The Branch Trust receive grant funding from West Oxfordshire District Council to create a Community Hub in Chipping Norton
West Oxfordshire District Council’s Cabinet has approved a £50,000 grant to The Branch Trust as part of its scheme to help fund local facilities that support communities.
Councillor Joy Aitman, Cabinet Member for Stronger Healthy Communities, said; “I am really pleased we are able to support groups to improve local facilities through this funding.
“The Branch Trust is setting up a community hub to help local people access skills and courses along with providing a space in Chipping Norton for the community to use as a whole.
“They have worked really hard on this project and have pulled together funding from a number of places to make this project a reality. I’m glad our funding will contribute to that and help make this a successful scheme for Chipping Norton and the surrounding villages.”
The funding has been provided through the councils Community Facilities Grant Scheme which local organisations can apply to to support with funding to improve buildings and other facilities that help the local groups operate.
Emma Kennedy, Founder of The Branch Trust said, “We are thrilled to have received this grant. Having worked in collaboration with West Oxfordshire District Council for the past 5 years we are delighted the Council recognises the need for a Community Hub in Chipping Norton and are supporting the construction of a Community Hall.
“The Community Hall will be an essential flexible space that will accommodate youth activities and courses working in collaboration with voluntary & statutory services to work holistically with individuals and families. There will also be talks for all sectors of the community.
“It will include a community kitchen with 10 cooking stations (the 1st in Oxfordshire) enabling vital cookery skills training for young people and adults, plus the mental health benefits associated with cooking.”
Over the past three years (2019/20 - 2021/22) the council has given out £476,867 in funding towards projects to 25 West Oxfordshire groups, helping to keep local communities active and supporting with funding where sometimes local organisations struggle to raise their own funds.
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