My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered UK entity and has a London-based address.
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), evidence of access to a lease for the space you are leveraging, and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions.
Yes
First Name
Steve
Last Name
Chalke
Pronouns
He/Him
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
1
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
No
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
No
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Lead Organisation Name
Oasis Charitable Trust
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
1985
Initiative Title
South London Sports Academy Astro
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
https://oasisuk.org/
Initiative Stage
Idea (You have a solid concept and are hoping to get started in the future)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Children & Youth
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
Redesigning education through the lens of sport - bringing together community, education and grass roots sport on a level playing field.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
Young people across Croydon lack regular access to safe, high‑quality open‑access sports facilities. Many families face financial pressures, and existing pitches are oversubscribed, outdated, or unavailable to the wider community. As a result, young people have limited opportunities to take part in structured or free‑flowing physical activity, contributing to lower fitness levels, reduced confidence, and fewer routes into positive activities, coaching, and future careers in sport. Oasis UK and its community partners are responding through Stage 1 of a wider redevelopment of sports facilities across the South Norwood and Woodside area, beginning with a new 3G astro pitch. This first phase will significantly increase access to grassroots football, high‑quality coaching, mentoring, and sports‑focused education with clear career pathways. It will offer a safe, consistent environment where young people can train, learn, and build positive relationships with trusted adults. Alongside the 3G redevelopment, expanding community access to the neighbouring MUGA will create even more opportunities in basketball, tennis, and general physical activity. Together, these facilities will benefit young people aged 6–18 who currently have little or no access to free or affordable sport—particularly those unable to join mainstream clubs because of cost, travel, or confidence barriers. This issue matters to us because we work directly with young people, families, and staff every day. We see the enthusiasm, talent, and potential in our community, but also the frustration when opportunities are out of reach. Being embedded in this locality means we witness the impact of limited access daily and understand how transformational this first phase of redevelopment will be for the young people.
Your approach: How are you/ will you addressing the problem outlined above? How does your solution unlock or reimagine access to spaces for sport and physical activity? What role do landowners, local authorities, or other decision-making stakeholders play in your approach? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
We are addressing this challenge by transforming how young people access sports spaces in South Norwood and Woodside through a collaborative, community led redevelopment of local facilities. Stage 1 begins with potentially building a new 3G astropitch, expanding access to the neighbouring MUGA, creating high quality, low cost, youth centred spaces that are open beyond school hours and designed for community use.This reimagines access by shifting facilities from restricted, school only use to shared,community owned spaces where young people can play freely, join structured coaching, receive mentoring, and access clear pathways into leadership and sports careers. Our solution tackles structural barriers-cost, limited space, and lack of open access - by offering affordable sessions, community bookable slots, partnerships with local clubs and coaches who can deliver inclusive grassroots programmes. The Oasis Village model embeds trusted adults, creating a safe environment that encourages participation from YP who may otherwise feel excluded from traditional clubs. Partnerships are central to our approach. Oasis UK is committing to long term stewardship of the facilities alongside Croydon Council.With our community groups organisations play key roles in planning, permissions, safeguarding guidance, and ensuring the redevelopment aligns with local need. These relationships ensure the project is rooted in sustainability rather than one off provision. The idea originated from years of conversations with YP, families and grass roots clubs who repeatedly told us they wanted somewhere safe to play football, train, or simply be active. The “aha” moment came with the collective voice of all community led sports clubs saying “We just need a spaces that are actually ours.”
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
We will place YP and community members at the centre of this initiative, ensuring they co create the spaces, programmes, and opportunities we develop. Through Oasis Community Hub: Ashburton Park, which is embedded in the locality through our ongoing Heritage Lottery Project, we will continue to engage families, residents, and grassroots sports groups to shape every stage of the redevelopment. OasisUK will lead youth forums, grass roots listening groups&park based engagement sessions so that local voices guide decisions around design, programming&access. We will work closely with students from Oasis Arena&local schools to ensure the new sports spaces reflect their priorities.They will help shape opening hours, inclusive design, and pathways into coaching, volunteering, and leadership. Through partnership work with Palace for Life, YP will also contribute ideas around mentoring and wellbeing support, helping us build an environment that feels safe and empowering. Grassroots clubs - including football and athletics groups-will play a key role in shaping coaching pathways and community sessions.Their insight will ensure the new 3G pitch and MUGA offer inclusive, affordable opportunities that reflect the real needs of young players and families.These organisations will help design programmes,co deliver sessions&support YP into sustained participation. As the project develops, YP&community partners will have active roles in planning, coaching, volunteering, and ongoing stewardship of the facilities. By involving them at every step, we will ensure the spaces remain relevant, welcoming, genuinely owned by the community. Our approach ensures we are not simply providing new sports spaces-we are building them with the very people who will use, protect, and thrive in them.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in unlocking spaces for and access to physical activity and sport so far? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had , and or what impact do you envision having in the future?
