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Oldham Athletic Community Trust

Impact Report 2021-22 Release

Our impact report is now available to read!

The Report highlights the continued work of the Community Trust over the last season, and illustrates the way in which the Trust continues to touch the lives of thousands across the Oldham area.

OACT Head Of Community, Martin Vose, said: “From providing employment opportunities through the Kickstart scheme at the start of year to finishing by welcoming 1,500 aspiring footballers to Boundary Park through our two grassroot matchdays it has been a year to remember.

“A huge amount of thanks must go to the OACT members of staff, alongside our volunteers and trustees, whose relentless drive to see lives changed has been at the heart of the impact we see across this report.

“Whilst this is all about looking back I would like to take the opportunity to look ahead. With the new ownership at Oldham Athletic AFC, it promises to be a bright and exciting future for everyone connected, given this positive new outlook I can`t wait to see what we achieve as a community in the next 12 months.”

Player Visits Return!

This month, 5 OAFC first team players have been out and about visiting local primary schools hosting education activations.

Harrison McGahey and Jack Stobbs visited Blackshaw Lane, Will Sutton went to see pupils at Royton Hall and Ben Tollitt and Mark Kitching spoke to Hey With Zion. 

Each visit focussed on a subject which the school wanted to cover, making the most of learning from professional footballers!

You can watch higlights below from Ben Tollitt and Mark Kitching discussing healthy eating and fitness with Year 6 at Hey With Zion.

Military Veterans Matchday and Shirt Auction.

For Remembrance this month, we celebrated our Military Veterans project. As part of this, on the OAFC Rememberance Fixture on the 12th of November, the Oldham Athletic First Team players warmed up in Military Veteran shirts, sponsored by ABL Health.

The shirts were then signed by the players and sold at silent auction to raise money for the Royal British Legion, managing to raise £110 in addition to the £240 raised from the Bucket Collections on the day!

Thank you to everybody who donated and helped raise money for The Royal British Legion.

Continuing Our Winter Appeals

Our winter support appeals continued throughout November, as well as launching our latest appeal for Brand new toys.

You can read all about the Toy Appeal Here

Alongside the Toy Appeal, we have continued our work with Apple Green LTD supporting those who need warm clothes this winter, as well as the continued donations of food to Oldham Foodbank.

Junior Latics Christmas Party Launch

The Junior Latics Christmas Party is back!

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Junior Latics Christmas Party is back! 

The party will take place on Tuesday 13th December with a 6.30pm start at Tenpin Bowling, Sandbrook Leisure Park, Rochdale OL11 1RY.

To reflect the current cost of living crisis, and to make this event as affordable as possible, tickets have been subsidised by Oldham Athletic Community Trust, with the event costing £12 per child and open to those aged 5-16.

The night will consist of two games of bowling, with members of the Oldham Athletic first team and management staff attending on the night along with Chaddy The Owl. Food is included within the price, with the options being: 

  • Cheeseburger, 
  • Hotdog, 
  • Veggie Burger 
  • Chicken Nuggets 

All the above are served with chips.

The party is FULLY BOOKED! We look forward to welcoming everyone to the party!

Premier League Community Campaign

Wayne Hurst has been named as the Oldham Athletic Community Captain in recognition of the dedication and commitment to volunteering at the football club.

Wayne, more commonly known as Chaddy The Owl, has provided memorable moments to thousands of fans since his first matchday in 2004 with a generation of Latics fans growing up with Wayne as Chaddy The Owl as a key part of an Oldham Athletic matchday.

On being named as Community Captain, Wayne commented: “Without a doubt the best part is the look on kids faces when I come strolling over to them. You know instantly if a child is happy to see you or petrified, or just inquisitive.

Young children don’t go to football to watch the game, they go to see Chaddy running around and being silly, so when I walk over their faces light up, and nothing had ever come close to that feeling for me.”

Martin Vose, OACT Head of Community, added: “Chaddy The Owl is a huge part of Oldham Athletic, whether that be on a matchday or at events throughout the week.

