Councillor Community Grant Scheme 2024/25 – closed

This scheme closed for applications midday Friday 29 November 2024

Each South Oxfordshire district councillor has £5,000 to award to projects or services that offer community benefits in their ward area, budget permitting. We are particularly keen to fund projects of greatest impact for residents, such as activities that protect and restore our natural world, promote action on the climate emergency and improve economic and community well-being.

Applications should focus on projects that deliver a clear and demonstrable benefit to the people of South Oxfordshire, specifically in the ward area they are applying to.

We encourage applicants to contact their local councillor to enquire whether the project is something they would be interested in funding.

You can find out the ward councillor or councillors for your area on our website.

Funding Guidelines 2024/25

Application Checklist

Scheme timeline

Scheme Opens	14 August 2024
Scheme Closes	29 November 2024 (Midday)
Likely Grant Award Outcome*	21 February 2025
Applicant Projects to Start**	March 2025 onwards, or as soon as you receive your offer letter

*Please note the Grant Award Outcome date is subject to change and may be delayed if we require additional information from the applicant post submission.

** We cannot award retrospective funding for work/projects that will complete before our decision is made (we can fund projects that have started; however, we will not be able to fund any retrospective costs).

Urgent/Time Critical Project Guidance

How much is available and what for?

Organisations are invited to apply for grants from £250 up to a maximum of £5,000 from each councillor (budget permitting). For wards with multiple councillors, applications may be considered by all ward members together to determine funding and you can apply to multiple councillors/wards should your project benefit a wider area.

We can fund up to 100 per cent of the total cost of a project and it must be completed within 12 months of the award decision. If your project is for a capital project, the total project cost must be £15,000 or less. Revenue projects have no such maximum.

For ideas of what previous grants have been funded, please refer to our list of grants awarded in 2023/24 & 20 22/23.

Return to an existing application

Who can apply?

We would like to hear from non-profit community organisations whose primary purpose is to benefit the residents of South Oxfordshire. Town and parish councils may also apply. For a full list, please refer to our guidance.

Who can’t apply?

Other local authorities/public sector bodies (for example Oxfordshire County Council, NHS trusts). Please note: Town/parish councils and parish meetings are eligible to apply
Groups who raise funds on behalf of or will improve/create facilities that will predominately benefit an ineligible organisation
Individuals (this includes making any payments to individuals on behalf of community groups)
Profit-based businesses (private businesses)
Political and lobbying groups
Organisations who operate a grant scheme of their own or who budget for giving grants/donations in their annual budget. Please note: Town/parish councils and parish meetings are eligible to apply
Nationwide organisations (except where they have a local constitution and/or local bank account. We may also make exceptions if a project clearly relates to a local hub/branch of the organisation)

Equalities

The council is committed to promoting equality and diversity and welcomes applications from organisations representing minority or vulnerable groups. We encourage all applicants to make their projects as inclusive and accessible to all as possible.

Get in touch

You are also very welcome to drop us an email at grants@southandvale.gov.uk if you have any questions about the scheme and whether your project is eligible.