Oxfordshire Football Association Chooses Play2Give as Charity Partner
Oxfordshire FA is delighted to announce that the launch of a partnership with Didcot-born charity, Play2Give.
Play2Give (P2G) is an award-winning charity, founded by brain injury survivor Andrew Baker MBE BCAv in 2007, which raises funds – large and small – through numerous events all year round. These range from sponsored fundraisers, raffles, stalls at events, tombolas and donations, with 100% of the funds raised used to meet the charity’s stated aims focussed on children, health and disability causes. The charity created by 37-year-old Andrew from Didcot, which continued the fundraising he first began as a schoolboy in 2003, also runs two well-established seasonal campaigns each year with a successful Easter egg and Christmas Sleigh2Give toy and gift drive.
Over two decades, Play2Give has raised over £600,000 and supported over 40 causes in its lifetime. 2027 will see Andrew reach 25 years of dedicated charity work, after he set out with a mission aged 14 at St Birinus School in Didcot to raise £500 for the creation of the Oxford Children’s Hospital, as a thank you for his childhood treatment from birth.
This summer, Play2Give will be hosting its 15th annual Charity Football Tournament, which Oxfordshire FA is pleased to not only support – but will be participating in at Wallingford Sports Park on Sunday, 12 July.
Play2Give (or P2G as it’s also known) raises funds to support local healthcare projects that align with the charity’s focus of changing, transforming, and saving lives across Oxfordshire. It is these values that provide synergy with Oxfordshire FA, to continue to grow the game providing opportunities for more people to be active, healthy, and connect with people through the power of football. Notable examples of projects funded by the fantastic fundraising of Play2Give includes the creation of a sensory room, named Andy’s Room, at the Oxford Head Injury Services centre in Kennington, officially opened this January to its sponsored-named teenage patient room within the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital and, just recently, over £3,000 to renovate a bathroom with a spa-like feel on the inpatient ward at Oxford’s Sobell House hospice.
A spokesperson for Play2Give commenting on the launch of the partnership, said: “We are immensly excited to announce this new partnership with Oxfordshire’s very own Football Association. Being the new charity partner of the association is really special, and a two-way perfect one. It is a true match of the day partnership that means that we can only but continue to thrive, thanks to the fantastic premiership awareness and increase in funds and supporters for the charity that this truly special partnership will bring. Sport plays a powerful in people’s wellbeing such as in many cases improving quality of life, increasing life skills and mental wellbeing – and so it’s a perfect and natural link-up. We are looking forward to the relationship going forward and can’t wait for them to bring their A-side support on the day to our fifteenth anniversary tournament, which has become an institution and a popular fixture amongst Oxfordshire’s community and a Play2Give events staple.
“By signing up for what is always a very special charity tournament you will be helping us to make an enormous difference to the lives of so many – from children and families in hospital to adults living with the impact of brain injuries, enhancing, changing, transforming and saving lives right here across the county.”
Jonathan Duckworth, of Oxfordshire FA says: “Oxfordshire football already saves NHS Oxfordshire £45 million every year through our support for mental and physical health and wellbeing. We have helped to promote the annual Play 2 Give six-a-side football tournament in the past and are hugely impressed by the way in which they support our local hospitals. Through our 1884 Club initiative to help corporate social responsibility for the benefit of local communities the Oxfordshire FA will be paying the £100 team entry fee for all of our own sponsors that meet the £250 Play 2 Give fundraising target. We’re encouraging our partners and others to get their boots on and have fun raising funds at this 12 July 2026 Charity Football Tournament – and join us in continuing to support the incredible work Play2Give does throughout the county.”
For more information on Play2Give, please visit www.play2give.org.uk
ENDS