Our initiative will significantly increase access to physical activity and sport by opening high‑quality facilities that young people can use consistently and affordably. The new 3G pitch and improved MUGA will replace limited or oversubscribed spaces with year‑round opportunities for grassroots football, basketball, tennis, and general activity. This will increase participation and create safe, well‑managed environments where young people feel welcome and supported. In the first year, we expect 500–700 young people to take part weekly, rising to 1,000+ annually by year three. With better availability, inclusive sessions, and reduced cost barriers, we anticipate strong engagement from young people who currently have “nowhere local to play.” The wider impact will be seen in improved confidence, wellbeing, and stronger connections to the local area. Through engagement in OCHAP, young people have said they want safe spaces that feel “theirs.” These facilities will build pride, belonging, and positive perceptions of their neighbourhood, reducing isolation and increasing motivation to stay active. Long‑term, the project will create pathways into coaching, officiating, volunteering, and sports‑based education. Working with Oasis, Palace for Life, and grassroots clubs, we will create opportunities that build work‑ready skills and qualifications. This has strong potential to reduce NEET levels by offering sustained roles, mentoring, and progression routes for young people at risk of disengagement. Ultimately, this initiative will create lasting change: higher activity levels, stronger community connections, and a generation of young people with safe, accessible, inspiring places to play, learn, and develop.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Our initiative is innovative because it transforms not only the facilities but the way young people and the community access and shape local sports spaces. Using the Oasis Village model, we bring schools, families, grassroots clubs, community hubs, all stronger partners, together to co‑design and co‑steward shared spaces. This place‑based approach is unique locally and goes far beyond a standard facility upgrade. Instead of keeping school facilities closed outside school hours, we are opening land for genuine shared use. The new 3G pitch and MUGA will be designed for community access, with open booking, safe lighting, inclusive programming and joint management between Oasis, the Hub, Palace for Life and grassroots clubs. This directly tackles long‑standing barriers around cost, availability and exclusion. Our approach is original in how it integrates education, community development and sport into one connected system. Young people will move from participation into volunteering, coaching, officiating and sports‑based qualifications, supported by local partners. This creates a clear development pipeline rather than isolated sessions. A key innovation is our commitment to youth co‑creation. Young people will help shape programme content, opening hours, safeguarding features and opportunities linked to leadership and employment. Their ideas will directly influence how the spaces run, ensuring they feel ownership rather than simply attending. By unlocking land, strengthening partnerships and embedding youth leadership, the initiative shifts local norms about who community sports spaces belong to. It reimagines access and establishes a sustainable model where facilities are shared, trusted and designed with the people who rely on them most.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your initiative up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
We are setting this initiative up for long term success through a proven, place based model built on strong partnerships, operational experience, and deep community trust. Oasis has already shown its ability to run and sustain major community assets through Oasis St Martin’s Village, Oasis Community Hub: Ashburton Park, and the local Playzone. These demonstrate that we know how to activate spaces, grow participation, and manage facilities sustainably. Sustainability is built into our approach. The 3G pitch and MUGA will operate through a mixed model of free and low cost youth provision, community bookings, and partner led sessions that generate income for long term maintenance. The Oasis Village model embeds staff, volunteers, and grassroots clubs into daily delivery, reducing costs and strengthening shared ownership. A key strength is the trust we already hold with local partners. Grassroots football and athletics clubs, Palace for Life, local schools, and Croydon Council view Oasis as a reliable steward of community spaces and are committed to co delivery as the facilities open. To scale the initiative, we are developing a replicable model that shows how school land, community hubs, and local authority partnerships can unlock sports spaces in areas of need. With additional investment and partners, we aim to extend this approach to more Oasis sites, expand leadership pathways, and grow a wider network of community coaches and volunteers. Our long term vision is a connected network of community led sports hubs across South London - safe, affordable, and built around young people’s needs. With proven experience, strong partnerships, and community trust, we are well placed to deliver it.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
This initiative is delivered through a strong partnership model built on shared responsibility, collective leadership, and deep trust between organisations. Oversight is provided by an Executive Group made up of Croydon Council, Oasis UK, Oasis Community Hub: Ashburton Park, Palace for Life, and key grassroots sports clubs. This group ensures that decisions, planning, safeguarding, and long term vision are shaped collectively, with each partner bringing their expertise and commitment to the table. As the landowner, Croydon Council plays a central role in ensuring the redevelopment aligns with local priorities, planning requirements, and wider regeneration ambitions. Oasis UK will lead coordination across partners, ensuring the project is integrated into the Oasis Village model and underpinned by strong operational planning, safeguarding, and youth focused practice. Through Oasis Community Hub: Ashburton Park, we maintain a direct link with local families, young people, and community groups, ensuring their voices continue to guide the development and day to day use of the space. We will work with all partners to ensure everyone is contributing through their club expertise. What makes this structure effective is the level of shared ownership already in place. Partners are not simply supporting the project - they see it as their own investment in the future of the area and are committed to playing an ongoing role in programming, access, and the long term stewardship of the facilities. This collaborative approach ensures the initiative is stable, realistic, and deeply embedded in the community from day one.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
We have a clear set of milestones to bring this initiative from development to delivery. Our first and most significant milestone is securing planning permission for the land in partnership with Croydon Council. This will include detailed design work, community consultation, environmental assessments, and agreement on access, lighting, and safeguarding considerations. Alongside the planning process, we will continue co creation with young people, families, and grassroots clubs to refine programme needs, usage patterns, and operational priorities. Their input will shape the final design and support our planning submission. Once planning permission is granted, we will move into the procurement and construction phase, appointing contractors and beginning the build of the 3G pitch and improvements to the MUGA. During this period, the Executive Group will finalise operating procedures, community access agreements, safeguarding frameworks, and partnership roles. As construction progresses, we will develop the programme launch plan, covering staffing, volunteer pathways, coaching partnerships, and community booking systems. Agreements with Palace for Life and grassroots clubs will be confirmed to support immediate delivery once the facilities open. Following construction, we will run a soft launch period to test sessions, bookings, and safety processes before the full public launch. The final milestone is the official opening of the new sports facilities and Sports Academy offer, supported by partners, schools, and the wider community. From there, we will monitor impact and prepare for long term growth and wider replication.
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details.
1. Staff Time and Backfill – £4,000 2. Travel and Meeting Costs – £1,000 3. Community Engagement and Co‑Creation Costs – £2,000 4. Specialist Support, Technical Advice, or Consultancy – £3,000
