Oxfordshire community groups invited to apply for share of £525k funding

Grass roots organisations that help support people to live well and independently in their own communities are being invited to apply for council funding to further enhance the work they do.

Oxfordshire County Council will relaunch its community capacity grants and connected communities fund for 2024/25 on Monday 16 September, with the overall pot now standing at £525,000.

Councillor Tim Bearder, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: “Community groups in Oxfordshire are one of our most valuable assets that support people to live well and independently in their own community.

“On the surface, they offer an enjoyable hobby or place to get together and socialise. But underneath they’re providing day to day support for people who might otherwise suffer from isolation and poor health. The simple activity of going to these groups can make a huge difference for someone, enabling them to live happily and independently at home.

“We don’t underestimate the value of these groups. They are the lifeblood of our Oxfordshire Way vision and we want to make sure they are supported to continue to do their essential work.”

The funding is split into two areas. The connected communities fund offers groups faster access to grants of up to £5,000 and is administered by Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and Community First Oxfordshire.

The second is the larger community capacity grant fund that will consider applications from organisations looking for £5,000 to £20,000. Administered by Oxfordshire Community Foundation, this programme is for more established organisations to enable them to significantly enhance the work they do.

Due to the sizeable sums of money involved in the community capacity grants scheme and the high number of applicants, requests are subject to an assessment panel and generally have a lower chance of receiving funding compared to the connected communities fund.

Community groups may only apply for one grant. Simultaneous requests to both funds will not be accepted.

Connected communities fund

Last year, Charlbury community workshop received £2,750 through the connected communities fund, helping it to officially launch the centre and budget for its running costs for the next 12 months.

David Court, Chairman of Charlbury Community Workshop, said: “The money we received through the connected communities fund has had a massive impact on getting us to where we are now. We can operate safely and invite even more members of our community to come along and find out what we’re all about.”

 Last year, 62 groups benefited from the connected communities fund, each receiving a share of £175,000.

The application window for the connected communities fund will open on Monday 16 September and will remain open until all the money has been distributed.

Larger community capacity grants

Alternatively, organisations looking for more than £5,000 can apply to the larger community capacity grants fund, offering access to up to £20,000 of the total £341,250 pot.

Last year, 24 organisations received a share of £325,000 from the community capacity fund. Around 100 eligible organisations applied. Oxfordshire Community Foundation was able to find a further £83,000 from other generous donors to fund an additional six organisations.

Cholsey Volunteers received £12,500 from the council’s larger grants programme last year, enabling them to enhance their service for residents. This included the development of a community larder and food bank as well as a new Cholsey Welcome Space for villagers to meet and socialise.

Jane Tyndall, Development Officer with Cholsey Volunteers, said: “We are enormously grateful for the financial support we have received through the council’s community capacity grants.

“This has not just helped us to survive and grow but has enabled us to become what seems like a permanent fixture in the village and encouraged a huge number of ‘can do’ people to get involved. The village is a far richer place for it.”

The application process for these larger grants takes more time, with proposals being considered by a panel from Oxfordshire Community Foundation in November.

Details of the fund are now available, with organisations being asked to submit their application between Monday 16 September and Monday 14 October, when they will then be assessed. 

How to apply

Organisations looking to apply for up to £5,000 through the connected communities fund, alongside additional support from Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action and Community First Oxfordshire, can find more information online.

Groups hoping for an amount between £5,000 and £20,000 can apply online to Oxfordshire Community Foundation.

More details, including the specific criteria and tips for a successful application can be found at oxfordshire.gov.uk/CommunityCapacityGrant