Oxford United Men’s Team players Sam Long and Simon Eastwood visited our Sapling Project on Giving Tuesday to listen to our residents’ experiences and learn more about our work.
The staff and residents at our Sapling Project were thrilled to welcome Oxford United players Sam Long and Simon Eastwood for a visit last week. With lots of Oxford United fans at the project, the event meant a lot to everyone and it was also followed by a kind donation from the Club’s principal partner, Baxi.
About the Sapling Project
Our Sapling Project, located near the former site of the Manor Ground, provides supported accommodation for individuals who have completed residential rehabilitation for drug and/or alcohol dependency and are working towards independent living. The amazing support team offers structure, support and hope to people whose lives have too often been shaped by trauma and disadvantage.
“A really powerful experience”
During their visit, Sam and Simon spent time listening to residents’ personal stories and learning first-hand about the challenges they have faced and the support they are given at Homeless Oxfordshire.
“Meeting the people at Sapling was a really powerful experience. Hearing their journeys shows just how important these projects are in Oxford,” said Sam Long. “Being from the city, this resonates even more with me. It’s fantastic to see amazing people at charities like Homeless Oxfordshire going above and beyond to give others a second chance in life.”
Simon Eastwood added: “It was really inspiring to meet the people at Sapling. The support they receive is so heart-warming. Sam and I are really grateful for the opportunity to visit and to help shine a light on the project and the charity’s work across the county.”
The players’ presence reinforced Oxford United’s support for our winter appeal, while Baxi’s donation will directly support the ongoing work at Sapling.
Our CEO, Simon Hewett-Avison, thanked the Club and Baxi for supporting the project: “We’re so grateful for this show of support from Oxford United. There are lots of OUFC fans at our Sapling Project, so it meant a lot to everyone that Sam and Simon took the time to listen to their personal stories. We’d also like to thank Baxi for their very kind and unexpected donation to the project.”
John Sugden, Housing & Resettlement Worker at Sapling, was also very grateful: “We hugely appreciated their visit, and we hope this helps with raising awareness of the challenges our residents are facing.”
Homelessness is rising rapidly in Oxfordshire
The rate of people becoming homeless in Oxfordshire has more than doubled since 2021, and in March 2025 there were around 13,000 households on the waiting list for social housing in the county. Alongside experiencing homelessness, many of our residents have complex mental and physical health challenges, and Homeless Oxfordshire is often one of the only local services that’s able to support them.
Your support this winter will give some of the most vulnerable people in your community the gift of a fresh start.
