Why should I join OxVox? 

The main reason to join OxVox is to become part of a group, the supporters trust, set up by fans for fans, to be an independent voice on matters affecting the club and its supporters. We will aim to keep you better informed, and to represent fans' interests to the football club.

However, before you join OxVox, you will want to know the cost, the benefits to you, and what we have achieved so far.

How much will it cost me?

The basic cost is £10 (£5 for NUS members and over 60s) for a year’s membership, or £15 (£10 concessions) for three years. Life membership costs £100 (£50 concessions).  When you join, you'll effectively get the period till the next 30 September absolutely free, because our year end date is 30 September and we don't start counting your membership period until the next 30 September.

What do I get for my money?

• Involvement with the trust – a forum to express your views, the right to get involved, vote and to stand for the committee
• Regular newsletter ezines to keep you up to date
• Free entry to members-only meetings including the AGM
• Discounts via the OxVox membership card*
• An OxVox badge and share certificate 

* Currently discounts are available at the following: Oxy Chinese in the Ozone Leisure Centre, The Victoria Arms, Old Marston; The Pizzeria, Carterton; Habib’s Abingdon; Ahmed’s Tandoori Takeaway Witney; John Young Engineering Supplies Witney; Allparts Automotive Kennington; SportHouse One Bicester; Mirabai Restaurant Headington.


What have you achieved? 

After forming in 2002 we have successfully formed a wholly democratic Trust with successful launch brochure and related material. We hold regular meetings and social events and consistently recorded year-on-year growth in membership which now stands at 600 members.

Our achievements to date include: 

• We Have regular meetings with OUFC and continue to have an excellent relationship with the club.
• We instigated and organised the points deduction petition, and lobbied the Conference for changes to its player registration process. We then presented said petition at their Birmingham HQ.
• Successfully launched and administered the 12th Man in association with other fans groups, OUFC and local media.
• Paid for frames and posters to promote the 12th Man.
• Donated Trust funds to sponsor the number 12 shirt so it could be listed as belonging to the 12th Man.
• Launched a fund on-line for David Waterman's little boy in 2005 and raised £1,000 for a caravan
• Designed, paid for and installed the stadium heritage boards to add colour and a sense of identity to the concrete divider on the South Stand.
• Successfully lobbied for the continuation of Oxford Learning United which Firoz Kassam wanted to scrap
• Met the Oxford Bus Company to get more buses laid on for fans.
• Lobbied City Council over planning disagreements/boundary issues with regards to Ozone Leisure Centre in 2003.
• Successfully lobbied the club and council to get proper club signage on the South Stand when Mr Kassam was dragging his feet on the issue.
• Liaised with WPL prior to their takeover. Met with Bill Smith at Stockport and paid for first class carriage from our own personal monies to lobby Smith on the sale of the club.
• Meet with the club to regularly to discuss Season Ticket and match ticket prices
• Successfully lobbied the club to build the Yellow Wall on the South Stand after the bricks had been left in a cupboard for 18 months.
• Got the club to agree to naming the executive boxes after club legends and we then sourced and paid for plaques bearing these names to be placed on the boxes.
• Organised and co-ordinated the Big Flag Fund in 06/07.
• Produced am OUFC calendar in 2006
• Produced and paid for the Maurice Evans framed picture in his lounge.
• Successfully lobbied the club to buy box goals.
• Paid thousands of pounds to the club towards sponsorship of youth teams and to sponsor youth coaches.
• Walked around the streets of East Oxford placing fixture posters and distributing fixture cards.
• Made telesales calls on behalf of OUFC to urge fans to renew season tickets.
• Successfully lobbied for a pedestrian crossing outside Ozone Centre.
• Sourced and sold T-shirts for the Dave Langan and Joey Beauchamp testimonial game.
• Partnered with Cult Zeros to launch a range of OUFC legend T-shirts.
• Partnered with Bridle Insurance to hire a giant inflatable target game at the OUFC open day in June 2011 and gave away 3 home shirts to fans as prizes.
• Held three separate six-a-side football tournaments, which gave fans to opportunity to compete against club legends.
• Regularly appear in the local media to discuss OUFC related issues.

Aims of OxVox - a summary of the OxVox constitution

Go to: Objects Powers Not-for-Profit Membership Organisation Meetings Financial Audit 

Background

OxVox is a Supporters Trust, which has been registered as an Industrial and Provident Society (IPS) with the Registrar of Friendly Societies (RFS), as recommended by Supporters Direct

The IPS operates a model rule system and the RFS monitors changes from that model. Everything OxVox does is guided and controlled by its Constitution which is based on the "Model Rules for a Football Community Mutual" produced on behalf of Supporters Direct. The model was approved by the RFS and has been adopted by other Supporters Trusts around the country. 

Objects

To strengthen the bonds between the Club and the community which it serves acting as a good and welcome neighbour and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the Club, thereby enhancing the Club's reputation with both supporters and non-supporters alike. 

To benefit present and future members of the community served by the Club by promoting, encouraging and furthering the game of football as a recreational facility, sporting activity and focus for community involvement regardless of the sex or ethnic origin of those involved. 

To enable the supporters to contribute to the success of the Club and to uphold and preserve the tradition and heritage of the Club. 

To seek to be a unifying body and a medium of communication between all supporters of the Club. 

To build and develop a positive, proactive relationship with the owner(s), board and management of the Club and any other interested party and promote constructive dialogue between the Club and its supporters. 


A copy of the full Constitution (set of rules) can be viewed and downloaded here , (opens new window, pdf file) or is available in printed form upon request to enquiries@oxvox.org.uk.

Powers

Among the powers granted by the Constitution for the attainment of its objectives is the power to acquire an interest in the club (e.g. shares, etc.), the power to establish, promote, and maintain any lawful fundraising scheme and the power to hold and exercise proxies for shares in the club.

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Not-For-Profit

The Constitution guarantees that OxVox will operate for the benefit of the community it serves and that its members and officers will not profit, directly or indirectly, from its activities.

If OxVox ceases to exist or is dissolved by the membership, any assets remaining after payment of all debts and liabilities will be transferred to a sporting charity or charities operating for the benefit of the community in the area, or as directed by the membership. 

Membership

OxVox is wholly owned by its membership. Every adult member will own one share and shares cannot be traded or transferred.

Membership can be open to any person, corporate body or company who is a supporter of the club, or has an interest in the game of football in the area, and who agrees to be bound by the OxVox Constitution.

The Constitution contains machinery for expulsion of members under appropriate circumstances and reserves the committee's right to refuse membership applications.

All adult members own one share renewable annually, with a nominal value of £1, and this may not be withdrawn, traded or transferred. Once individual membership ceases the share registered in the name of that member will be cancelled and the amount subscribed for the value of the share becomes the property of OxVox.

Shares carry no right to interest, dividend or bonus.

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Organisation

The management of OxVox is entrusted to a Management Committee(the Trust Board), though the Constitution allows other arrangements if appropriate or necessary. The Constitution also allows the OxVox membership to specifically direct the Committee's actions. 

Meetings

In addition to the statutory annual general meeting (AGM), the Constitution allows for other general meetings to be called by the OxVox Management Committee or by the membership.

The OxVox Management Committee will meet at least 4 times in every calendar year. 

Financial Audit

The Constitution requires that the OxVox Management Committee appoint a qualified auditor to audit the revenue accounts and balance sheet for each financial year, or alternatively to appoint annually an accountant to perofrm an Independent Examination of the accounts with the agreement of the AGM. A set of these accounts must then be presented at the AGM and a set must also be submitted to the RFS.


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