SMALL charities from across the county joined forces with local dignitaries for a special celebration at the home of a grant-giving foundation in Oxford.

The Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF) threw the party outside its offices in Woodin’s Way, off Paradise Street, Oxford, to mark Small Charity Week and the launch of its association with the website localgiving.com, which allows groups to raise more money locally.

Among the charities at the event was the Wallingford-based Everyone’s An Artist community group which allows disadvantaged people and those with disabilities to showcase their musical or artistic talents.

Co-founder Janey Carline said: “We have been very fortunate as we received a £1,500 grant from the Community Foundation which bought us a lot of equipment and helped pay expenses and mileage for our volunteers.

“Even small sums of money are very welcome to us.”

Gemma Humphrey, external relations officer with Cowley-based mental health charity Restore, added: “Although we are in a robust position compared to some charities, we are having trouble meeting core costs this year.

“At the moment it is really challenging for smaller charities and we have to be more creative in thinking of different ways of raising money.

“We really hope local people will support us through the new website.”

The localgiving.com site aims to help more charities to create their own web page, giving them an online presence for the first time.

OCF chief executive Jayne Woodley said: “People wanting to donate now have the opportunity of working with some really diverse local groups they otherwise would not have heard of.”