South Oxfordshire opens applications for new round of grants

The district council's community grant opened for applications today (August 14).

Each councillor has been allocated a budget of £5,000 to award to various projects within their ward.

Those eligible to apply include town councils, parish councils, parish meetings, not for profit preschools and parent-teacher associations and not for profit organisations.

In the last round of funding, £165,546 was distributed among 90 projects, with all funds supporting charities and non-profit organisations.

One successful applicant was Nuffield Parish Council, which used the funding for a playground refurbishment.

Another beneficiary, Inner Wheel Club, in Thame, received funds for the Thame and District Senior Citizens Tea Party.

The Thame and District Senior Citizens Tea Party (Image: The Thame and District Senior Citizens Tea Party)

Chalgrove Table Tennis Club also received funding, which was spent on a new table.

Meanwhile, Brightwell Baldwin Parish Meeting were given funds to purchase a defibrillator.

Wallingford Boat Club received £1,250 to use towards a boat refurbishment.

Judy Collins, parent volunteer for fundraising at Wallingford Boat Club, said: "This grant has enabled the junior rowing squad, comprising of over 100 13 to 18 year olds, access to an additional competitive racing boat over the lifetime of the refurbished boat, which will be at least 10 years."

Georgina Heritage, district council cabinet member for communities, added: "I’m so pleased that we are once again able to offer this funding to community organisations across the district.

"Our councillors live and often work alongside these groups and see every day the difference that they make to our residents and the environment."

She added: "I encourage organisations to find out more on our website and speak to their local councillor about how funding could support their project."

The minimum grant available is £250 and the maximum that any councillor can award is £5,000.

Applicants can apply to a maximum of five wards. They are asked to consider the council’s key priorities and how their projects would support them.

One of these priorities is to protect and restore the natural world and improve economic and community wellbeing.

The application deadline is midday on November 29.

More details about the application process, eligibility, and types of projects funded can be found on the grants pages of the South Oxfordshire District Council website.

A total of £320,000 is also up for grabs through South Oxfordshire District Council's capital grant funding scheme.

This scheme is available for community organisations and aims to support communities and improve residents' quality of life.

Applications opened earlier this summer and will close on September 2.