Oxford United in the Community have appointed two new members to the club’s charity.
Tim Tarby-Donald has joined the operational team as Head of Charitable Activities while Oxford United Commercial and Marketing Director Matt Everett has been appointed as a Trustee of the charity.
Tim will work alongside Head of Operations Chris Lowes on a part-time basis, focusing on charity administration, impact measurement, and stakeholder engagement. Tim is the Founder of social enterprise group Visit Banbury and runs his own called consultancy, Charity Ninja. He was previously CEO of Banbury Young Homelessness Project following a long career in procurement in the commercial sector at Xerox.
He said: “I’m relishing the challenge at Oxford United in the Community and looking forward to helping the team continue to make a difference in the county. I’m joining at an exciting time in the charity’s anniversary year and am committed to ensuring there are robust strategies in place to upscale our activity in support of our overall vision to empower people to be the best they can be.”
Matt’s appointment strengthens the links between the charity and the football club. He joins a board of Trustees which includes former Oxvox Chairman Jem Faulkner as the Chair and former Oxford United Managing Director Greig Box Turnbull as the Vice Chair.
Matt said: “Oxford United’s charity is at the heart of the community and I know just how important the work it does is and what a difference it makes to so many. I’m looking forward to working with a great team and helping to forge stronger links between the club and the charity. It’s an honour to be onboard.”
Chris Lowes said: “These are two strong appointments for Oxford United in the Community, and I’m pleased to welcome Tim and Matt. Tim and I will work closely together to run the charity and Tim will take on some of the duties Kate Longworth previously fulfilled. Tim has a unique mix of charity and commercial experience which I am sure will be invaluable to us as we look to develop in the short, medium and long term.
“We’re also pleased Matt has agreed to become a Trustee. It’s important the charity has representation from the club on the Trustee Board and overall we are in a fortunate position of having a very strong Board of Trustees who provide great advice and support on a consistent basis.”
Oxford United the Community’s strategic aims include increasing participation in sport and physical activity, improving mental well-being and engaging with isolated groups. Its coaching staff deliver programmes in nursery and primary schools across Oxfordshire.
They are qualified not only in football coaching, but in teaching interventions including Real PE, which focuses on the development of agility, balance and coordination, healthy competition and cooperative learning. The charity also delivers the popular Manor Club to the over 60’s to help tackle isolation in the older community.