Community Grants for 2024/25

We have opened new rounds of Everyone Active, Capital, Councillor and the Revenue Community Grant Schemes this year. Please look out for updates on this page.

Performing Arts Grant Fund – coming soon

In January 2025 we will be launching our new Performing Arts Grant Fund.

This funding aims to support community and voluntary sector performing arts groups within the district. This scheme is designed to enhance the cultural landscape by providing financial assistance to projects that demonstrate a significant community impact, meet identified needs, and ensure broad reach, engagement, and access to the performing arts in South Oxfordshire.

Organisations eligible to apply are:

• Town and parish councils
• Schools (for non-core curriculum activities)
• Non-for- profit groups, arts, or community groups

More details coming in the new year.

Councillor Community Grant Scheme – closed

This scheme closed for applications midday Friday 29 November 2024.

Is your organisation looking for funding for a small capital project, or a one-off revenue project? 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.

Revenue Grant Scheme 2025-2027 – closed

This scheme closed for applications midday Friday 1 November 2024.

Are you a voluntary sector organisation looking for core revenue funding to deliver services/activities that will directly benefit and meet a clearly identified need for South Oxfordshire residents?

We will favour organisations who are actively exploring partnership/joint working with other voluntary organisations, businesses or the public sector and/or other methods to help them to become more financially sustainable and have a greater impact in the communities they serve.

Fund for nature recovery projects – open

Do you have a project that could increase biodiversity and encourage public access to green spaces in the district. We have a fund of £50,000 to support community nature recovery projects.

Everyone Active Grant Scheme – closed

Do you have a project that could improve the health and wellbeing of our residents or provide high-quality active opportunities in one of our communities? We have a budget of £50,000 available annually for our voluntary sector who support communities to become more active and sustain activities.

Please contact the community enablement team if you need any help with one of the above schemes or your application grants@southandvale.gov.uk or call 01235 422405.

You can find out more about the grants awarded up to October 2024 in the download below

If you’d like further information about the grants awarded or completed, please contact the team on 01235 422405 or email grants@southandvale.gov.uk

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Grant Fund

Expression of Interest (EOI) stage has now closed.

South Oxfordshire District Council collects CIL funding from liable housing developments to provide infrastructure required to support the growth of the district. Through this pilot grant scheme, we’re helping local organisations to access funding to deliver infrastructure for their community required as a direct result from local growth.

Business support

If you are a business that has applied for a government business grant or want information about the schemes available then please contact the South and Vale Business Support team  by emailing business.support@southandvale.gov.uk. 

Other types of council and partnership funding

• Disabled Facilities Grants – funding for home adaptations (please contact the Disabled Facilities Grant team on 01235 422436 for more information)
• Business rates relief – how to apply for a reduction in your business rates
• Energy saving grants – helping you make your home more energy-efficient
• Home improvement loans – support for changes to your home
• Berinsfield Health and Wellbeing Grant – for organisations looking to develop projects to support the health and wellbeing of residents in Berinsfield.
• We work with Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action (OCVA), who support voluntary and community organisations in throughout the county. They offer all kinds of advice, including sources of funding and getting fit to fund.

External funding opportunities

• Community Ownership Fund – Government funding to help communities take ownership of community assets at risk of closure.  Detailed funding guidance, eligibility criteria and expression of interest form is via the Government website Further information can be found online via the My Community Website.

• Smokefree Oxon – The Public Health team at Oxfordshire County Council have launched a Smokefree Community Fund in which voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations (e.g, district and parish councils, charities, schools, leisure centres, community groups, etc.) can apply for funding between £150-£1000 to create smoke-free spaces or hold smoke-free events. If you would like to apply for this funding, please email smokefreeoxon@oxfordshire.gov.uk to begin the application process.

• Community Active Travel Fund – Active Oxfordshire have funding available for established community and resident groups, charities and organisations in Didcot who have ideas on how to increase cycling, wheeling and walking for travel. Further information regarding eligibility and how to apply can be found on the Active Oxfordshire website. The scheme closes for applications on Friday 15 November 2024.

How we use your data and why

Please read more about how we may use your information and your rights, including those about accessing your records, by downloading our Community Enablement team’s Privacy Notice