At the start of November, Oxford City Council welcomed more than 30 local organisations at Oxford Town Hall for a Match My Project networking event designed to strengthen connections between businesses and community groups for Social Value collaboration.

Setting the Scene: Why Match My Project Matters

The event opened with Oxford City Council’s Head of Economy, City Centre and Green Transport, who set the tone by highlighting the city’s commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive local economy.

Our CEO, Dan Ebanks, and our delivery manager, Susanna, followed with an introduction to Match My Project — why the platform exists, how it works, and how it helps local businesses and community organisations connect to deliver meaningful, targeted and community-led Social Value. In turn, this supports the community organisations that strengthen our local areas and help drive a more inclusive society.

Real stories, real impact: two successful matches

One of the highlights of the afternoon came from organisations already using the platform to collaborate:

• ACE Training & Consultancy Ltd shared their experience working with St. Thomas Day Nursery.
• Knight Build Limited spoke about their project with A2Dominion Group, illustrating how construction businesses can meaningfully engage with social impact initiatives.

Both case studies highlighted the practical benefits of using a matching platform to build structured, outcome-focused collaborations.

Live Pitches From Local VCFSE Organisations

Three Oxford charities delivered short pitches to showcase their current needs:

• Aspire Oxfordshire
• The Gatehouse Oxford
• OXPIP – The Oxford Parent Infant Project

These pitches helped businesses quickly understand where their skills, resources, or capacity could make a tangible difference.

Closing reflections

The event concluded with a focused networking session that enabled attendees to form new connections and explore ideas for future collaboration. It was a clear demonstration of the value of bringing organisations together in a structured setting.

The high level of engagement, from lively conversations to genuine enthusiasm, highlighted how effective these environments can be for building relationships and supporting meaningful knowledge-sharing.

One week later, the momentum continued with a Match My Project webinar hosted by Jenny (pictured above) from OCVA, an organisation that supports and empowers volunteers, networks, partnerships, and non-profit organisations of all size. Her session provided practical guidance for local community organisations wanting to get started on the platform.

You can read OCVA’s full write-up here: Match My Project: Answering the questions and spreading the word

Get involved

Are you a supplier or community organisation based in Oxford?

Sign up to Oxford City Council’s site here. It’s free, quick and connects community projects with local suppliers.

Have questions? Reach out at hello@matchmyproject.org 💌

Thirteen Group Launch: Our first initiative in the North East

Thirteen Group is a housing association that provides around 100,000 people in the North East, Yorkshire and Humber region with homes, support and opportunities to grow. In mid-October, we attended the Thirteen Group launch event in Middlesbrough, alongside Julie Hollins and Cheryl Hodds from Thirteen, as well as community leaders, local authorities, and businesses.

It was an inspiring launch that showcased Thirteen’s commitment to Social Value and local collaboration. We’d like to thank Julie and Cheryl for their hard work. Their dedication to their local residents and community organisations was evident throughout the event.

Our co-founder, Dan, introduced Match My Project and gave a live demo, showing how the platform can directly support social impact.

Local voices: Linx Youth Project

The event also featured presentations from local partners, including a thought-provoking talk by Wayne Mason, Chief Executive at the Linx Youth Project. Representing one half of Thirteen’s very first match during the pilot phase, Wayne highlighted the importance of creating a space where community organisations can share what they need and businesses can easily step in to support those requirements.

Wayne humbly described his organisation’s work as providing three fundamental provisions for local children: a safe space, engaging activities, and an environment where they feel acknowledged and valued.

It was a sobering realisation for many of us present that while our own children may be fortunate enough to experience these things, many children in the North East – and throughout the country – do not.

Wayne emphasised how investing in young people supports long-term economic growth. By fostering a sense of belonging, the Linx Youth Project helps young people stay, work, and build futures in their local area.

“Every young person we meet is a story still being written. Sometimes, they just need someone to hand them a pen. At Linx, that’s what we do. We help them write better chapters; for themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Why our work matters

For us at Match My Project, it was a reminder of why our work matters. Beyond the technology and processes behind the platform, our mission is to help individuals and organisations create lasting, positive change in their own communities. While we focus on developing features that make collaboration easier, our purpose begins and ends with the community.

This marks Match My Project’s first initiative in the North East, and we’re optimistic about its progress. With Julie and Cheryl guiding its launch, we are confident about its potential to drive a more connected, measurable and impactful approach to Social Value delivery.

Are you a supplier or community organisation based in the North East?

Sign up to Thirteen’s site here. It’s free, quick and connects community projects with local suppliers ready to give back.

Have questions? Drop us a line at hello@matchmyproject.org 💌