Today is the release date for The Z to A of Oxford Sport. It can be downloaded chapter by chapter or as a whole, or bought as a set of CDs, from this link:

http://www.audiogo.co.uk/audiobook/619951/the-z-a-of-oxford-sport-complete

The research behind this project is an example of Level’s approach to promoting sporting partnerships. It is important to understand the history of an institution or a community if its talents are to be released in collaborative ventures.

Whether it is the release of an audiobook or of the combined talents of a partnership, Level are committed to connecting those with significant influence to those who deserve a more level playing-field in society. In the coming months, therefore, I intend to explore not only some of the characters mentioned in the Z to A but how sporting partnerships can make a difference in Oxford and beyond.

The former Cabinet Secretary, Lord (Gus) O’Donnell, has made the point recently that only, ‘One in a hundred people belong to a political party. If you add up all the political parties together, there are fewer members than in the Caravan Club.’

The Caravan Club has over one million members and a rival association, the Camping and Caravanning Club, has over 400,000 members.

In our work, Level Partnerships are constantly reminded of the huge numbers of people who support sport, the arts and good causes. The London Marathon this month and the Great Manchester Run next month are two examples of the way in which elite performance, mass participation and charities are brought together in this country. Earlier blogs have referred to the Great Ethiopian Run.

In this year’s London Marathon, the tragedy of Claire Squires’ death was followed by the most moving of public reactions, demonstrating the public’s support of charities and of those who give so generously of themselves in these mass participation runs.

The first woman to die in the 30 years of the London Marathon, Claire Squires was a 30 year-old from Leicestershire who was used to undertaking challenging events for different charities. The last man to die in the London Marathon was a 22 year-old fitness instructor so at one level we know that there is a small risk for even the fittest and most practised of runners but last Sunday’s death still came as a shock.

Then came the impact of technology. Like many people running for charity, Claire Squires had created a JustGiving page which allows anyone to contribute easily on-line in small amounts to her good cause. This time, she was running for the Samaritans and, until her death, the page had registered £500 but she had run a marathon for the Children’s Society, raising £750, and had climbed Kilimanjaro in March this year with a friend, Nicola Short, raising £1500 for the RAF Association. This is the often hidden world of good people having fun, stretching themselves and being supported by friends and strangers who are inspired to give to good causes.

Following her death, traditional media and social media such as Twitter and facebook then spread word of what had happened. There were touching tributes from family and friends. It emerged that Claire’s mother, Priscilla known as Cilla, has been volunteering for the Samaritans for almost a quarter of a century, that Claire has three sisters and that ten years ago, their brother Grant had died of an overdose following the death of his girlfriend in a car accident.

Within two or three days, 50,000 people had donated £500,000 through Claire’s JustGiving page to the Samaritans. The family’s engagement with the public was dignified, warm and moving: please ‘don’t stop giving, just like Claire’. Now Claire’s legacy includes donations which total, together with gift aid, over one million pounds.

Goodness knows no bounds. As news of Claire Squires’ life and death spread around the world, so donations were received from all over the globe.

The widow’s mite is welcomed through JustGiving. When I looked at the JustGiving page, the latest donation was for £3. Donors can be anonymous or give a name. They can add a comment. A dozen donations earlier, there was one for £50 with this message: ‘You’re an inspiration even after your parting. God bless you Claire. Deepest condolences to your family. Brisbane, Australia.’

Of course, if you go back to the earliest messages, you will see ones from those who knew her and who were full of optimism about seeing her after the race but one of the first from the wider public begins by explaining that, ‘I never met or knew Claire. I felt utterly compelled to donate after reading about Claire today…’ and another shows how other participants identify themselves and identify with Claire as, from ‘a fellow runner and fundraiser’, came the message, ‘Claire, RIP – the angels will look after you now.xx’.

This is all of a piece with the point that even the former Cabinet Secretary can see that people identify more with causes in the voluntary sector than with political parties. Supporting these charities not only makes a difference but also contributes to our sense of belonging. Moreover, our associations are not limited to one charity or one mode of giving, whether of our time, talents, money or emotional commitment. Almost all of the causes are recognised by others as worthy and almost all share with Level a commitment to creating a more level playing-field in society. They connect us to the future impact of charities and often to their past and to a long tradition of making a difference. Described by her friend Victoria Hauser as, ‘the most beautiful person inside and out’, Claire Squires epitomises the Good Samaritan.