Community Capacity grants

• 1 in 3 organisations (33%) were successful in their application 
• 103 organisations applied across two rounds for £325,000 for the last Community Capacity grant funding and 34 organisations received grants 
• A full list of the organisations who received grants is available here 

The Community Capacity grants support the Council’s Oxfordshire Way vision: “to support the people of Oxfordshire to live well in their community, remaining fit and healthy for as long as possible: to build community resilience and increase independence”.

Local community organisations play a huge role in supporting people to thrive with less need for government services. This can help people have a much better quality-of-life. 

1. Support people to live independently
2. Reduce individual isolation and loneliness, and promote emotional resilience 
3. Increase people’s mental health to address preventable conditions  
4. Enable people to engage with physical activity to address preventable conditions  

The following are examples of the types of activities we are looking to see in applications. However, we welcome applications for activities beyond these.

• local groups, activities and social afternoons, including volunteering opportunities 
• befriending, community meals and transport 
• counselling, advice and support groups 
• interventions addressing digital exclusion  
• redevelopment or use of open green spaces for mental and physical well-being

We welcome: 

• Collaboration between groups on joint or linked proposals 
• Schemes which are led by the community and build on existing networks for mutual aid
• Social enterprises, and schemes which work with local businesses and partners, to provide financially sustainable solutions 
• Schemes which fill gaps and therefore increase the options available to social prescribers 

• Registered Charity, Charitable Incorporated Organisation, Charitable Company (Limited by Guarantee), Community Interest Company, a Constituted but Unincorporated Club or Association (ie it has a constitution but is not one of the other entities listed above) 
• Operating in Oxfordshire 
• Income under £1 million 
• At least one year of operation; if constituted for less than one year but active for longer, evidence should be provided 
• Have a bank account in its own name with at least two unrelated signatories, open for three months or more 
• Have at least three trustees/committee members/directors who are not related to each other 
• Have at least three months’ running costs in reserves (if they are more than 12 months, an explanation will be requested) 
• Be open to people of all religions and political affiliations, and must not attempt to convert people 
• Up to date monitoring and reporting to OCF for any previous grants received from OCF 

The target beneficiaries must be over 18. Schemes which include under 18s (eg nursery visits to care homes) are welcome but the target beneficiaries must still be over 18. 

The grant is intended to help vulnerable adults and those experiencing inequality and exclusion. This includes groups who are underserved by traditional government services.  

The estimated number of beneficiaries will be considered in the evaluation, alongside value for money. 

This round is only for beneficiaries who are Oxfordshire residents outside of these 10 wards: Abingdon Caldecott, Banbury Cross & Neithrop, Banbury Grimsbury & Hightown, Banbury Ruscote, Barton & Sandhills, Blackbird Leys, Littlemore, Osney & St Thomas, Northfield Brook and Rose Hill & Iflley.

Organisations based in these wards can still apply as long as they provide evidence in their application form that they will be serving beneficiaries outside of those wards.

The reason is that the previous round of Community Capacity funding prioritised those 10 wards, and there are other public grants allocated for these wards currently or in the near future.