A woman and young child visiting a community foodbank and selecting food.
Living Essentials Fund

Having a place to call home, which is warm and with readily available food, is something many of us take for granted. Yet for the most vulnerable in our county this may be unaffordable. Food insecurity, keeping warm and having stable housing continue to be a huge challenge for some Oxfordshire residents.

We are dedicated to raising awareness and funds around this issue. Could you or your business join us in stepping up to this challenge?

The Living Essentials Fund will make grants to grassroots charitable organisations working to help the most disadvantaged in our county who are struggling to afford the basics for living a stable and safe life. We will fund practical support that enables people to survive in the short term, alongside preventative solutions for them to thrive in the long term. The grants round will open in autumn 2024 to support charitable groups through the critical winter months.

Our goal is to raise at least £60,000 to add to the £90,000 which has already been raised through our generous donors and other funding partners. By working together and pooling funds we are all able to have a bigger impact together.

The need in Oxfordshire

Our recent research report Oxfordshire Uncovered showcases the fact that too many of Oxfordshire’s residents are facing a daily struggle to secure a safe place to call home, which is warm and with readily available healthy food.

Although the cost-of-living crisis has eased for some, the lack of affordability of other essentials such as fuel and food is still affecting many households, adding to the squeeze on household finances. Energy bills are expected to increase by 9% in October 2024 (BBC News, 2024), whilst alongside this Oxford residents spend even more of their income on rent than those in London. Those on the lowest incomes are also burdened with historic debt, eating into savings and putting them at risk of homelessness, affecting children and families.

Our Living Essentials Fund builds on our previous grant-making through our Cost of Living Fund where we awarded grants totalling £559,000 during 2022 and 2023.

Oxfordshire's charity network

Crucially, Oxfordshire has a precious network of grassroots organisations that are doing essential work to help people stay afloat:

  • They know and understand the need in their communities, enabling them to make local choices that are best for their neighbourhoods.
  • These small organisations have excellent reach into the most disadvantaged areas, and have the trust of hard-to-reach communities.
  • They offer an essential safety net, filling the gap for what the state cannot provide.

Grants to these organisations will deliver help where it is needed most, supporting the smallest charities to continue their critical work. OCF believes that by investing in the smallest organisations, many of which are run by volunteers and have no capacity for their own fundraising, we will be making the biggest impact with the funds we have available.

How you can donate
  • The best way to donate to our Living Essentials Fund is online via our Enthuse donation platform. Enthuse gathers Gift Aid for us and makes the process easy for you. Donate online now
  • Payment by bank transfer can be made. Please contact the team on 01865 798 666 or ocf@oxfordshire.org and we will share our bank details.
  • Don’t forget to complete a Gift Aid form to really boost the value of your donation.
  • If you would prefer to donate by CAF or cheque, please make it payable to “Oxfordshire Community Foundation”, write “Living Essentials Fund” on the reverse, and post it to us at 3 Woodin’s Way, Oxford, OX1 1HD.

A 25% uplift is also added to your donation via Gift Aid wherever possible. 

Thank you so much for supporting us in this appeal.

Quick links

OCF launches appeal to raise £60,000 for Living Essentials Fund

Local individuals, businesses and colleges asked to support Oxfordshire Community Foundation’s Living Essentials Fund that will support people facing a daily struggle to provide the basics of shelter, food and warmth for themselves and their families.