Blue Shirt Bunch helps residents flying solo at events
The Blue Shirt Bunch is trying to make Oxford events more inclusive by lending their time to locals nervous about going out alone.
There’s a new crew in town helping residents who may be anxious about attending events alone.
The Blue Shirt Bunch, an initiative from Age-Friendly Oxford, began in March as a way to encourage people to go to engage with programming in Oxford even if they may be nervous about attending alone. Jennifer Heston-Mullins, coordinator of Age-Friendly’s leadership team, said the city holds plenty of free events year round, but it can be intimidating to go without knowing who you may sit with or talk to.
“We thought, what if people knew that there were going to be some people there that would be totally open to sitting with them, chatting with them, having a conversation, making a connection?” Heston-Mullins said. After asking that question, their solution was the Blue Shirt Bunch.
The Bunch is made up of a team of a dozen volunteers. As the name suggests, they attend several events each month in bright blue shirts so attendees know they’re part of the group. Heston-Mullins said they make an effort to walk around and be friendly so that others feel welcome.
“We’re … helping people feel included and welcomed into this community that we know is amazing, but sometimes it’s hard to make a connection if you’re new,” Heston-Mullins said.
Since March, Heston-Mullins said the Blue Shirt Bunch has attended several events including the city’s Eclipse Festival and the Kiwanis Club’s Pancake Day. Several people at each event sat down and chatted with Heston-Mullins and other volunteers about their lives and experiences in Oxford.
Age-Friendly Oxford recently received a $955 grant for community outreach from the Oxford Community Foundation. Heston-Mullins said the money will go toward buying a bench cover so that people can see where to go during events to chat with the Blue Shirt Bunch.
Events in the Oxford Free Press print calendar with a blue shirt next to them will have Blue Shirt Bunch volunteers in attendance.
