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.
In December 2022 The Cost of Living Fund awarded its first set of grants, totalling £286,165 to 42 local organisations, supporting charitable organisations working to help the most disadvantaged in our county cope with this unprecedented crisis.
As we start 2023, we are excited to be recruiting several roles which will strengthen our collaboration with Oxfordshire’s grassroots communities and much-valued donors, and reinforce our finance and governance.
As we come to the end of 2022, OCF reflects on a year of changes, challenges and community. Thank you for all of your support throughout 2022. We are taking a break for Christmas, closing our office (and laptops!) from the end of Thursday 22nd December. We will be back in January 2023 with further details on our plans for the year ahead.
We have received 86 applications to our Cost of Living Fund totalling more than £600,000. With the effects of recession looming, can you help us empower grassroots charities supporting people to make ends meet?
We have received 86 applications to our Cost of Living Fund totalling more than £600,000. With the effects of recession looming, can you help us empower grassroots charities supporting people to make ends meet?