Steve Chalke announced as Palace for Life Patron
Baptist Minister, social activist, Founder of the Oasis Charitable Trust and lifelong Crystal Palace fan Steve Chalke has joined Palace for Life as an honorary Patron.
Steve Chalke, a lifelong Palace fan and social justice campaigner who founded the Oasis Charitable Trust, becomes the eleventh member of Palace for Life’s group of Patrons, joining the likes of Ed Warner, Saima Mohsin, Mark Bright, Ben Bailey Smith, the Rt Hon Steve Reed, Stephen Browett, Andy Johnson, Chuka Umunna, Susanna Reid and Eddie Izzard.
Growing up in Croydon next to Selhurst Park, Steve founded the Oasis charity in 1985 with the aim of building more inclusive communities. Today Oasis works across 10 countries, delivering supported housing, education, healthcare and children’s youth and family work – all designed to offer better life-choices and opportunities to all. In South London, Palace for Life enjoys a strong partnership with Oasis, working in many of its local schools and running sessions through Premier League Kicks and other programmes that support young people through sport.
In November 2024, Palace for Life began working with Oasis Academy Shirley Park, running weekly football sessions on their new astroturf pitch for children aged 8 to 18.
Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta also joined pupils at Oasis Academy Ryelands in Croydon late last year, inspiring them as he answered questions about his career, favourite goals, and what it was like to represent France in the 2024 Olympics.
Having trained at Spurgeon’s College in South London, Steve then served as a youth worker at Tonbridge Baptist Church, before founding Oasis and dedicating his life to social justice and community work. Chalke is also well known for being an author of over 40 books and as former presenter and now commentator on television and radio.
Mike Summers, Palace for Life CEO, said:“I’m really pleased Steve has agreed to become an Honorary Patron. He’s a lifelong Palace fan whose work in education and the community is genuinely inspiring. We’re building a strong partnership with Steve and Oasis to support young people, especially those from the toughest backgrounds, through football, education and mentoring – and having Steve involved in that as one of our Patrons is fantastic.”
Steve Chalke, the latest Patron to join Palace for Life
Steve Chalke said: “Palace has been part of my whole life. Even the inspiration for what was to become the Oasis Trust came to me, as a 14-year-old, wandering home from the youth group I attended on Holmesdale Road to Whitehorse Lane where I lived. So, as a passionate Eagles fan, becoming an Honorary Patron of Palace for Life is for me an extraordinary privilege; the integration of my beginnings with my passion to serve and support young people across South London and beyond.”