Chris Lowes, head of charity at Oxford United in the Community, delivers his festive message following a breakthrough year for the football club’s official charity.
Success for a football club is perhaps easiest defined by recent performances on the pitch, league positioning and trophies stored away in a cabinet.
But as we’ve mentioned in most of our Community Columns this year, achievements on the pitch are only part of any club’s operation – professional, semi-professional or amateur.
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At Oxford United in the Community, we are privileged to be the official charity arm of Oxford United by helping the club positively engage with local people via programmes which can make a genuine difference.
Reflecting on 2023, the past 12 months have presented some breakthrough moments for our team of dedicated programme leads and community coaches who strive to deliver our mission statement of inspiring happier, healthier and better-connected communities.
We’ve taken on new programme delivery, broadened our partnership base and upscaled provisions which our very existence was built on when the charity was founded in 1989.
Among the new programmes introduced this year are our weekly disability football sessions delivered in partnership with Abingdon and Witney College.
Turn the clocks back to December 2022, and our team were all too aware of the lack of participation opportunities for sports enthusiasts who live with a disability.
It’s a nationwide issue fuelled by the Covid pandemic which prompted many clubs heavily dependent on volunteers and financial goodwill to close their doors for good.
Since the programme’s launch in January, over 30 individuals have attended at least one session, we’ve hosted behind-the-scenes tours at the training ground and Kassam Stadium and even fielded our first competitive team at a local tournament.
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We also launched the Twinning Project in Oxfordshire – a football-based rehabilitation programme in partnership with HMP Bullingdon.
It gives prisoners an opportunity to study towards an FA Level 1 coaching qualification and educates them on the latest safeguarding and first-aid practices all with a view to tackling reoffending rates.
We’ve formed relationships with Football on the Brain – a University of Oxford funded project – and strengthened ties with Thames Valley Police who we were delighted to appear as keynote speakers for at its recent Neighbourhood Conference.
A special mention too to our refugee football squad – Oxford Phoenix – who in July celebrated two years since its formation with the support of city-based charities Asylum Welcome and Refugee Resource.
Holiday camps across the county have sold out, ensuring more funds can be pumped back into programmes which tackle key issues locally such as loneliness and inequality.
We also delivered our first dedicated girls only camps and launched two new development centre squads.
As mentioned at the top, it’s been a breakthrough year that’s only been possible thanks to our donors, key partners, Oxford United’s fanbase plus our Programme Leads and Community Coaches and the football club itself.
Looking ahead, 2024 promises to be bigger and better – and we don’t say that lightly.
It means more social impact, more life-changing experiences and opportunities, further partnerships and a continued focus on using football and the Oxford United badge to drive positive change both in communities and for individuals.
A big thank you to everyone who has read our Community Columns this year.
We’d like to wish all Oxford Mail readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Chris Lowes
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About the author
Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here.
He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.
His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning.
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