Local organisations we support

Oxford Rugby Oxford Rugby was set up in 2007 with the combination of Oxford Harlequins RFC, the most successful club in the City, and Oxford RFC, the oldest club in the county.The aim was to improve the overall standard of rugby in the City, and to develop the game for the youth of Oxford. To this end Oxford Harlequins will be playing in National League 3 South West in the forthcoming season. The Academy which caters for the 17- 20 year age group, won the Oxfordshire Colts Cup last season, and it is hoped will move on to bigger things this season with a much enhanced fixture list. The Mini and Junior sections, centred at Marston Ferry Rd and North Hinksey village caters for over 600 youngsters each Sunday, with fixtures at all age groups between 7 and 16. On the social side Oxford RFC celebrates its centenary this year with a year of events starting this September with a Dinner at St Edmund Hall, and culminating with a Summer Ball in June 2010.
Emmaus Emmaus Oxford was established as a charity in 1997. Many years of fundraising followed. A site was found at 171 Oxford Road, Cowley (by the URC church and opposite the police station) and the adjacent house was bought: this now accommodates staff, but previously provided the charity’s office, until the new building opened. It was a partnership with Dominion Housing Group which let us press ahead with construction, as it enabled us to attract major government funding (from the Housing Corporation and the Department for Communities and Local Government). In June 2008 we took over an existing furniture store, previously run by OCVA (Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action). We were keen to be successfully running our own business before the first Companions moved in, so that they would have work to do as well as somewhere to live, straight away. The store had already undergone some redecoration and rebranding by then: reliveried vans bearing the name of the Emmaus Oxford Secondhand Superstore were to be seen collecting and delivering goods around Oxfordshire some time before we opened our Community! Contact details for the store, for donations or enquiries, are 01865 763698 or email furniture@emmausoxford.org We still need to raise funds to develop the Secondhand Superstore and run the whole project for the first 4-5 years until it becomes, we hope, financially independent. But our plans may become more ambitious, for the homelessness problem in Oxford means the number of people turning to Emmaus will, sadly, probably always be larger than the twenty-four we can currently accommodate!
Oxford Inspires Oxford Inspires is the cultural development agency for Oxfordshire. We create new opportunities for arts and heritage organisations whilst nurturing new festivals and spectacular events. We also work to engage as many people as possible in exciting and enjoyable cultural experiences, raising Oxfordshire's profile as a cultural destination within the UK and internationally. We collaborate with cultural organisations across Oxfordshire to support their ambitions and to help them to reach a wider audience.
Create for Change Change is in the air and Pegasus Theatre needs you. With a £200,000 target to raise within 20 months the countdown is on. Pegasus' Create for Change fundraising campaign will allow the development and encouragement of more young people to take part in a wide variety of art forms, regardless of their background or ability, and enable them to become the leaders, creators and contributors of the future. Pegasus will also provide community access: opening 6 days a week for people to have lunch in the new café, meet friends, enjoy a show or attend a class of their choice.
Oxford Playhouse Oxford Playhouse is one of Britain's leading mid-scale theatres. The programme includes new and classic drama, family theatre, comedy, dance, experimental work, student and amateur shows, lectures and poetry. We also create live performance here in Oxford. The Playhouse produces and tours its own shows, hosts artists in residence and presents Playhouse Plays out, an ongoing series of off-site events which happen at locations across the county. An extensive programme of learning activity complements the programme and our Learning Team work with over 15,000 people each year with post-show discussions, workshops, work experience, a resident young people’s theatre company and holiday schemes. With the firm belief that Oxford Playhouse is a theatre for everyone, we aim to provide memorable, moving and entertaining experiences for all our audiences. Oxford Playhouse is delighted to have the support of W Lucy & Co.