OXFORD United Football Club and Oxford United in the Community have announced a new agreement to strengthen the existing relationship between the Club and its official charity.

Both organisations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as part of a collective commitment which will allow Oxford United in the Community to expand its work supporting people across Oxfordshire through the power of football and the club badge.

The move will see the football club and its players continue to positively engage with the charity’s social impact programmes which aim to tackle key social issues including loneliness, community integration, reoffending, inclusion and enhancing disability sport provisions.

The Club and charity have also signed a new agreement to further their support of the Joey Beauchamp Foundation and the foundation’s work to improve mental health support services in Oxfordshire by promoting positive mental well-being and helping those who live with mental health difficulties.

As part of the expanded partnership, Club CEO Tim Williams has been appointed to the charity’s Board as a new trustee.

The Board of Trustees has been further strengthened with the appointment of three new trustees with Jonathan Green joining and being appointed Vice-Chair, along with Louise Gregory of Gregorys Surveyors and Councillor Mark Lygo, Vice-Chair of Oxfordshire County Council.

Grant Ferguson, Chairman of Oxford United Football Club, said formalising the Club’s ongoing support of Oxford United in the Community’s work will serve to strengthen links already established.

He said:

“Oxford United in the Community play a vital role in positively engaging with our fanbase, local people and priority communities.

“Our Club is committed to working with people from all backgrounds and helping improve lives through initiatives delivered both on and off the pitch. This enhanced agreement with the charity will help shape this responsibility for years to come.

“I’m also delighted that we’ve further strengthened the relationship with the Joey Beauchamp Foundation, a charity that does so much to support individuals facing mental health challenges and associated social issues.

“We’re fortunate and incredibly proud to be represented across Oxfordshire by a team so passionate about improving lives through the power of football and look forward to working closely with Oxford United in the Community on a continued basis.”

Jeremy Faulkner, Chair of Trustees of Oxford United in the Community, said:

“We’re honoured to operate as the official charity of Oxford United.

“It can be easy to underestimate the genuine power our football club’s badge holds in changing lives among those who face adversity for reasons either within or beyond their control.

“This partnership will ensure positive outcomes associated with the Club aren’t restricted to what happens on the pitch, and we can use resources to fuel a collective ambition to inspire positive change across Oxfordshire communities through football.

“We’re very grateful to the Club for its continued support of our work and also welcome our new trustees Tim, Jonathan, Louise and Councillor Lygo to the team.”

Matt Everett, CEO of Oxford United in the Community, added:

“This is a milestone moment for both the Club and charity which has been at the heart of communities in Oxfordshire for 35 years.

“Targeting important issues locally and making positive changes to people’s lives has always been a core focus of our team and is made possible thanks to the support we receive from the football club, our fundraisers and delivery partners.

“Since joining the charity in January, aligning it with the Club has been a key priority. As part of this, the charity will adopt a new look in the coming months, bringing it closer to the football club but retaining our identity as a separately operated and governed charity.

“Many people are unaware we operate as a charity, and we will publish our first Impact Report and launch a new fundraising initiative for supporters and businesses to further support our work in the coming weeks.

“We’re excited by this new working relationship and look forward to delivering more positive outcomes through our work.”

Further information about Oxford United in the Community and the charity’s work and how you can support is available via: www.ouitc.org.