The 'May Group' was originally set up as a sub-group of the Campaigns Strategy Committee and was mandated to discuss campaigns policy. A memo to staff from Oxfam's Director Brian Walker, dated 7th September 1979, entitled 'Oxfam and Campaigning', found in Folder 2 of CPN/4/1/3 notes: "Staff will recall that we froze this part of our budget pending a staff and trustee debate on the purpose of campaigning and how it might fit our current structures and budgets. Last May I asked Bill Yates and others (calling themselves the 'May Group') to prepare a report for me and this is now going to the J.C.C [Joint Consultative Committee] for general discussion."

The Co-operation Group met every two weeks to discuss matters related to campaigning and communications and included members drawn from campaigns, education, appeals, communication, policy, information, programme, design and other teams. At the end of January 1985 the meeting merged with the Hungry for Change Steering Group, with every second meeting being on the topic of this campaign.