Kidlington’s largest grassroots football club has given its kitchen a major refurb thanks, in part, to funding from Oxford United.
Founded in 1966, Kidlington Youth Football Club is home to more than 35 squads and 500 members and is currently the only club locally providing weekly training and playing provision for female footballers.
The club had extremely limited kitchen facilities, meaning they could not cater for members and visitors with specific dietary requirements.
Now, thanks to a £1,000 grant from Oxford United, it has purchased new kitchen appliances and upgraded its existing facilities so it can offer vegetarian and alternative meal choices for the first time.
The boost was delivered as part of Oxford United’s Dreaming Spires project, a community pledge to provide initiatives and activities as part of the Club’s new stadium delivery.
Richard Hague, Chair of Kidlington Youth’s Vision Committee, said: “Our kitchen facilities were very limited and before receiving this grant we had never served a vegetarian meal in our 59-year history.
“Being a club of more than 500 members, this was clearly an issue and the funds we’ve received from Oxford United have been invaluable to us.
“The wider benefits of this are two-fold. Most importantly we can now cater for everyone at the club as we have enough equipment in place to safely prepare different food groups without the risk of cross contamination.
“Not only that, we’re also able to hire our clubhouse out for celebrations and to local community groups knowing we have an appropriate level of kitchen equipment in place.
“Enhancing this revenue stream will hopefully lead to more investment which will have a positive ripple effect on our members and the community. A big thank you to everyone at Oxford United for choosing us as a winner.”
The volunteer-run club operates teams from U5s to adults, including 14 female squads, and is a formal partner of Oxford United in the Community via football-based holiday camps for children during school breaks.
Adam Benson, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Oxford United, added: “Catering for all dietary requirements among members and visitors is a positive step forwards for Kidlington Youth FC and the club’s goal to create a fit-for-purpose community hub within its grounds.
“We’re pleased the grant has helped to enhance the clubhouse experience as part of our commitment to supporting our community.”
Ten Oxfordshire-based not-for-profit organisations that support the provision of sport and physical activity, as well as health and wellbeing programmes, were selected by a judging panel to each receive a £1,000 grant from Oxford United. The successful applicants demonstrated how the funding would help them make improvements and deliver more impact in our communities.
Oxford United’s Dreaming Spires project also covers a variety of other initiatives including work experience, apprenticeship and employment opportunities for students and young professionals plus mental health support programmes, mentoring and education.
It consists of five core elements which prioritise opportunity, accessibility, people’s mental wellbeing, development and local legacy and is part of the Club’s plans to build a 16,000 capacity all-electric stadium north of Oxford, featuring a 180-bed hotel, restaurant, conference centre, health and wellbeing space and a community plaza.
