Oxford Social Circle

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About us

Welcome to the Oxford Social Circle 🥳
We’re a friendly community dedicated to helping people in Oxfordshire connect and build meaningful social lives. Whether you’re new to the city or simply looking to expand your circle of friends, you’ll find a warm, inclusive space here.

Our Approach 🧭
The Oxford Social Circle isn’t a service that arranges social lives for you; instead, we provide the platform and opportunities for you to create them yourself. Our main event is the Monthly Meet & Greet—a relaxed Saturday afternoon gathering—that brings together both familiar faces and new members. This is the perfect space to share your passions and start building connections.
Beyond our hosted events, we facilitate a WhatsApp Community where regular members can organise their own spontaneous gatherings and keep the conversation going.

Why We Do This 💪
We know from personal experience that building a social circle can be challenging. We host these events to bridge that gap and provide a home for those in Oxfordshire who are still looking for their community. We provide the starting point—you bring the conversation, and together, we help each other thrive.

What makes the Oxford Social Circle unique to other social events? ⭕
Our community is built on a social model rather than a profit-driven one. We aren’t interested in making grand, exaggerated claims about being the "biggest or best" in Oxford just to inflate our numbers for a profit; instead, our genuine goal is to help residents across Oxfordshire build authentic social lives through our dedicated WhatsApp community. While we maintain firmer boundaries than other groups, these are intentionally designed to prioritise safety and transparency. By requiring recognisable profile photos and insisting on accurate RSVP updates, we actively discourage "troublesome" individuals and significantly decrease the frustration of an inaccurate number of attendees.

Community Guidelines & Expectations 🤝
We believe in creating a space that is welcoming for everyone. To keep our events enjoyable and well-organised, we ask that all members:
Show mutual respect and kindness to everyone in the group.
Adhere to our community rules, which apply to all members regardless of how long they have been attending. You can find these rules listed at the bottom of this page.

Joining the WhatsApp Community 📱
Whilst anyone is welcome to join, to ensure safety and familiarity, access to the groups is reserved for members who have attended at least one in-person event. For security, we request that everyone's WhatsApp profile features a clear, recognisable photo and your real name. If your details do not provide this, you will need to verify your identity to Kevin, in person, before gaining access to any of its sub-groups. An invite to the WhatsApp Community will be privately shared to attendees at the end of each event.

Costs & Support 💰
All events organised by the Oxford Social Circle are completely free to attend. However, as there are annual costs associated with running this group, we occasionally open a window for voluntary donations. While contributing is entirely optional, your support is vital to keeping the group active and sustainable for everyone.

Group Rules 📝
These are the policies in place for the group:

1. Be Respectful of Others 🙏🏼
We’re a diverse bunch, and although you will meet plenty of like-minded people, you might not vibe with everyone. Remember, we expect total mutual respect. If you disagree with someone, keep it civil. Harassment—whether at an event or online—will not be tolerated.

2. Appreciate what Organisers do ❤️
Please keep in mind that we aren’t a business. Our organisers are volunteers who put in their own time because they love the community. We’re here to have a good time right alongside you, so a little appreciation goes a long way!

3. Keep Your Profile Transparent 🤳🏾
To ensure the safety of members at our events, everyone must have a clear, valid photo of themselves on their profile. This isn't personal—it’s a group-wide security measure to help us know exactly who we’re hanging out with.

4. Manage Your RSVP's Accordantly ✅
Accuracy matters! "No-shows" and "gatecrashers" make planning difficult and can lead to overbooked venues or unnecessary costs. If your plans change, please update your status. Members who consistently skip out or show up unannounced, without good reason, will be removed from our group.

5. Let the Hosts Lead 🤐
Each event has a specific plan curated by the organiser. To keep things running smoothly, please don't try to hijack or redirect the itinerary. If you have ideas for extra activities, feel free to suggest them for after the official event has wrapped up.

6. No Unauthorised Promoting 🙅🏻
We love seeing the community grow, but please don't advertise outside events or activities in our space without asking first. If you have something you’d like to share that fits our vibe, reach out to Kevin for the green light.

Featured event

🥾🌳 Social Walk & Drinks 🍻😃

Sat, Aug 1 · 2:00 PM BST

Oxford Rail Station, Oxford Rail Station, OX1 1HS, Oxford, GB

Important information: ⚠️

A link to the WhatsApp group for this event will appear in the comments in the week it takes place.
This event is weather dependent.
Arriving late will lead to members having to catch the rest of us up.
The total distance walked for this event will be roughly 6 miles.
No space is reserved at The Trout and The Perch.
Guests must be aged 18 or over.
Please update your RSVP if you no longer plan to attend.
If you require reasonable adjustments, please inform the event organiser in advance.

