homes Oxfordshire retrofit pilot launched by Low Carbon Hub; Charlie Luxton and Russell Smith (RetrofitWorks) speak about Sustainable Homes at LCON AGM | |
| As part of CoHSAT, LCON hosts workshop to engage with City and County councils on Connecting Oxford proposals; campaigns to raise awareness of air pollution and transport issues; arranged a visit for local stakeholders to Waltham Forest to see their Mini-Holland developments; and runs Low Carbon Hub-funded projects to reduce private car traffic in Oxford | |
| Consultation responses on: “Connecting Oxford”, the city and county councils’ proposal to reduce congestion in Oxford; Walton Street Closure (preliminary consultation); the Oxfordshire 2050 Plan; plans for the Zero Emission Zones and the Botley Road improvement scheme. | |
| ONCORE2 works with OxAir to test air pollution monitors; project handed over to OxAir. | |
| Monthly Climate Cafes | |
| Climate Conversations workshops launched | |
| Participation in North Oxford Climate Change Eco Fair | |
| 2020 | LCON launches new Strategy |
| Communities for Zero Carbon event promotes increased collaboration and networking of Oxford environment groups on campaigning and events | |
| Online speaker events on Sustainable Fashion, Divestment, Flying | |
| Climate Cafes continue (online during Covid) | |
| Online Climate Conversations workshops | |
| Online Oxford 2040 event and panel discussion based on David Gameau’s film ‘2040’ | |
| Tree planting: LCON promotes a range of information on tree planting through social media channels; and helps local Cutteslowe Primary School secure 100 tree seeds for planting. | |
| LCON publishes summary leaflet and information on Green Homes Grant | |
| LCON submits responses to consultations on Walton Street closure, North Oxford University College development, and Connecting Oxford | |
| LCON is part of Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (COHSAT) which delivers several projects: Popup shop in the centre of Oxford to feature projects that improve active travel in Oxford eg car-free Broad Street Research and guide on bike hangars Assisting the development of active travel plans in six Oxfordshire market towns Walkability index, to help identify additional amenities needed to encourage people to walk and cycle | |
| LCON launches short film to mark 10 year anniversary | |
| 2021 | LCON partners with other community groups as part of Communities for Zero Carbon Oxford, to run series of online Spring Workshops covering tree planting, food and climate, waste and climate, and home energy |
| LCON continues to run monthly online climate cafes | |
| Together with Communities for Zero Carbon Oxford, LCON runs local election survey of Oxford candidates covering a range of environmental issues | |
| LCON carries out survey of local residents to assess the adequacy of local bus services in our area, to inform county council plans for additional bus services | |
| LCON runs campaign to promote sustainable fashion, including support for a fashion photo shoot at the Natural History Museum with three north Oxford schools using second hand clothes from Oxfam | |
| LCON responds to consultation on Jericho and Walton Manor Area Pilot scheme | |
| LCON is part of Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (COHSAT) which delivers several projects: Local election survey of Oxfordshire candidates on transport issues 15 Minute Neighbourhood survey 15 Minute Neighbourhood policy paper Low Traffic Neighbourhoods introduction and guide Research in support of School Streets | |
| 2022 | LCON continues climate cafes, now face to face again |
| LCON runs online sustainable fashion awareness campaign; and Oxfam’s Summertown store displays posters from 2021’s school second hand fashion shoot. | |
| LCON launches Housewarming project, to help home owners cut down energy use and become ‘heat-pump ready’. The project includes the development of a series guides, and an engagement and support network for local residents | |
| LCON and Communities for Zero Carbon Oxford (with a grant from the Low Carbon Hub) run Energy Saving Homes ‘Open Homes’ in person and online; Energy Saving Fair at the Town Hall; and launch of “Bite-size films” showcasing different eco-renovation strategies. | |
| LCON partners with Cherwell School to offer prizes for projects conducted by students in connection with their Science Fair | |
| LCON establishes Oxon4Buses, a group representing the interests of bus users in Oxfordshire, including on two of the Enhanced Partnership working groups set up by the County Council and the bus companies. Oxon4Buses carries out a critical review of the Park & Ride sites for one of the working groups | |
| LCON continues to be an active member of CoHSAT, in order to focus on better provision for people walking and cycling. | |
| LCON responds to Oxford City’s consultation on Oxford’s Economic Strategy. | |
| 2023 | In March 2023 LCON secures a small grant (£500) from the Low Carbon Hub to gather and disseminate information on the benefits of, and opportunities for, active travel to and from north Oxford private schools, working alongside local residents, the city and county councils, local advocacy groups, and schools. |
| LCON continues its Housewarming Programme, publishing a 7th Guide on Electricity, Appliances, and Home Renewables. | |
| LCON and Communities for Zero Carbon Oxford secure a second Large Grant from the Low Carbon Hub run Energy Saving Homes ‘open homes’ events, including as part of Oxford Open Doors. | |
| LCON successfully raises over £20,000 to launch the “Oxford Car Free Challenge” project, designed to support individuals to try taking a break from their cars for a few weeks – and to use this experience to consider a longer-term move towards more active travel. |
