The One Voice One Oxfordshire Fund has been created to enable more people to experience the enrichment and life-enhancing benefits of music, helping them to grow and thrive through singing, playing and being creative.
The fund is hosted by Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) and spearheaded by Moira Darlington, as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire for 2027–28. During her Shrieval Year, Moira aims to bring people from different parts of the local community together and celebrate the full diversity of Oxfordshire, centred on the power of music.
Donors to the fund will join a collective of others who believe that music should be shared and enjoyed by everyone, building better networks for the long term, as well as leaving a legacy of support for grassroots charities. The fund will support music educational enrichment projects and charitable organisations that work with disadvantaged people, using music in therapy and community settings.
The fund is held and managed by Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF), which allows historic and new donations to be used for charitable purposes, and ensure they benefit from Gift Aid.
Children of the World is a piece of music commissioned by the University of Oxford that celebrates the different languages spoken by children in Oxfordshire. This fantastic piece, written by celebrated Oxfordshire composer Lin Marsh, cleverly weaves together folks songs from around the world together with a central theme of the sun’s journey, in a joyful and uplifting piece for children of all ages.
In 2027-28, this piece will form the central point for a project involving pupils across Oxfordshire as part of Moira’s ‘One Voice One Oxfordshire’ music celebration as High Sheriff of Oxfordshire. The piece is commission free and all the resources for the project are available to download for free.
Once Moira’s Shrieval Year is complete in April 2028, OCF will make a series of grants from the fund to grassroots charities and community organisations that fulfil the fund’s objectives. These could be:
An after-school instrumental group in a state primary school that can’t afford an enrichment programme
A project that celebrates the musical heritage of different ethnic communities
Work that inspires young people who are not engaged in education to play and appreciate music
A music group for people with disabilities.
We will share more details in due course about the eligibility and application process.
The One Voice One Oxfordshire Fund is a collective fund that accepts donations from multiple donors and through fundraising. These are irrevocable gifts to OCF, that will be held on a restricted basis and allocated to the fund. Collections will be made at musical events throughout the county. Supporters can donate to or raise money for the fund on our dedicated online fundraising page on Enthuse.
OCF can also accept donations through CAF (Charity Number 1151621), or by card, cheque or BACS payment. Please contact finance@oxfordshire.org for OCF’s bank details and a Gift Aid form.
Whether you are a business, an individual philanthropist or a trust or foundation, we would love you to join this collective of people who believe in the power of music to transform wellbeing and enrich our lives.
