University of Oxford
A Vision for Sport

Community benefits - Community Involvement

Oxford PULSE

Around 400 local residents are members of the modern, well-equipped fitness gym which opened its doors in 1996 to students, staff (including Oxford Brookes), their partners and residents. Qualified gym staff are always available to guide members in the safe and effective use of equipment and training techniques.

The Fletcher Field Artificial Hockey Pitch

In March 1999, the late Chancellor, Lord Jenkins, opened Oxford's first Olympic-standard artificial field hockey pitch. The water-based pitch is of the highest specification, and can be booked by non-University teams throughout the year. Local hockey clubs regularly use the pitch for training and matches. The pitch is predominantly used in the evening by community groups and teams for 5-a-side football.

The Rosenblatt Swimming Pool can be used by local residents and schools
The Rosenblatt Swimming Pool can be used by local residents and schools

The Rosenblatt Swimming Pool

The University's high specification 25-metre pool, suitable for competitive and recreational swimming as well as water polo, was opened in October 2003. Its membership currently totals more than 2,500, including 350 Oxford residents with no University connections.

Local state schools can use the pool for their swimming lessons free of charge. Recently introduced swimming lessons for both local children and adult learners and improvers have already been very popular.

Town v Gown

The friendly competition was started in 1980 with a six-a-side cricket match. In 1981 rowing and men's squash were added to the cricket, and the number of matches played has increased steadily, with between 35 and 45 games played annually. The increased number is due to the good liaison work between the co-ordinator and both the Town and Gown players. Organisation is now shared between the Oxford University Sports Federation and the Oxford Sports Council.

CommUniSports

The Combined Universities of Oxford Sports Outreach Scheme (CommUniSports) offers a large range of sports to schools and community groups free of charge, with transport and equipment included if needed. The scheme is run by volunteers from sports clubs of both universities in Oxford and funded through the Higher Education Active Community Fund.

Past events have included: a six-week Orienteering course at Sandhills Community Primary School; taster sports sessions for disability groups; and an after-school Judo club. Other sports on offer have included archery, basketball, horse riding, ultimate frisbee and ice skating.

Anyone interested in taking part should contact the Sports Administrator, tel: 01865 241335.

Further benefits of new facilities

The new facilities would allow tennis taster sessions for local children
The new facilities would allow tennis taster sessions for local children

Currently the University Sports Complex is working at capacity in most areas, without the ability to fully cater for its own internal market, let alone the burgeoning community interest.

The proposed new facilities would allow the University to expand provision in relation to a wide range of sports. Although, of necessity, the main user base of the facilities will remain the students and staff of the University, it is planned to significantly increase the opportunities for community use. These opportunities will include: