Cherwell Larder: Thursdays 11am, and Fridays at 4pm while supplies last at WISH, 4 The Parade, Kidlington. Ask to join our WhatsApp group for regular updates on additional distributions.
Oxford Party Library
Enabling a circular economy with shared party supplies
Oxford Party Library (OPL) is a lending resource for common party supplies, with additional supplies for children’s parties. By lending reusable party supplies, this “library of things” helps reduce waste and enable participation in a circular economy that helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Borrow from us
From 1 May 2025 Oxford Party Library will officially be reopening! If you’d like to request party or event items from our vast library of things please fill out this request form.
How it works
Open to all
Anyone can use the library. All library inventory is stored in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, so you must arrange pick-up from there.
Diverse party supplies
Tents, gazebos, bunting, props, serving dishes, crockery & cutlery, linens, cake and cookie-making supplies, and kids games. We even offer a bouncy castle!
Reserve in advance
We need a week’s notice to prepare your supplies and confirm availability, so please contact us in advance.
No lending limits
Keep supplies as long as you need, but one week is the average duration.
Deposits for some items
We ask for a £50 deposit to borrow the bouncy castle and marquees. A deposit of 30p per piece is requested for tea sets and glassware.
Participate in a circular economy, save money, save the planet
When you borrow items from a library of things, there is less you have to buy new or single-use. You’re sharing common resources with many other families. This not only cuts your own expenses but helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions that take their toll on the planet. That’s because manufacturing new goods creates a certain Carbon Cost in additional emissions. Saving money and reducing emissions are two of the highlights of participating in a circular economy.
Each time someone borrows a kit of party supplies from the Oxford Party Library, it “saves” an average of 32 car miles worth of emissions in making new stuff you would have to buy. In a recent 18-month period, we lent out kits for 75 parties, saving a total of 2,400 car miles worth of emissions.
What’s more we helped families save money during the UK cost of living crisis. Borrowing items from the library saves families the cost of buying new items:
Banner: £2.50Balloons: £6.99Cake tin: £10.99Plastic cutlery: £7.99Plastic bowls: £8.99Plastic plates: £7.99Plastic cups: £4.99Pirate party items: £20
On average, that is a total saving per request of £87.42.
Volunteer and donate
Donate goods to the library
If you have items that you think would be useful for Oxford Party Library, please get in touch with us today, we’d love to give it a good home!
Message us at oxfordpartylibrary@gmail.com.
Please note that we can only accept items in a usable condition. Please speak with someone before coming into Exeter Hall with an item to ensure we can accept it.
Donate money
Most of our items are loaned free of charge, but Cherwell Collective funds our work, including facility costs, cleaning, and staff. If you are able to donate, it helps us keep this service running.
Volunteer your time
Across all of our projects, Cherwell Collective needs the time and support of our volunteers to keep everything running. Please consider supporting our efforts by volunteering your time and skills.