Deadline: 21-Oct-22
The South Oxfordshire District Council is seeking applications for its Capital Grants (CG) Scheme to voluntary and community organisations.
To help build thriving communities and improve the quality of life for the residents of South Oxfordshire, through projects that; improve economic and community well-being, provides infrastructure that meets local need, that protect and restore our natural world; and take action on the climate emergency.
What type of project will the scheme fund?
- This fund is for projects that support the following council’s Corporate Plan priorities (2020-2024); to protect and restore the natural world; action on the climate emergency, improved economic and community well-being and homes and infrastructure that meets local need.
- They must take place in the district or within a three-mile radius of the district boundary and be able to demonstrate significant numbers of South Oxfordshire residents will benefit, or that the project that will improve outcomes for disadvantaged groups and will contribute towards at least one of the council Corporate Plan priorities for 2020-2024. Submitting their application under a specific theme.
- They will only fund capital expenditure (excluding vehicles) from this scheme like buying, building, replacing or making improvements to long term assets (buildings, play areas and equipment). To a long-term asset must have a life of at least five years for a grant of up to £25,000 and ten years for grants over £25,000. It must remain the property of the organisation they are funding for the requisite five or ten year term.
- This is a highly competitive grant scheme, and the council receives applications from many excellent and worthy projects. Therefore, it’s not always possible to fund every eligible application or award the full grant that is requested. They would advise applicants to have a thorough fundraising plan with contingencies in place and if there are significant funding gaps, please speak to the community enablement team as they may advise you to break down your project into phases.
- They won’t give grants towards loans, mortgages and revenue costs like maintenance, rent, clothing or salaries. They may not fund projects which could directly, or indirectly have a negative impact on supporting the council to achieve its Corporate Plan aims.
- They will consider projects that have started. However, they will only accept applications for work/projects that won’t complete before the decision is made, as they cannot fund any retrospective costs.
- Organisations cannot apply to this scheme for projects they have awarded grants to before.
Funding Information
- They have a total budget available of £320,000 to award for capital projects take place in the district or within a three-mile radius of the district boundary. You can request a minimum of £1,000 and a maximum of £75,000 and up to 50 per cent of your total project costs.
Eligibility Criteria
- Town and Parish Councils
- Non-profit businesses and Community Interest Companies
- Community based organisations
- Organisations will need to be able to provide a copy of their constitution or equivalent governing documents.
- They are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and welcome applications from organisations who represent minority or vulnerable groups
Who isn’t eligible?
- Other local authorities/public sector bodies (for example Oxfordshire County Council, NHS trusts)
- Groups who raise funds on behalf of or will improve/create facilities that will predominately benefit an ineligible organisation (for example PTA’s delivering projects to benefit their school)
- Projects that usually fall to other public sector/statutory bodies to provide, or will primarily benefit organisations under their remit
- Individuals (this includes making any payments to individuals on behalf of community groups)
- Profit-based businesses
For more information, visit https://www.southoxon.gov.uk/south-oxfordshire-district-council/community-support/grants/capital-grants/