New Play2Give charity showcase video thanks to Fortitude Giving Back competition
Last year we were fortunate, delighted and honoured to be chosen as the winning charity in Fortitude Communications ‘Giving Back’ competition worth £5,000 – and with it scooping the first prize with the production of a new showcase video for our charity, to raise awareness of our charity and increase our reach and support – a vital boost for our tiny charity.
After lots of filming up at the Oxford Children’s Hospital last Easter and back in November at Oxford Head Injury Services, and after an edit, we are now delighted to share the result – a wonderful video showcasing our charity at its finest.
After winning the first class prize package, with SeeSaw Grief Support and Emmaus Oxford scooping second and third prize, Fortitude partnered with us to plan, film and produce this special showcase video.
Play2Give is all about raising funds, and providing relief with toys, gifts and Easter eggs with two seasonal campaigns spreading cheer, joy and smiles to help change, transform and save lives across Oxfordshire. Thousands of pounds is raised each year through events including football tournaments, black-tie balls and festive fayres alongside tombolas, raffles, cake sales and more.
As a charity our focus is supporting children, health and disability charities with Oxford Children’s Oxford Hospitals Charity as our key beneficiary from our foundings two decades ago, alongside Oxford Head Injury Services, Sobell House and SSNAP as our key healthcare partners. Each year, we run fun, engaging and exciting community events raising funds and awareness, including colour runs, danceathons and fun days.
Founder, Andrew Baker MBE BCAv, was born with a brain injury 37 years ago, and first began fundraising in 2003 as a St Birinus School pupil, aged 14 to help make the building of the Oxford Children’s Hospital at the John Radcliffe a reality, and, now our charity continues the good work that Andy started in 2003.
For Andy he reaches a huge milestone in 2027 – 25 years of making a difference and as a charity we will celebrate our big 20th year in age in the same year too.
The video is designed to tell the charity’s story and captures its heart, spirit, purpose and the impact we have had in transforming, changing and saving lives – even just a gift Christmas or an Easter egg makes all ths difference. It was created to evoke emotion and a connection to the charity.
‘Community Values’
Speaking last March after declaring the final three winners, founder of Fortitude Communications, Greig Box Turnbull, said: “We’re proud to be able to give back and help three fantastic charities via professional communications support.
“We were blown away by the response this year, with almost 30 charities entering. Every single charity’s purpose is compelling and it was a challenging process to select three winners from so many good causes.
“It serves as a reminder that many people in our communities rely on the support and services of numerous charities and how important it is to give back and help where we can.
“One of our values is community and we’re looking forward to supporting the charities via this project as part of that ethos.”
Thom Airs who produced and shot this heartwarming video for us worked at the Oxford Mail many years ago as a journalist and spoke to Andy many times on email and by phone when our football tournament was in its very early years and he has watched and seen Play2Give grow into the flourishing, thriving and successful charitable organisation that we are today.
Huge thank you to Thom for making this video so special, moving and inspiring and of course to Fortitude Communications for their support and choosing us as their 2025 Giving Back Winner.
We love this new video and we hope you will fail not to be inspired and blown away by such a strong, powerful and emotive film.
We are incredibly lucky to have such amazing supporters, a community full of love and support, and a wonderful team of volunteers, past and present, who continually helps us drive change for others.