A POT of cash has been made available for major community projects in South Oxfordshire.

South Oxfordshire District Council is taking bids from charities, voluntary and non-profit organisations wanting a share of the £500,000 pot The money must be used for large one-off projects costing more than £15,000 during the next financial year, starting in April.

The council offered £400,000 last year for schemes of up to £100,000. Previous grants included £200,000 for an extension at Berinsfield Boxing Club, £67,600 to renovate Great Milton sports pavilion, £27,000 to improve Didcot skatepark, £100,000 for a play area in Watlington, and £250,000 for a community building in Moulsford, near Wallingford.

Rodney Mann, cabinet member responsible for grants, said: “It’s very important to us to strengthen local communities by supporting groups who provide key services.

“Although we’ve had to make stringent savings this year, we have tried to protect this valuable scheme.”

The council has promised that £1.7m of savings agreed last week will not hit frontline services. The authority has £27m of reserves to draw on.

The available grants are community investment fund, revenue grants, the young achievers’ award scheme and disabled facilities grants.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 8, and successful bids will be announced in July.

Visit southoxon.gov.uk/grants or call 01491 823136 for more details.