Powerhouse Funds offer streamlined grant application for southern Oxfordshire-based charitable organisations
Oxfordshire Community Foundation is proud to be supporting both the well-established Didcot Powerhouse Fund and the brand-new Amazon Powerhouse Community Fund to deliver their separate grant–making through a coordinated approach in 2027.
With overlapping areas of geographic focus, similar application timelines, and complementary funding themes, Oxfordshire Community Foundation has worked with both Funds to streamline the application process so that organisations eligible to apply to both Funds only need to submit one application.
The Didcot Powerhouse Fund has already given away £515,000 through 88 grants since 2021. These grants have helped local organisations working hard to address pockets of disadvantage in Greater Didcot and the surrounding villages. In 2027, The Didcot Powerhouse Fund will continue to support charitable activity across the area known as the Didcot Garden Town Area of Influence. The Theme for Powerhouse grants in 2027 is Powered by Purpose: Local action; lasting impact. Over the last 9 months Powerhouse and The Didcot Community Forum have undertaken a Community Mapping, working with the community to identify the gaps and strengths in Greater Didcot and the surrounding villages. Through this mapping the local community has identified gaps in local resources, and beneficiaries with priority needs. The Powerhouse Grants Panel will be guided by this community consultation. A report from the Community Mapping can be read here.
The Amazon Powerhouse Community Fund, launched in October 2026, covers a wider geographic area, covering a 7-mile radius of Didcot that spans Abingdon, Didcot and Wallingford. The Amazon Powerhouse Community Fund has four funding priorities: STEM education, local skills development, environmental sustainability and local social impact.
The application process
There will be one Expression of Interest (EOI) application for any charitable organisation applying to either The Didcot Powerhouse Fund, The Amazon Powerhouse Community Fund, or both. On the EOI, groups will be able to indicate which Fund they wish to be considered for.
Each application will then be considered by the relevant fund(s) separately. If you select both Funds, each Fund will assess the same Expression of Interest separately.
The Didcot Powerhouse Fund has a second, invitation-only Detailed Application stage.
The Amazon Powerhouse Community Fund makes its decision from the Expression of Interest, without a Detailed Application stage.
Helping with your application
We will be holding a webinar at 12.30pm on Wednesday 9th December for any groups considering submitting an EOI to either Fund. You will have the opportunity to hear more about each Fund and ask questions. For details of the webinar and to register please use this link.
Please note that attendees must register in advance to join the webinar.
The Didcot Powerhouse Fund covers The Didcot Garden Town Area, indicated by the purple outline in the map image below.
The Amazon Powerhouse Community Fund covers a 7-mile radius from the centre of Didcot, covering Abingdon and Wallingford, as shown by the orange circle.
At least 90% of beneficiaries of a grant must live within the specified geography for each Fund.
Criteria for any group applying:
- The size of a group’s income must be between £1,000 and £1m. If organisations are making a joint bid, this applies to the total group income
- Applicants must be one of the following: Registered charity; Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO); Unincorporated Club or Association; Community Benefit Society; Community Interest Company (CIC); Company Limited by Guarantee (companies limited by shares are ineligible)
- Applications from individuals, for profit companies, public bodies or statutory organisations are not eligible
- You must have at least three trustees or directors or committee members who are not related to each other
- Applicants must have a bank account in the organisation’s own name with at least two unrelated signatories, which has been open for three months or more at the point of submitting an EOI.
- Applicants must be able to provide detail on organisational finances, whether through audited accounts for the most recent financial year, recent management accounts or a comprehensive income/expenditure document
- Applicants must have been in operation for at least one year: if constituted for less than one year but active for longer please demonstrate activity.
- At least 90% of the beneficiaries of a grant must live in the target geography
- While impact may take longer to achieve, groups receiving a grant from must commit to a significant proportion of the project implementation being completed by 31st December 2027.
Additional application criteria for Didcot Powerhouse Fund grants:
- Didcot Powerhouse previous grant recipients may apply again if the new project meets the current year theme. Performance against previous KPIs will be taken into account in assessing applications
Here to help
If you have any questions about applying to either The Didcot Powerhouse Fund or the Amazon Powerhouse Community Fund, please email grants@oxfordshire.org, call us on 01865 798666 or WhatsApp us on 07927 539699.