More than 100 West Oxfordshire residents supported to live independently at home
More than 100 West Oxfordshire residents have been helped to live more safely and independently in their own homes thanks to Disabled Facilities Grants delivered by West Oxfordshire District Council.
Councillor Geoff Saul, Executive Member for Housing and Community Safety, said: “Being able to remain in your own home safely and independently makes a huge difference to someone's quality of life. These grants help people overcome everyday challenges, maintain independence, and give them greater confidence and freedom in their homes.
“We know that the right adaptations can be life-changing, whether that's making it easier to get around the home, access essential facilities safely, or enable families to care for a disabled child. We're proud to have supported so many residents over the last year and welcome the disabled facilities grant funding that allows the council to continue providing this vital support to those who need it most across West Oxfordshire.”
During 2025/26, the Council completed 118 Disabled Facilities Grant cases, including 24 supporting children and young people.
The grant funded a wide range of adaptations to help residents remain independent. This included 34 level access showers, 18 stairlifts, 16 projects to improve access into and around homes, and two home extensions. The average grant value was around £8,700. The support has continued at pace this year. So far in 2026/27, the Council has already completed 27 Disabled Facilities Grant cases and received 49 new referrals from Oxfordshire County Council.
The impact of these adaptations can be life changing. Last year, the Council helped support a family to move into a specially adapted bungalow designed around their needs as one family member was a wheelchair user. The home was fitted with ramped access, wider doorways, an automatic front door, a height-adjustable kitchen counter and an accessible wet room.
Speaking about the move, the family said it would be “life changing”. These kinds of adaptations provide greater independence, improved access throughout the home and helped reduce the challenges faced by the family each day.
Disabled Facilities Grants are available to eligible residents who need changes made to their home because of a disability or long-term health condition. Residents must first have an assessment carried out by an Occupational Therapist through Oxfordshire County Council. If adaptations are recommended, Oxfordshire County Council can then make a referral to the council for grant assistance.
Supporting residents to live healthy and independent lives is a key priority for the Council and forms part of its wider commitment to enabling a good quality of life for all across West Oxfordshire.