The City of Oxford Charity

The City of Oxford Charity is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1172230).

The City of Oxford Charity's origins lie in local benefactors coming together with a shared commitment to alleviate poverty and support the most vulnerable residents of the city. It gives relief to people in Oxford who are in need, hardship or distress, and education assistance to people under 25 who live in Oxford. Its programmes include one-off grants and start-up grants for people moving into new accommodation or rebuilding after a crisis, and grants to schools in Oxford for educational visits, holiday clubs and extracurricular activities for pupils from low-income families. According to its annual report, it awarded £27,392 in grants.

Priority Areas

The charity makes targeted grants in Oxford to ease immediate hardship and support longer-term wellbeing and opportunity. It helps local people and families facing sickness, disability or financial hardship, including those moving into accommodation or rebuilding after a crisis, with one-off support for essential household items. Its education grants support learning for young people under 25, including educational resources for families and group projects, visits and trips run by schools and other educational establishments for pupils from low-income households. The charity works with local agencies to reach people in need; supporting organisations help residents apply for Relief in Need assistance, while schools and educational establishments can seek group-project funding. Its approach combines practical help during difficult periods with wider educational opportunity.

Themes

• Financial hardship
• Sickness and disability
• Education access

Geographic Focus

City of Oxford.

For Education grants, applications are made via a school, college or relevant supporting organisation.

Deadlines: Applications must reach the charity by the published closing date for the corresponding Trustee meeting.

Who can apply:

• Relief in Need
  • Have been a resident in the City of Oxford for at least three years before applying
  • Be experiencing financial need or hardship
• Education
  • Applications are considered from schools and other educational establishments within the City of Oxford (OX1, OX2, OX3 and OX4)
  • Applications will be considered from individual young people (under the age of 25) or the families, guardians or teachers of younger children

What to send:

• Relief in Need
  • A supporting statement is required from a recognised third-party support worker who knows the applicant, such as an advisor from an appropriate agency such as Citizens Advice, social worker or health visitor
  • The supporting statement should explain the applicant’s circumstances, to include housing, employment, financial situation, health and family situation
• Education
  • All applications must be accompanied by a signed letter from a supporting organisation or from the school or college
  • Please complete forms B and C

Applying again: If you have received a grant from us in the past you are welcome to apply again, although previous awards will be taken into consideration

What the charity says:

• For group education projects, grants typically support young people on Pupil Premium or identified by the establishment as from low-income households.
• Educational establishments must ensure the remaining 75% of project or visit costs can be covered by families or another charitable source.
• Multiple requested items should be prioritised by importance.