Our Pitch

Check this out! 😎

Hello all!

After a long winter of admin, planning and funding bids, I'm sorry to say that our large and most ambitious funding bids were all unsuccessful. They all had similar feedback, essentially due to it being our first year as a CIC, and needing to provide more evidence of the positive impact it would have on the community long term.

But we were applauded for the ambitious project, its potential, and the work that went into the funding bids. The decision responses all provided valuable information on how to make it more successful in general and in future bids :)

So we wanted to say a massive thank you to the incredible support and encouragement we've been given so far through our crowdfunder and messages of support from you all, which spurred us on to go big! 🙏

For this coming season and the immediate future, we are hoping to run mini music and football sessions/events/collaborations along with some other exciting community development ideas... Watch this space

So this is a new chapter of networking, building relationships in the region, developing ideas, engaging in communities to establish ourselves, as part of the evolution of Our Pitch CIC!

Disappointing news, but we're ready and excited for the challenges ahead 💪

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Our Pitch - Supporters Free, alcohol-free festival uniting football, arts & wellbeing, showcasing local projects and creating pathways into sport & creative work.

A few hours ago, our Crowdfunder campaign went live! We've already had some amazing supporters make contributions which really warms the heart, thanks so much 😇🙏💪⚽

We would love to keep this momentum going, so please give this a share and spread the word!

Our Pitch Free, alcohol-free festival uniting football, arts & wellbeing, showcasing local projects and creating pathways into sport & creative work.

Meet another of our core partners! Shumba Arts

We’re really proud to have Shumba Arts as a core partner with Our Pitch 🙏

Based here in Devon, Shumba Arts brings people from all walks of life together through drumming, music, dance and song – building embodied connection, healthy communities and vibrant, joyful culture.

Their workshops are all about hands-on, participatory rhythm that’s open to all ages and abilities, creating that feeling of “one family, one planet” on and off the drum circle.

At Our Pitch, Shumba will be helping us weave that same energy into the festival – sitting alongside the football and wellbeing spaces to create something truly inclusive and alive.

Together with Our Pitch, we are aiming to deliver free drumming workshops in the lead up to the festival, culminating in live performances at the festival itself! We will also encourage attendees of Our Pitch festival to get involved and learn something new, hopefully igniting new passions and feelings of togetherness

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Go give them a follow and check out the incredible work they’re already doing in Devon

We’re delighted to share that Our Pitch CIC are official partners with the University of Exeter via their Community Exe Project! 🥳🙏

Community Exe is a free extra-curricular awards programme for boys aged 13–16 from under-resourced and low-participation areas across Devon and Somerset, building confidence and aspiration through four award pathways: Sport, Music & Communication, AI & Technology, and Young Leaders.

Together, we’ll create opportunities for participants in real world creative and sporting environments, volunteering opportunities and mentoring experiences through Our Pitch Festival 2026 – from event preparation such as supporting stages and arts workshops to helping coordinate football, wellbeing and other festival activities.

It’s all about building confidence, skills and a sense of belonging on and off the pitch. We will also provide them with training which can help to find future roles in the arts, wellbeing and sport industries 💪

We’re looking forward to welcoming Community Exe participants and mentors onto our common ground at Flowerpot Fields in July 2026!

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/scholars/community-exe/

www.our-pitch.org

This is Our Pitch — a new kind of festival bringing football, music, arts and wellness together on common ground. We not only want to create a welcoming and positive day festival, we want to create pathways into the arts, football and wellbeing for under-served members of the community!

We’re creating space where different worlds meet, hoping to reduce stigma from all sides:
– local musicians and global sounds
– grassroots football and creative performance
– families, artists, players, healers, and foodies

Our Pitch is for anyone who’s ever felt on the sidelines. For those who want to be part of something positive, inclusive and real.

The first event takes place in Exeter, Summer 2026 — the first date in our aim to create a movement 💪

Follow along, join in, and help us build it 🙏

https://www.instagram.com/ourpitchcic/profilecard/?igsh=ZGxzeGI3c3pyMTBw

🔗 our-pitch.org

The wheels are turning! Socials getting set up ahead of a very busy year preparing for next year's festival - Our Pitch :) Like, follow and share if you can for updates on our progress towards our pilot event in 2026... Hopefully the first of many 🙏