Wolfson alum receives prestigious 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Local Community Engagement Award

We were delighted to hear that Wolfson alum Arran Davis and the team at Oxford Young Sport Leaders Programme won the Vice-Chancellor’s 2025 Local Community Engagement Award for their work. The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards recognise the achievements and celebrate success of people across the whole University, from academics to technical and support staff.

While a DPhil student at Wolfson, Arran was a javelin thrower on the Oxford University Blues Athletics team and a recipient of Wolfson’s High Profile Support Grant for Sport. Off the track, Arran used this support to co-lead an initiative connecting local youth with University athletes who acted as their mentors in sport and education. With the help of Oxford SDG Impact Lab and many individuals, including former Olympian Oliver Cook, these community relationships led to the Oxford Young Sports Leaders Programme (OYSLP).

Over six-week periods, children in the OYSLP participate in workshops led by academics and in sports events with University teams. The OYSLP aims to provide children with mentorship and a chance to become acquainted with life and learning at university. As a postdoctoral researcher at the University, Arran led OYLSP workshops on his research, which shows that positive social environments can facilitate physical activity, and that doing sport together can build social bonds and improve health and wellbeing. Arran also led OYSLP sports events, sharing his experiences as an athlete; before coming to Oxford, Arran was an NCAA Division I Track & Field Academic All-American at South Dakota State University.

The OYSLP were recognised by the VC Awards team for their outstanding contribution to youth development, educational access and community connection.

Our congratulations to Arran and his team – we look forward to seeing how OYSLP continues to grow.