We’re thrilled to have awarded a £2,000 grant from our Community Impact Fund to Oxfordshire Play Association (OPA).
OPA delivers play projects and infrastructure support services to children and their families across Oxfordshire. The charity’s mission is to champion the rights of all children to have access to high quality, inclusive, play opportunities that improve their physical health and mental wellbeing.
Our £2,000 grant will help towards OPA’s free Play and Activity Days, in Greater Leys on 21 July and Rose Hill on 1 August.
The events promote healthy lifestyles and provide information about children’s services and activities available locally. They tie in with National Playday on Wednesday 5 August, an annual celebration of the child’s right to play.
We’re proud to have given funding to three previous OPA events, at Northway in 2023 and Rose Hill in 2024 and 2025.
Playing is known to improve physical and mental wellbeing, but many children have missed out due to cuts to local youth services, the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. As a result, there’s been a stark increase in children’s mental health problems, loneliness and reduced physical activity.
Blackbird Leys is in the top 10% most deprived areas in the country with very high rates of child poverty, and 36% of pupils living in Rose Hill are eligible for free school meals.
Martin Gillett, Manager at OPA, said: “Without the financial and practical support of our partners such as GSA, we would not be able to deliver our events and services for free. We ensure inclusion for all in areas with very high levels of deprivation where children’s services have been depleted. We are very grateful to GSA for their support over many years.”
The grant is provided by our Community Impact Fund, an initiative designed to support voluntary and community groups across our localities. Up to £2,000 per project is available for projects that are beneficial to our customers. The fund is made possible thanks to social value rebates from some of our suppliers.
Sian Every, our Community Investment and Social Lead, said: “We are so pleased to continue supporting OPA, after the great success of their previous play days in these communities where we have around 600 GSA homes.
“It’s crucial that we protect the mental and physical health of children, especially during the cost-of-living crisis when extra-curricular activities are being deprioritised.”
Find out more about our Community Impact Fund here.
