Donors used to gifting their Winter Fuel Payment to the community foundation’s Surviving Winter appeal can now donate to our new Health and Wellbeing Fund, which has a wider remit to support anyone living in Oxfordshire in isolation, leading to loneliness and ill health.
Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant (and OCF President) Tim Stevenson and his team have set up a scheme to assist voluntary organisations in the county, by extending the range of potential candidates from whom they may wish to select trustees or chairs.
The Oxford Times has just published its quarterly Business Barometer – the results of a survey of local business decision-makers. This issue focuses on how businesses engage with community and charitable organisations, with results suggesting that the corporate sector has a lot to give if charities can find more sophisticated ways to approach them.
OCF’s grant-making in 2014-15 showed solid support for groups that enable people with disabilities to take a fuller part in their community, representing 34% of grants made. Our grant-making also tells the story of our donor-advised funds.
A combination of new donor-advised funds, match funding and more strategic grant-making means the 2014-15 financial year was our best yet. By building on our income successes with Gift Aid and an impressive investment fund performance, we have been able to make bigger community investments than ever before.
OCF was delighted to attend the grand opening of the social enterprise cafe in Witney, which was unveiled during a surprise visit from the Prime Minister. The opening is the latest chapter of a success story that has seen OCF support Yellow Submarine from the very start.
A group of enthusiastic school children took part in an interactive workshop with author-illustrator Emily Gravett as part of the annual Maggie’s Day event at The Story Museum on Thursday. The day is a chance for Maggie Evans’ family and friends to remember her and to celebrate her love of books and stories.
Funds raised during the Surviving Winter appeal in Oxfordshire total just over £12,000, and have been used to support a variety of community groups across the county who are expert in meeting the needs of elderly and vulnerable people.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation has partnered with national charity Comic Relief to provide £10,000 in grant funding to 13 different groups across the county that provide vital support to all sorts of vulnerable people.
Grant applications are now open for our standard grants round, with access to a single online form that allows community groups to apply for support from a collective of different funders.