What to expect: 🤔
Join us for a relaxed loop along the river Thames and through Port Meadow.
We will meet outside Oxford Rail Station and head onto the peaceful canal towpath, eventually walking across Port Meadow, next to the River Thames. After roughly an hour of walking, we'll arrive at The Trout, where we will stop to relax and grab a drink. We will then continue are walk by walking back along the River Thames for 30 minutes, next stopping at The Perch. We will then start heading back toward Oxford by following the river. Our walk concludes at The Holly Bush pub in Osney, perfect for a final drink and a bite to eat if you wish.

The conversation doesn't have to end when the event does. If you find yourself wanting to arrange follow-up gatherings, outings, or themed meetups, our WhatsApp community is the place to do it. It is the go-to spot for members to propose new ideas and stay in touch between events.

The plan: 💪🏻

2 PM - We will meet outside the Oxford Rail Station.
2:10 PM - We will begin walking along the canal, before crossing to Port Meadow.
3 PM - We will make our first stop, at The Trout.
4 PM - We will begin walking back along the River Thames.
4;30 PM - We will make our second stop, at The Perch.
5:30 PM - We will continue walking back towards the Oxford city centre, along the River Thames.
6 PM - We will stop at the Holly Bush, where the event will come to an end.

All times are a rough guidance for this event.

Q&A 👀
Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions relating to this event:

I'm new and feel anxious. Is this group not right for me? 😨
Attending for the first time is pushing you out of your comfort zone, so it is normal to feel anxious on your first occasion. We always have a mixture of new and old faces. Regulars are very welcoming and it takes only 2-4 events for most members to feel settled in. My advice is to give it a shot and reflect afterwards if the event is right for you.

How will I find you? 🧐
To find us on the day, simply check the events comments section for a description of where we are located and what the organiser is wearing. In addition, we will also post a link to a WhatsApp group in the comments the day before the event. If you are late, or cannot find us, it is highly recommended that you join this, as we will be sharing a live location tracker there to show you exactly where we are at all times. Please note that once the event kicks off, we’ll only be answering questions through that WhatsApp group.

Will I require hiking equipment? 🥾
As part of the walk does involve walking across a grass field, it is recommended you wear a decent pair of trainers at the very least. However, as it is the summer months, it is highly unlikely to require boots specifically for hiking.

Can I bring my pet dog with me? 🐕
You're welcome to bring your dog on the walk. We just ask that you take full responsibility for them and any issues that might arise.

Do I have to drink alcohol? 🍻
There are no conditions to what you choose to drink, with some main organisers being non-alcoholic drinkers.

We live in Britain, surely it's going to rain? ☔
If this turns out to be the case, an alternative plan will be posted, likely being socialising in a nearby pub.

Where will I be able to park? 🚗
Whilst it's not impossible to find parking in Oxford, the limited availability, as well as costs, can make parking incredibly challenging. Therefore, we encourage members to use the most convenient public transport available.

Can I bring additional people with me? 👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏽
Yes you can, providing they are aged 18 or over. You are also responsible for any potential problematic behaviours from guests you bring with you. Please put them as +1 when you check-in so we can try and find us enough space.

Is this a dating event? 👩‍❤️‍👨
Whilst we recognise and accept that relationships do form in social settings, we ask members to be mindful that this is not an event specifically for dating. Therefore, if your only reason for attending is to find your soulmate, this event will not be the right event for you.

How do I join the WhatsApp Community? 📳
The process works in a few steps:

Before the event: A link to the specific Social Walk & Drink WhatsApp group will be posted in the comments during the week leading up to the social.
After the event: You will be invited to join the main WhatsApp community through that event group.
Important Note: Please ensure you have a recognisable profile photo on WhatsApp. If you don't, you will need to confirm your identity with Kevin before your access to the community groups can be approved.

If I sustain an injury during the event, will the organisers provide compensation? 🤕
Because we operate as a community-led group rather than a commercial business, we are unable to provide compensation or insurance coverage for personal injuries. By joining us, members have agreed to take full responsibility for their own health and safety.

Why is it important members have a profile photo, as well as update their RSVP (and not gate-crash)? ✅
Allowing members not to follow these rules will eventually create several issues:

Venue Limits: We risk overcrowding a venue, which can lead to safety hazards or members being turned away at the door.
Financial Impact: Some venues can charge us booking fees or require minimum spends based on our expected numbers. If people don’t show up, the event organiser may face unnecessary costs.
Safety of our Members: Previous problematic incidents have commonly come from members who have either not had a recognisable profile name/photo or completely gate-crashed the event.
Setting Expectations: Accurate numbers help other members know what kind of atmosphere to expect (e.g., a quiet get together vs. a large party).
Basic Courtesy: It is simply polite. Think of it this way: how would you feel if you arranged to meet friends, and they didn't show up without letting you know?