To support Oxfordshire’s thriving voluntary and community sector during the cost of living crisis, a new Community Building Energy Support Scheme has been established, funded by Oxfordshire County Council. Local community groups will be able to access grants to help keep their buildings open to the most vulnerable this winter.
Amounts available: £250 - £3,000
Group annual income: Under £1,000,000
Type of cost: Energy bills only
Closing date: Monday 21st November at noon
CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADDITIONAL COSTS OF ENERGY
The Community Building Energy Support Scheme is a grant programme for Oxfordshire groups who are looking for funding for their energy costs. It is to assist organisations to cover their energy bills over the Winter 2022/23 and prevent any additional costs being placed onto users of the venues. It aims to provide a contribution to the increased costs of energy bills.
PREFERRED BENEFICARIES
- The site of the community building, which grant funding is being requested for, must be in Oxfordshire.
- If a recent grant application has been made for energy costs, there is no need to reapply.
GENERAL CRITERIA
- The beneficiaries must be people, not an individual. Not animals or the environment e.g. trees.
- We will fund energy costs only.
- Itemised costs should be indicated where other funds have been secured.
- To be spent by 31st March 2023.
- Funds cannot be awarded to cover costs already paid for.
Please also read OCF’s General Eligibility Criteria before starting your application
GROUP CRITERIA
- Income under £1,000,000
- Status: charity / CIO / registered company with charitable status / social enterprise / community group.
- The online application form will require you to supply specified documentation showing evidence of good governance. This includes bank account signatories, a bank statement, and audited accounts of most recent financial year. If the most recent year is not yet available, please submit management accounts or income/expenditure document.
- Your organisation needs to have minimum one year of operation; if you have been constituted for less than one year but have been active for longer, please demonstrate this activity. Reserves are expected to be a minimum of three months running costs, and if they are more than 12 months, it would be helpful to explain why.
- You will be asked to provide a safeguarding policy as part of your application. We need this as there is a high likelihood that you are working with individuals who are at risk or vulnerable, or you are working in a way which puts you in a position of trust in the community. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and we would expect individual policies to be proportionate to the activities they undertake. In some cases, this is being aware of the appropriate safeguarding board contact numbers should you have a concern, or being aware of the safeguarding lead in a partner organisation to escalate to if a concern arose. For services doing lots of direct work with vulnerable people, we’d expect more.
- You will also need to complete a De Minimis Subsidy Agreement – this is a legal requirement to check the amount of aid you have received. More details are given in the document link at the bottom of this page.
- A reference must also be received prior to any panel decision.
DATES AND TIMINGS
Early applications are appreciated.
| Grants round opens | Grants round closes |
| Wednesday 2nd November | Monday 21st November at noon |
Your application will be reviewed by the OCF team, including independent assessors, before a Grants Panel Meeting in early December. Successful grants will be paid by the end of December 2022.
Grants need to be spent by 31st March 2023. Interim grant monitoring will be requested at 6 months and final grant monitoring must completed within 12 months of application.
Please read our General Eligibility Criteria for all of our grants programmes, before starting your application. You will also need to complete a De Minimis Agreement.
QUICK LINKS
