Community grants for voluntary and community groups

What grants does the Council offer?

Oxford City Council recognises and values the contribution that community and voluntary organisations (CVO's) make to their communities. One of the ways we support CVO's is through grant aid.

We have a limited amount of funds available to help community and voluntary groups, which provide a project or service that benefit residents and communities across Oxford.

You can apply for a grant if your project does one or more of the following:

• Promotes community activities and cohesion
• Gets more people involved with the arts
• Tackles anti-social behaviour and improves community safety
• Promotes and protects the natural environment and biodiversity
• Tackles social inequality

There are 3 grant programmes, which are:

• Annual open bidding programme to which CVO's can apply for a one off grant up to £10,000.
• Small grants programme to which CVO's can apply for a one off grant of up to £500.
• The Commissioning programme which is funding for activities that have been identified by the Council as making a substantial and central contribution to the achievement of our corporate goals.

Annual Open Bidding Programme for 2012/2013

The closing date for grant applications requesting funding through the 2012/13 annual open bidding programme closed on the 11.11.2011.  59 applications were received of which 16 CVO’s were awarded a grant. A list of those organisations awarded a grant through this programme can be found below:

List of open bidding grants awarded 2012-13 (25kB PDF)
List of open bidding grants awarded 2011-12 (28kB PDF)

Small community grants for 2012/2013

During the year, commencing from 1 April 2012, there will be another opportunity for community and voluntary groups to apply for funding.  A budget of £10,299 has been allocated for a small grants programme.

Community & voluntary groups that have a legal structure that is appropriate to the size and nature of the organisation, which sets out the aims and rules governing the organisation, can apply for a small grant of up to £500 for projects or activities that benefit the residents of Oxford.  The application and guidance notes can be found below:

Small grant application form (186kB PDF)
Small grant guidance notes (78kB PDF)

Closing dates for small grant applications are listed below and applications must be received before 4pm on these dates

Commissioning Programme

On the 8 February 2012 the City Executive Board awarded 21 voluntary sector organisations a grant through the commissioning programme. A list of these organisations funded through this programme can be found below:

List of commissioned organisations 2012-13 (36kB PDF)
List of Commissioned Organisations 2011-12 (55kB PDF)

Community grants prospectus programme for 2011 - 2015

The prospectus sets out which activities Oxford City Council will fund and those it will not fund.  Please read this document before applying for a grant.

Grants Programme Prospectus for 2011-15 (69kB PDF)

Where can I find more information?

Visit our Grants Frequently Asked Questions page.

Oxfordshire Community Voluntary Action website has a well-stocked resource centre with grants reference books and information.

More information can be found on our External Funding Opportunities page.

Page last reviewed 16 March 2012