This page has details of a variety of different sources of funding which may assist your council. Please be aware each funding source will have different qualifying criteria, time scales and application methodology. Check carefully before you apply.
OSEP has announced the extension of their Social Economy Support programme to help social enterprises and entrepreneurs across Oxfordshire.
The programme provides training, events, advice and support to those who are driving positive change in the county via their social impact businesses.
The extension of the programme has been made possible by funding from South and Vale District Councils and Oxford City Council via the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The programme is running from June 2025 until January 2026.
Through the programme, OSEP will provide training and events, covering topics such as legal structures, marketing, social investment and setting up co-ops. Find out more information and a book a place at one of these via their website: Events from 24 January 2024 – 7 June 2024
There is also an opportunity to access one-on-one business advice and tailored support, networking opportunities, and peer support. Those interested in accessing these services should register via this form: Social Impact Business Support
Questions about the programme can be directed to makena@osep.org.uk or juliet@osep.org.uk.
July 2025
Towns in Oxfordshire with historic, neglected buildings could be eligible for a Heritage Revival Grant to help support the community to rescue and re-purpose these heritage assets.
The fund is open to charities and social enterprises, as well as town and parish councils. There is a focus on supporting conservation and adaptation efforts in town centres that will create spaces suitable for community use.
The programme is being delivered by the Architectural Heritage Fund, in collaboration with the UK Government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Historic England.
Applications can be made throughout this financial year (2025-26) until 31 March 2026. Eligibity criteria and details on how to apply are available on the website: Heritage Revival Fund - GOV-UK Find a grant
July 2025
For those within South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Council there is an opportunity to secure a grant through the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) to fund community improvements.
The REPF provides capital grant funding and is intended to support community organisations to purchase lasting assets. It is suitable for rural businesses looking to develop products or facilities that will be of benefit to the wider community, and for those investing in new and improved community infrastructure such as play areas or village halls.
The following organisations can apply:
Applications must be made by Monday 30 June at midday and applicants can request between £2,500 and £30,000. Visit your District Council website for application details:
Vale of White Horse District Council
South Oxfordshire District Council
This is a UK Government scheme and you can read more about it on their website: Rural England Prosperity Fund: prospectus - GOV.UK
June 2025
West Oxfordshire District Council will soon be accepting applications for a Community Activity Grant, with £22,000 available in total to award as small grants of between £500 and £1,000.
The fund is intended to support local organisations and groups that are bringing members of the community together and helping to reduce isolation and loneliness. There is also a focus on helping to reduce the barriers to participation, supporting those who may often be excluded due to disability or financial challenges.
Applications will be accepted from 1 July until 12 August, with details about eligibility criteria and advice on how to apply available on this website: Community grants and funding - West Oxfordshire District Council
June 2025
Vale of White Horse District Council is currently accepting applications to its Climate Action Fund 2025/26, which provides funding for projects that will help to tackle climate change and/or restore nature in the local environment. The projects need to have a community-focus and might be targeting energy, biodiversity, waste and consumption or transport and travel.
Applications can be made for grants from £250-£10,000, with a total of £100,000 available for projects from any non-profit community organisations as well as parish and town councils, either individually or in collaboration.
The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 30 June. All the details on eligibility criteria and how to apply are available on the website: Climate Action Fund 2025/2026 - open now - Vale of White Horse District Council
June 2025
South Oxfordshire District Council is currently accepting applications for their Capital Grant scheme. The money is intended to provide financial support for community projects that help improve the quality of life for local people, improve local infrastructure, or take action on nature recovery.
Eligible applicants include town and parish councils, non-profit businesses, Community Interest Companies (CIC) and community-based organisations. Grants of up to £75,000 can be applied for, although the figure cannot be more than 50% of the total project cost. There is £320,000 available in total for projects that must take place in the district or within a three-mile radius of the boundary.
All the details, eligibility criteria and information on how to apply are available on the website: Capital Grant Scheme 2025/26 - open now - South Oxfordshire District Council Applications must be submitted by midday on Friday 25 July. Funding decisions will be made by January 2026, with projects to start from February 2026.
June 2025
Scottish and Southern Electricity Network has launched a new fund, the Powering Communities to Net Zero fund. This is aimed at supporting communities to be more resilient in a volatile, changing climate and allow for investment in low-carbon technologies to help de-carbonise society.
The fund has a value of £3m and runs annually, concluding in spring 2028. For 2025, applications must be submitted by Wednesday 25 June.
Half of the fund is available for communities in need of financial support for physical and environmental resilience measures. The grant requested can be from £1,000 up to £15,000.
The other half of the fund is for non-profit organisations who require financial support to invest in low-carbon technologies. These grants can be requested from £1,000 up to £20,000.
More information, eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply are available on the SSEN website: Powering Communities to Net Zero fund - SSEN
Those interested in applying but with questions or queries may like to join the webinar on 13 May at 4pm, when support will be provided on the application process. Sign up for the webinar on the website.
May 2025
The Janet & Bryan Moore Charitable Trust has been established to support projects which unite local communities within the counties of Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.
The Trust is very keen to receive applications. The maximum grant is £20,000.
All grants award by the Trust must be used to cover costs that are directly connected to carrying out the charitable activities that the Trustees have agreed to fund (Funded Activities).
Grants can be used either to cover costs that are directly connected to carrying out the charitable activities that the Trustees have agreed to fund or to fund expenditure on the following:
(a) Salary costs;
(b) Capital expenditure, provided the Applicant is able to demonstrate that the expenditure is essential to the charitable activities that the Trustees have agreed to fund and that any assets acquired using grant money will be used for similar purposes after then end of the proposed activities;
(c) Contributions to the cost of overheads, provided that the Applicant is able to demonstrate that such overhead costs are essential for, and directly linked to, the charitable activities that the Trustees have agreed to fund; and
(d) Other types of expenditure.
If the Applicant is a non-charitable organisation the proposal must also:
(a) provide evidence that the organisation has a bank account with at least two unrelated signatories; and
(b) demonstrate that all of the activities in the proposal will qualify as being charitable for the public benefit if they are undertaken by an organisation that is registered as a Trust in England and Wales.
More information and an application form on their website here -
A quick way to apply for smaller amounts of funding between £300 and £10,000.
We're here to support communities with the things that are important to them, including mitigating the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and supporting them as they seek to recover, rebuild and grow following the Covid-19 pandemic.
We’ll also help communities celebrate the national events that are important to them - including the Coronation of His Majesty The King, The Eurovision Song Contest and the 75th anniversary of Windrush.
You can apply for funding to deliver a new or existing activity or to support your organisation to change and adapt to new and future challenges.
In order to support communities, we fund projects and organisations which aim to:
Area - England
Suitable for - Voluntary or community organisations
Funding size - £300 to £10,000, for up to one year
Application deadline - Ongoing. Apply at least 12 weeks before you want to start the activities or spend any of the money.
It usually takes around 12 weeks to get a decision from us. Before then you cannot spend any of the money or run the activities you need funding for. We’ll assess applications in the order they’re submitted.
The National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities England awards grants of over £10,000 to charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises who want to take action on the issues that matter to people and communities.
Applications must demonstrate how your ideas will make positive changes in your community. Current project priorities are:
More information from here
Grants start at £500 and go up to £2,500. We are looking for high quality projects in the Cotswolds that could be delivered relatively quickly if a Caring for the Cotswolds grant was offered.
In order to apply, you will need to complete an application form and project budget, making sure you follow the guidance document.
https://www.cotswolds-nl.org.uk/looking-after/caring-for-the-cotswolds/
In the last grants round, applications were initially reviewed by the Youth Panel, followed by the Grants Panel.
If you would like to discuss a project idea please contact James Webb, Partnerships and Fundraising Lead, james.webb@cotswoldsaonb.org.uk
OCVA have general advice and guidance on potential sources of funding on their website. Their website provides pointers to specialised sources of funding by category and other useful tips and hints to help you make a successful grant application.
We want to support projects that bring communities together and provide sport and physical activities for people who may be less physically active.
We also particularly want to support projects focusing on environmental sustainability.
We believe that communities that work together and share resources provide a stronger and more sustainable impact.
Therefore, we want applications from projects that demonstrate how they connect with their communities, make best use of the existing skills and assets in an area, and will provide the biggest possible impact to those who need it most.
We also want projects to show how they've sought to reduce their impact on the environment through the goods and services they use to deliver the activity.
Please be aware that we always have more applications than we're able to fund, so our priority is to support projects working with people in disadvantaged communities.
See the section on priorities for more information.
More information here
The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust awards grants through specific funding programmes, each with its own aim(s), often based on community consultation.
Our current open programmes are listed on the website as well as details of how grant funding has already been spent in support of the Armed Forces community.
Each of our open programmes has its own specific programme guidance, which you should read carefully before deciding whether or not to apply. Our guidance documents explain the eligibility for the programme, and the checks that we will carry out.
More information https://covenantfund.org.uk/programmes/
Please sign up for our updates to be informed about which grants we have available and do check our other sources of funding links further down this page.
Note the Step Change Fund grants are always open on a rolling basis.
For more information and details of how to apply check the OCF website.
The Main Grant scheme Recreation and Community Building project theme requires an active Biffa operation to be within 5 miles of the project site OR an active Biffa Landfill site within 10 miles. In addition your project must be within 10 miles of any registered landfill site. However, if you’re applying under the Main Grants Rebuilding Biodiversity theme, the radius of the Biffa operation is extended to within 15 miles.
More information here on the Biffa Award website.
The Biffa Award Board meets three times annually. At each meeting the Board considers applications from these project themes:
with each theme being considered twice annually.
Once your application is received, it will be seen at the next appropriate Board meeting relevant to your theme.
