Thanks to the generosity of some key donors, OCF was able to boost the government- and lottery-funded Youth Social Action Fund by 172%, meaning we could make 15 grants totalling £72,870 to local charities leading the way in engaging young people.
Representatives from 17 charitable funding and support organisations in Oxfordshire came together on 13th June at Freeths to discuss how best to support the voluntary sector locally. The forum included presentations by 360 Giving and The Good Exchange.
The Beacon Awards for philanthropy were announced at a glittering ceremony at Mansion House last week, with 12 people recognised for their generosity, innovation and collaboration. OCF supporters Jane Wates OBE and Monawar Hussain were amongst those shortlisted, in the company of winners Dame Kelly Holmes and Dame Vivienne Westwood.
OCF recently commissioned a team from Oxford University’s Student Consultancy to research the scope and impact of local government funding cuts on the charitable sector. OCF plans to use the findings to direct funds towards the areas of greatest need in Oxfordshire.
SOFEA, a social enterprise that employs disadvantaged young people in its food redistribution centre, benefited from collaborative funding coordinated by OCF. The equipment purchased has enabled them to triple the amount of food they can pass on to local charities.
Oxfordshire Community Foundation is working with funding platform The Good Exchange in a bid to forge new partnerships with charitable trusts, local authorities and social investment partners, and provide complementary funding to charities doing great work in the county.
At the end-of-festival celebration dinner on Monday, Jayne paid tribute to some of the local women working with OCF to alleviate the suffering of others, from helping the children of prisoners, to promoting restorative justice, to addressing mental health issues.
In this timely book, John Nickson, one of Britain’s most experienced and successful fundraisers, argues that there will be catastrophic effects on our democracy unless we all commit to creating the social, cultural and intellectual capital we need to sustain society and our economy.
Good Food Oxford was launched in December 2013 in order to help support the existing work of many organisations in and around the city working to make our food system more nourishing, less wasteful and more sustainable. OCF continues to support GFO as they grow.
A Syrian couple who fled their home to escape war have given their heartfelt thanks to the people of Oxford for making them feel so welcome in the city. The family has been supported by Asylum Welcome, one of the charities that received substantial funding from one of OCF’s donors.