A COMMUNITY foundation pledged more than £1 million worth of grants to Oxfordshire charities in an unprecedented 2017/18.

Oxfordshire Community Foundation reach the milestone as part of a record-breaking 12 months for the Thames Valley.

The region, which includes Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Heart of Bucks and Milton Keynes Community Foundations, gave £4,875,000 to small local charities in 2017/18.

A range of organisations across the county received grants to help tackle issues such as poverty, loneliness and poor mental health.

Oxfordshire and Berkshire were the only foundations to give more than £1 million each.

Jayne Woodley, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire Community Foundation, said: “At the start of the last financial year we committed to making over £1 million in grants for the first time in our history.

"We are delighted to have exceeded that milestone, both by making it simpler for groups to apply for small grants, but also by giving away more substantial amounts and covering running costs for local charities to carry out their vital core work.”

The Thames Valley community foundations are part of UKCF, a nationwide network of 46 community foundations.