In publishing this second edition of Oxfordshire Uncovered, we reveal the latest headlines about the barriers that stop people in Oxfordshire from thriving, and why charities and philanthropy are so vital in our county.
OCF is delighted to have partnered with local restauranteur Aziz Rahman to launch The Komorun Nessa Fund, in memory of his late mother. The fund will help projects that support families and friends of those experiencing mental health problems in east Oxford and beyond.
The Community Capacity fund will open again in September/October for another round of applications, with funding awarded by December. Thanks to Oxfordshire County Council there will be £325,000 to distribute to grassroots organisations throughout Oxfordshire.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Marjorie Glasgow BEM, has been welcomed as our new President in an online reception where she gave her inaugural speech to donors and supporters of OCF.
The results are in for the 2023 Foundation Practice Rating (FPR), and we are thrilled to announce that Oxfordshire Community Foundation has scored an overall ‘A’ rating alongside the Wellcome Trust, a score only achieved by 7 out of 100 foundations.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation has recently partnered with Oxfordshire County Council to distribute Community Capacity grants to grassroots organisations throughout the county. The grants aim to create the conditions for people to connect with others and thrive, promoting independence and self-reliance within the local communities.
We will launch a second grants round in early summer to alleviate the ongoing cost of living crisis across the county. We are working with local charities and community organisations to help us direct funding where it is most needed. To ensure our funding has impact and targets the current challenges linked to the cost of living, we are running both a survey and an online workshop to consult with the local delivery organisations working directly in our communities.
Summer 2022 saw the launch of our Cost of Living Fund, bringing local funders together to take action on this critical and urgent issue. A large round of grant funding has been distributed – but the crisis is not over, and local charitable organisations still need philanthropic support to continue their life-saving work.
In our new impact report, we look at some of the stories of change behind our grant-making total, which has exceeded £2m for the second year running. Accompanying our 2021-22 audited accounts, the report gives an update from our CEO and Chair on changes in 2022 and plans for 2023.
The Didcot Powerhouse Fund launched its 2022 Impact Report at an event on 2nd February, sharing the positive outcomes of their grant-giving last year. Chair Elizabeth Paris thanked OCF for their help in administering the fund and pulling the report together.