Grant to help improve quality of life for people and communities

Voluntary and community organisations in South Oxfordshire can now apply for up to £75,000 in funding for projects that help improve people’s quality of life.

The funding comes from the latest round of the South Oxfordshire District Council Capital Grant Scheme. The council has a total budget of £320,000. Projects can receive a minimum of £1,000 and up to 50 per cent of their total costs, to the maximum value of £75,000.

The grant gives organisations a financial boost towards capital expenditure such as making improvements to buildings or play areas.

Applicants must show how their projects will support the council’s Corporate Plan priorities including ‘protect and restore our natural world’, ‘action on the climate emergency’ and ‘improved economic and community well-being’.

Organisations eligible to apply are:

Town and parish councils
Non-profit businesses and Community Interest Companies
Community-based organisations

Previous projects that were awarded funding include Holton Parish Council who have created a public space for the community including a play area (see picture), and SOFEA who used their grant to upgrade the IT equipment ensuring staff and young people benefit from current technology. Wallingford Sports Trust want to use their grant to install solar panels and a battery to the main pavilion and replace the floodlighting on their sports park.

Cllr Maggie Filipova-Rivers Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing at South Oxfordshire District Council said: “It’s brilliant to see projects awarded in previous grant rounds being completed and benefitting local communities. The Capital Grant scheme has such a huge scope to help organisations with large scale projects they may not otherwise be able to afford.

“This grant scheme allows voluntary organisations and town and parish councils to focus on making projects a reality and to continue their work to help people for years to come. We encourage our local voluntary sector and town and parish councils to grasp this funding opportunity to help bring impactful projects to life.”

The Capital Grant Scheme is now open for applications until midday on Friday 3 November 2023. There’s more information on the council’s website southoxon.gov.uk/grants

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Notes for editors

Applications are reviewed by the Community Enablement team and council members on the Community Grants Panel. Projects are awarded points which determines how much funding they will receive.