A new round of grants of up to £5,000 to support COVID-19 response and recovery is now open for applications. Priority will be given to projects that are responding to the latest lockdown. Applications will be assessed and funds allocated on a rolling, weekly basis.
In common with the first national lockdown in Spring 2020, OCF aims to respond rapidly to the changing COVID-19 situation by quickly making funds available to local charities and community groups after the announcement of a third national lockdown and school closures earlier this week.
PLEASE NOTE: since this grants round was opened in early January, we have been overwhelmed with applications. For this reason we will be suspending applications on Wednesday 13th January at midday so that we can prioritise work to assess existing applications. We hope to be able to reopen these grants at a later date.
Whilst some of the projects funded in 2020 have built resilience in community organisations and helped them establish new ways of working that will still be applicable now, we know that the latest restrictions will have a sudden and negative affect on some communities. The fund will enable organisations with an annual income up to £3 million better support the most vulnerable – in particular in our priority areas of educational disadvantage, loneliness and isolation/mental health, and homelessness.
These grants are funded from our Community Resilience Fund and aim to give organisations vital funding as they continue to respond to the pandemic, or enter the recovery phase. This programme will prioritise applications where the group is either responding directly to needs arising from the lockdown or pandemic, or is supporting the frontline effort in some way. These grants can help with ongoing running costs.
Our panel will review and prioritise all applications on a weekly basis. As there are limited funds available, early applications are encouraged.
We are also appealing for those who can to give to the Community Resilience Fund to help support local communities at this very challenging time. You can donate here.
Find out more about the grants and apply