Connected Communities Fund

The Connected Communities Fund 2025-2026.

Applications are now closed for this year.

What is the Connected Communities Fund?

This fund is a partnership between OCVA, Community First Oxfordshire, and Oxfordshire County Council to support The Oxfordshire Way, a countywide vision to help people live well and independently in their communities for as long as possible. It’s all about building resilience, reducing isolation, and creating opportunities for people to stay active, connected, and supported close to home.

Learn more about the Oxfordshire Way.

Whether you’re helping people stay active, reduce isolation, learn new skills, or simply connect with others this fund is here to support you.

Who is it for?

We’re looking to support projects that benefit:

Older adults (50+)
Adults (18+) with additional needs.
Including but not limited to:
– People living with physical or mental health conditions
– Neurodivergent adults
– Those experiencing loneliness or social isolation
– People facing language or cultural barriers
– Unpaid carers

Your project could focus on:

Community-based socialising
Health & wellbeing
Arts, culture & creativity
Green/environmental and outdoor activities
Learning new skills

You can apply for up to £5,000 to help cover the costs of running your activity.

Which type of
organisations can apply?

Charity
Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Community interest company limited by guarantee (CIC)
Registered company with charitable status
Co-operative community benefit societies
Social enterprise
Community groups with a bank account in the name of the organisation applying

Note: We’re not able to fund private individuals, private companies, public regulatory bodies, or national charities without a local Oxfordshire focus.

What kind of projects are eligible?

We’re looking for regular, ongoing activities that bring people together and create lasting impact. This includes:

Activities that help people connect and socialise
Projects that support mental and physical wellbeing
Initiatives that reduce isolation including language, cultural, or caring barriers
Intergenerational or community-wide projects (if focused on benefits for older people)
Costs directly related to running your activity, including promotion
Small capital costs (if completed within the funding period and leave a lasting legacy)

We especially welcome projects that:

Fill gaps in local support (e.g. new options for social prescribers or neighbourhood teams)
Add to what’s already available locally
Try something new such as tackling digital exclusion or using local spaces creatively
Work with local businesses to create social, environmental, or economic benefits
Support unpaid carers
Help build strong, resilient communities that last beyond the life of the grant

What we cannot fund

One-off events or short-term events (for example, fetes, carnivals, exhibitions, or shows that do not have associated introductory, lead-up, or follow-on activities).
Projects for children/young people only
Private individuals, private companies, public regulatory bodies, or national charities without a local Oxfordshire focus
Improvements to land/buildings not owned by the applicant.

When do I need to apply by?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis there is no closing date, the fund will close once all money has been allocated. We are no longer accepting applications this year as the Fund has been disbursed.

OCVA and Community First Oxfordshire are here to support you. We offer advice and guidance to help you develop your proposal after submitting your Expression of Interest, and if you are successful and awarded funding, you will continue to have access to our team, who can offer ongoing support as you deliver and shape your project.

A few more things to keep in mind:

Community groups are only able to apply to either the Connected Communities Fund or Community Capacity Fund. Applications sent to both funds will not be accepted, therefore please read the criteria and eligibility for each fund to see which fits your project best before applying. We will be happy to talk this through with you
Your group should be based in Oxfordshire or benefit people living here
You don’t need to be a constituted organisation informal groups can apply too
Projects must be inclusive and not promote a single faith or political view
If your project has already started, you can still apply if the funding will add value
Grants are usually paid when your project is ready to begin
You can apply for 100% of your project costs (up to £5,000), but we encourage you to seek other funding too.
If you need to contact us in the meantime, please email ccf@ocva.org.uk