Since the launch of the Connected Communities Fund in September 2022 we have funded 45 projects a total of over £130,000. This fund, which is being delivered in partnership by OCVA and Community First Oxfordshire, has been made available by Oxfordshire County Council to support activities and projects that help to achieve the countywide ambition of creating places that “support the people of Oxfordshire to live well in their community, remaining fit and healthy for as long as possible”.
We’re now starting to hear from the groups who were among the first to receive funding.
The Cornermen, based at a boxing club in South Oxfordshire, are delivering services aimed at improving men’s mental health and suicide prevention. People attending their sessions have told them:
“I am feeling fitter and stronger, and more confident about myself. With The Cornermen, you feel like you’re offloading things. It’s like having a chat with a real good mate. I would hold stuff back before, but even difficult subjects can feel free and easy to talk about.”
“Using The Cornermen has given me someone to talk to about my mental health and provided a different opinion to my own about my thoughts and feelings. It is helping me cope better… and it gives me something to look forward to each week. The combination of one-to-one talking, exercise – and the thought that I am actively trying to improve my mental health and help myself – has definitely improved my mood.”
Volunteers and carers have been supporting older people to express what it means to them to take part in Forget Me Not Bicester’s singing and reminiscence activities:
“I enjoy listening to the music and singing along to the old songs. Brings back memories.”
“I love singing and I enjoy listening to music. I like being in a small group and choir. As I am blind music is hugely important to my wellbeing.”
“I am quite a social person so would like to keep having fun with others. I enjoy singing and music!”
Forget Me Not Bicester is a friendship and lunch club for older people, including those living with dementia, aiming to prevent social isolation.
As activities get underway across the county, we’re looking forward to hearing more from the people taking part in activities funded through the Connected Communities Fund– from Cropredy to Goring, and Fifield to Thame.
Groups funded so far:
| The Cornermen | Didcot, Wallingford |
| Syrian Sisters | Rose Hill, Oxford |
| North Moreton Village Hall | North Moreton |
| Cholsey Hub | Cholsey |
| Maymessy CIC | Wantage |
| Tandem | Oxford |
| Oxford Community Action | East Oxford |
| Fritwell Forget Me Not Club | Fritwell |
| Forget Me Not Club | Bicester |
| GroW Families | Wantage |
| Nuneham Courtenay Village Hall | Nuneham Courtenay |
| People, Place and Participation Ltd (Flo’s) | East Oxford |
| Barracks Lane Community Garden | Cowley, Oxford |
| Witney Day Centre | Witney |
| SYRCOX (Syrian Community Oxfordshire) | Oxfordshire |
| The Valentine Club | Steeple Aston, Bicester |
| Thame Senior Friendship Centre | Thame |
| Sunrise Multicultural Project | Banbury |
| Bullingdon Community Association | Lye Valley, Oxford |
| The Wychwoods Day Centre Ltd | Shipton under Wychwood |
| Charlbury Pickleball | Charlbury, Witney |
| Cropredy short mat bowls club | Cropredy |
| Fifield-with-Idbury Parochial Church Council | Fifield |
| Stonesfield Village Hall | Stonesfield |
| Aston and Cote Day Centre | Aston, Bampton |
| Eynsham Day Centre | Eynsham |
| Volunteer Link Up | Witney |
| Oxford Creators | Didcot |
| Treemendously Wild CIC | Shipton under Wychwood |
| Cherwell Collective | Kidlington |
| In-Spire Sounds | Oxford |
| The North Wall | Cutteslowe, Oxford |
| The Hub | Goring |
| Inspiring Minds | Abingdon, Caldecott ward |
| Chatty Café | Brize Norton |
| Oxford North Africa Community | Oxford |
| Shedquarters | Sonning Common & Peppard |
| Dementia Active | Banbury |
| Banbury Community Action Group | Banbury |
| Donnington Tenants and Residents Association (DTRA) | Oxford |
| Bicester Pride CIC | Bicester and surrounding area |
| Connection Support | Oxford, Banbury, Bicester |
| Crafty Crew, Pump House Project | Faringdon |
| The Silverlining (Brain Injury) Charity | Oxford |
| St Marys Church Barton | Barton |
| Bridge St Community Garden, Banbury Community Action Group (BCAG) | Banbury |
| Stonesfield Lunch Club | Stonesfield |
| Chinnor Rugby Club | Chinnor |
| Woodland walking group (based out of Community Hall) | Woodcote |
| Oxfordshire Crossroads | Oxford |
| Vale Community Impact | Across Vale area |
| Cyclability (Wheels for All) | Oxford |
| Donnington Doorstep | Donnington and Rose Hill, Oxford |
| Fitzwaryn School Parents and Friends Assocation | Wantage |
| Charlbury Day Centre | Charlbury, Witney |
| Maymessy / Style Acre/OSARCC | West Challow, Wantage |
| The Branch | Chipping Norton |
| Cholsey Older Persons Activities/Befriending (COPA) | Cholsey |