Grants awarded to combat isolation and loneliness

The pandemic has created additional isolation and loneliness for many sectors of the community, leading to further mental health issues for some.  Projects funded will help with recovery from the adverse consequences of the pandemic and lockdowns, with grants totalling over £223,000 awarded to 48 organisations.   

A full list of all the groups supported by this round of grants is given below.

Grants were awarded from our Community Resilience Fund, set up at the start of the pandemic, as well as from Oxfordshire County Council’s contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF). By partnering with the County Council, this further generous donation enabled us to fund many more projects.

Many people were forced to become more isolated and consequently lonely because of the pandemic. Covid-19 caused much anxiety in the population, which has had a detrimental effect on mental health. Multiple lockdowns and self isolation have caused many people to become disconnected from society. Regaining confidence to meet up with friends and neighbours and for familiar activities to restart is essential to alleviating isolation and loneliness. OCF sought applications from organisations that were restarting activities or events to provide opportunities for people to get together or providing the resources to encourage people to access activities outside the home.

Yellow Submarine is a significant provider of dedicated learning disability services for adults and young people in Oxfordshire. Their adult services are 100% funded by fundraising. Their grant will be used to fund their Oxford Launchpad – weekly social club sessions for adult members. They want to help as many of their 18+ members as possible to maintain the social contacts they have made during term-time, as well as providing respite to families or carers. By challenging their members, as well as simply offering a fun social time, Yellow Submarine helps to build experience, resilience and confidence in its members.

The Maple Tree aims to help young families, in Wheatley and the surrounding area, to have the best start in life together. Successive lockdowns and anxiety associated with the pandemic more generally have resulted in a cohort of parents who have missed out on support from professional services and peers, and opportunities to make friends. Their babies and young children have missed key socialisation, development and learning experiences. They have had babies screaming inconsolably when they have come into a group situation for the first time. This project will enable The Maple Tree to run a regular weekly group for new parents to develop their confidence and skills.

OCF are now planning our grants for 2022, look out for new rounds opening in January

List of grants made in OCF’s COVID-19 grants round for Isolation and Loneliness