Didcot First uses its influence to support, partner with, and embrace organisations in the town that are focused on delivering a better quality of life to the local residents. Didcot First works in close partnership with key stakeholders, including charities, community groups, education providers and businesses, some of whom are contributing members of the organisation.
Didcot First was integral in the founding of The Didcot Powerhouse Fund in 2021, which was set up to address inequality in Didcot and the surrounding villages. In 2021. Didcot First provided the seed funding to assist with its administration, hosting and also became a major Quantum Donor into the fund.
In 2023, Didcot First set up the Didcot Community Forum which identifies priority areas, working with local charities and organisations to influence change and improvement.
Over the years, Didcot First has proactively supported community and business activities and is credited with introducing Cafe Scientifique, which is part of a much larger network, and was introduced to deliver monthly talks and discussion on topics relating to science and the environment. They take place every 3rd Tuesday of the month and you can see the latest Cafe Scientifique events here.
The Didcot Garden Town and its wider area of influence is growing rapidly, and is a hotspot in the UK for the construction of new homes, as well as businesses. Didcot First is keen to ensure that Didcot receives the support it needs to successfully contribute towards the economic growth and prosperity of South Oxfordshire and beyond.
Our Stakeholders
Key local employers, science and business parks have invested their time and money in Didcot First through an annual contribution which gives them representation on the board, along with observers from key community organisations, schools and housing.
Our History
The Orchard Centre opened in 2005, funded by SODC, the same year that Didcot Town won the FA Vase, a huge achievement for the local football team.
A group of key people wanted to maintain the positive momentum this had created and led by Alison Adams, Di Chesterman and David Pryor, the group reached out to others including the then MP for Didcot and Wantage, Ed Vaizey. Together, they founded Didcot First and it was launched on 17th November 2006, as a not-for-profit organisation, limited by guarantee. The first challenge was to fund Didcot First and with great willingness, a number of major local business in Didcot stepped forward, offering a Director for the Didcot First Board, accompanied by an annual funding contribution.
Didcot First continues to actively promote Didcot and to address inequality by helping it to overcome challenges such as the pandemic which have impacted on the local population. Didcot First’s Board meets quarterly to discuss key issues and to try to resolve them where possible by working in partnership with other local organisations.