The effort and dedication that Wayne puts into each and ever appearance is incredible, across the years he must have created thousands of amazing memories – he is very much deserving of the Oldham Athletic Community Captain accolade.”

The Community Captain accolade is being given to more than 100 members of the public who have made an outstanding contribution to their club and local community, as part of the Premier League’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

Accessibilty Cards

Oldham Athletic, working with Oldham Athletic Community Trust, have launched a new accessibility card aimed at improving the matchday experience for supporters with additional needs which will be available free of charge.

The accessibility cards follow on from the popular matchday sensory packs, which were first launched in 2018 and saw Oldham Athletic amongst the first clubs in the country to provide this innovative opportunity.

The cards will allow supporters with additional needs the opportunity to gain priority entrance to Boundary Park on a matchday.

To request your card:

  • Email enquiries@oact.org.uk, stating your full name and reason for the request.
  • If successful you will be asked to send a picture, which will feature on the front of your card. Please note that the cardholder must be present and must have a valid match ticket in order to gain priority entrance.

National League Trust Fund Girls project

The National League Trust, in partnership with the Premier League and the Professional Footballers’ Association Charity has offered a grant of £25,000 to Oldham Athletic Community Trust (OACT) over the next 12 months.

Oldham Athletic Community Trust, the official affiliated charity of Oldham Athletic Football Club is delighted to have received this funding which will go towards the “hear us roar” project.

Hear Us Roar aims to inspire young females to participate in football within their school setting, helping to create a long term legacy of change following the recent Lionesses Euro 2022 triumph. The project will provide opportunities for girls to access additional football based sessions within their own school in addition to promoting pathways opportunities within local grassroots football to continue the participation.

Play Maker Award Delivery

As part of our school delivery, this half term we have been delivering the Play Maker award at Fir Bank Primary School. The Play Maker Award helps children become sport leaders within their own school to help run and lead on their own sport sessions with younger year groups!

If your school is interested in our Play Maker Award, email emily.ashworth@oact.org.uk to find out more. 

You can see some of our Play Maker Award delivery below!

PL Primary Stars Football Tournament.

Our #PLPrimaryStars football tournamanets returned for the first time this school year! 

We hosted Year 3 and 4 mixed teams for our first tournamnet with 7 schools taking part. These tournaments will take place once a month for the rest of the school year with different age groups being invited each time, as well as creating girls specific tournaments too! 

See how the day unfolded in the video below as well as what teachers and children say about our #PLPrimaryStars tournaments! 

Play On The Pitch

Our Play On The Pitch initiative continued as we welcomed Willowpark and Blackshaw on the pitch at half time when Oldham took on Barnet.

Watch the highlights here! 

Supporting John Connelly's Fundraiser

OAFC supporter, John Connelly started a fundraiser at the end of October to support 3 local cause in Oldham; Oldham Foodbank, Toy Appeal to support those in need this Christmas and a local grassroots club!

John ran 200 miles across 30 days, completing his challenge on the 26th of November. John will extend the fundraiser up to the game vs Torquay on the 11th of December, where he will run to 4 local foodbanks prior to the game. To read more about Johns fundraiser and to donate to his cause, click HERE

IWill Week & Anti Bullying Week campaigns

During November, both IWill Week and Anti Bullying week took place! 

We supported both these campaigns through our school delivery in PSHE as well as our #PLKicks sessions. 

 

Keith Hicks - Sporting Memories Session

Former Oldham Athletic Defender Keith Hicks, who played 242 times for the Latics, hosted a Sporting Memories session at Trinity House assisted living care home!

Keith discussed all things about his time at Oldham, as well as his career in football and after football too!

The visit was a great event, with residents having an amazing time talking to keith and reminisicing back on the good old days! 

Keith will be back at Trinity House on the 12th of December to host another sporting memeories sessions and continue talking to the residents about football and anything else they want to talk about!

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