OXSRAD, a disability hub and sports facility in Marston, is on a shortlist of local charities to win funding.

The Gannett Foundation, the charitable arm of the paper’s parent company, is providing £128,000 in cash, to support local charities across the country and the paper is delighted to have a £16,000 share.

OXSRAD, reading charity ARCh and homelessness charity The Gatehouse now all have the chance to share this £16,000.

Read again: Prince Harry's visit to Oxford

OXSRAD, the sports facility at Court Place Farm in Marsh Lane, is welcoming and fully inclusive sports and recreation centre for all ages, open to disabled and non-disabled users.

It aims to improve the physical health and mental wellbeing of all its users through fitness, recreation, rehabilitation and therapeutic activities.

Everyone is welcome at OXSRAD where a well-equipped gym with adaptive equipment sits alongside a sports hall, sensory room, spinning studio, dance studio, spa bath and café.

The centre’s website says: “Users can choose to use the facilities independently or join the wide range of classes and activities which OXSRAD and partner groups run. The knowledgeable and friendly staff pride themselves in giving everyone opportunities to participate in their chosen activity in a relaxed setting.

“Although very much embedded in the local community people also travel from afar to take advantage of this unique environment. Currently over 350 people regularly come to OXSRAD, so why not give us a call or pop by, we would love to help you achieve your goals.”

Oxford Mail:

For four weeks, readers will be invited to collect tokens from our newspapers which can then be sent to collection points across our region or posted.

Each token collected will then be used to allocate cash to the nominated charity - so if your favourite charity collects 50 per cent of all tokens collected, it will get 50 per cent of £16,000.

Read again: Oxfordshire pubs in good beer guide

Regional editor Andrew Colley said: “We know the last year has been tough for people right across our community and now is time to give back.

“Every day we get to hear of the amazing work Oxfordshire charities do for people in all walks of life. By nominating and then casting your votes over the next couple of weeks, you can help make a real difference.

“This is a great initiative and one I’d encourage you to get behind.”

In May 2019, Prince Harry visited OXSRAD.

He was following in the footsteps of his mother Princess Diana, who had opened the Marston centre 30 years earlier.

A number of people who met Prince Harry had attended both occasions.

Julia Porter-Smith, whose husband Alan founded the centre in 1989, got to meet the Duke of Sussex as he arrived.

The 83-year-old said after Prince Harry’s visit: “He kissed my hand and I kissed his. That was really special. He’s so human, just like his mum.”

For more information visit the website oxsrad.org.

;

Read more from this author

This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF