Community groups transforming lives across West Oxfordshire in the first of a three-year funding programme

Last year, six community organisations were awarded long-term council funding to support their work in West Oxfordshire and enable them to plan for the future. Over three years, Age UK Oxfordshire, Home-Start Oxford, Low Carbon Hub, Theatre Chipping Norton, Volunteer Link Up, Wild Oxfordshire and Wychwood Forest Trust are being supported with a total of £553,500 of grant funding between them.  

“Our three-year grant agreements are designed to give organisations greater certainty, helping them to plan ahead and continue providing the services that residents rely on. 

“It’s been brilliant to see what these organisations have been doing right across the district – from helping parents through tough times, to offering company to older residents, to finding creative ways to support mental health, and even reducing environmental impacts through sustainable projects. This is only the first year of funding and already the impact is clear. These services bring energy, care, and kindness into our communities and we’re proud to help them do more, so more local people feel supported.” said Councillor Rachel Crouch, Executive Member for Stronger Healthy Communities. 

After just one year, the funded projects are already delivering measurable benefits – helping families, supporting older residents, strengthening community connections and contributing to the protection of West Oxfordshire’s environment and heritage: 

Age UK Oxfordshire: 

Funding from the Council is enabling Age UK to provide a Community Development worker for West Oxfordshire. This is helping older residents stay connected, running regular groups and pop-up events in towns and villages. More than 2,000 people have already taken part, meeting friends, staying active and building stronger communities.  

Home-Start Oxford: 

For many parents in West Oxfordshire, the early years can feel overwhelming. Home-Start Oxford in partnership with Home-Start Banbury provided vital assistance through regular home visits and tailored one-to-one support. In its first year of funding, it reached 931 parents and children and group work across West Oxfordshire. Of those receiving home visits, 95% said their self-esteem had improved or stayed strong, and most felt more confident and less stressed. 

Low Carbon Hub: 

Low Carbon Hub, with communities in and around Eynsham, have developed the UK’s first Community Action Plan for Zero-Carbon Energy (CAPZero) and are now entering Year 2 of its implementation. The project aims to create a zero-carbon energy system through long-term stewardship that benefits and motivates current and future residents and provides a model to inspire wider action. The plan includes actions to reduce energy usage and create warmer homes, workplaces, and community spaces, as well as increase renewable energy generation. New energy groups have been established in Freeland and Hanborough, giving residents the opportunity to lead the way on the achievement of legally binding net zero targets and a cleaner, greener energy system as soon as possible.  

Theatre Chipping Norton: 

The Theatre Chipping Norton, is using funding to provide a community programme beyond their main offering of live events and cinema. Through this programme, 168 children have taken part in free arts activities every school holiday, while 200 places have been offered to parents in mental health support groups. Over 10,000 free school lunch vouchers have been provided, and the theatre has staged two large-scale community plays harnessing the skills of 118 residents as performers. From bursary-funded youth theatre places to fun days and workshops, the theatre is opening its doors to everyone, helping families feel included, supported and inspired. 

Volunteer Link Up: 
Transport can be a challenge in a largely rural district like West Oxfordshire, especially for older residents. With support from the grant funding received from the Council, Volunteer Link Up has continued its community transport service, which completed nearly 2,400 return journeys in the past year. Most of the 916 people who rely on the service are over 66, and many live outside Witney. The service provides a vital lifeline, helping people get to health appointments, do their daily shopping and visit friends and family. 

Wild Oxfordshire: 
Wild Oxfordshire is a charity seeking to create a more natural, resilient and biodiverse Oxfordshire for the benefit of everyone. Their community ecology team provide advice and support to town and parish councils, landowners, community groups and schools, including St Christopher’s in Langford and Bladon Primary, to enable them to maintain and enhance their green spaces for wildlife with knock-on benefits for our health and wellbeing. They also provide general advice about funding and nature recovery to a variety of environmental groups in the district and hosted a ‘Local to Landscape Nature Recovery Action’ conference.  

Evenlode Catchment Partnership: 
The Evenlode Catchment Partnership is a collaboration of organisations and communities that are working together to improve water quality, manage flood risk and enhance biodiversity in the River Evenlode and its tributaries. It is hosted by Wild Oxfordshire. They have actively facilitated projects with landowners and other organisations to restore the river and its riverside habitats, organised local events, including a celebration event at FarmED attended by 120 people, and produced a film called ‘A River Sings’ to showcase their natural flood management work. 

Wychwood Forest Trust: 
Wychwood Forest Trust is a conservation charity working with local communities to protect and restore the landscapes once part of the historic Wychwood Forest. Its work includes managing habitats, advising landowners and community groups, and running events from rural skills courses to the popular Forest Fair. A flagship project is the Gibbets Hill Nature Reserve in Witney, promoted as a leading nature recovery research site in partnership with Oxford University. The reserve has welcomed DEFRA representatives, hosted public tours, and seen the creation of nine new wetland habitats, boosting great crested newt populations, increasing biodiversity and safeguarding natural heritage for the future. 

Through its three-year grant funding programme, West Oxfordshire District Council is committed to making a long-term investment in the services and spaces that it knows residents value most. Whether it is access to local support, opportunities to connect with others, or the protection of our environment and heritage, this funding helps ensure those benefits are secured for the future.  

By working in partnership with community organisations, the Council is providing stability and resources that enable them to plan ahead and deliver sustained benefits for people across West Oxfordshire.