AAA Change text size and contrast

South Oxfordshire District Council offers grants to capital community projects in South Oxfordshire through its Community Investment Fund (CIF).

The fund was established from the sale of housing stock in July 1997.  Approximately £1 million per year is distributed in capital grants.  To date, the fund has distributed over £12 million in grants.

For information and guidance on the CIF criteria please download the guidance notes from the quick links section to the right of the page.  Alternatively if you would like any help or advice please contact the grants team on grants@southoxon.gov.uk or call 01491 823614.

Please note:  The scheme is currently closed to new applications but will re-open to large capital grant applications on 16 April 2010 and close on 14 May 2010. 

A small grants scheme will open from July 2010.

The CIF has a budget of £500,000 for capital community grants for 2010/11.  Information on the draft criteria can be found from the quick links section to the right of this page.  This criteria will go to the council's Cabinet for approval prior to the scheme opening.  If you would like to make any comments on the draft criteria please contact the grants team on grants@southoxon.gov.uk or tel 01491 823614.  

Applications for large capital grants will be via an on-line application form and will be available on this page from 16 April 2010.  

Current Projects

Henley Cricket Clubs new pavilion

photo by Angela Davison

Henley Cricket Club received a grant of £250,000 from the CIF scheme in 2009 towards a new sustainable pavilion.  The cricket club's old pavilion was demolished on the 29 September 2009 and works have been staggering with the building now in place and internal works now underway .  Once complete the new larger pavilion costing £417,000 will be a focal point for the cricket club and the whole of the community.

Refurbishment at St Mary’s Chruch in Wallingford

St Mary’s Church in Wallingford received a grant of £103,068 towards the cost of extensive refurbishment to the church.  The refurbishment is now complete with the church now boasting a new flooring with under floor heating, new stackable chairs, improved disabled provisions, new meeting area, new toilets, and new catering facilities.  The revitalised church will be available for community use by groups such as Wallingford and District Photographic Club as an exhibition venue, RAF Air Training Corps for presentations and recruitment and Wallingford and District Lions for a charity bazaar.

Funded Projects

New play area at Edmonds Park in Didcot

Didcot Town Council received a grant of £54,000 from the CIF scheme in 2008 towards a new play area.  The revitalised play area offers new exciting play opportunities for children of all ages, from toddlers to teenagers.  Didcot Town Council developed and designed the new play area with helpful ideas from many local children. 

Thame Girl Guides

Thame Girl Guides received a grant of £241,000 from the CIF scheme in 2008 towards their new building.  The new building was completed in 2009 and provides two community meeting rooms, a central kitchen and fully accessible toilet facilities.  The building is very sustainable with solar panels, energy saving lighting, extra insulation and recycling areas.  The new halls will be available for other community uses as well as the Girl Guides, and is already becoming booked up! 

Little Milton Village Shop

Little Milton Parish Council received a grant of £70,620 from the CIF scheme in 2007 towards a new village shop.  The community village shop which opened in 2009 hosts a coffee shop, post office and stocks locally farmed organic produce and is run by the community, for the community. 

Refurbishment at the Footsteps Centre

Footsteps is a centre that provides intensive physiotherapy for disabled children and young adults, using their unique equipment, called a spider, only the second of it’s kind in the UK.  Footsteps received a grant of £5,873 from the CIF fund in 2008 towards the cost of the refurbishment of the new Footsteps centre in Warborough. 

The Eyot Centre’s new equipment

The Eyot Centre is a thriving canoe club in Henley-on-Thames open to anyone over the age of 9 and of any ability.  The CIF scheme awarded a grant of £12,000 towards the cost of equipping the recently constructed centre.  The new centre was also awarded £120,000 from the CIF scheme in 2005 for its construction.

Disabled provision for Checkendon Village Hall

Checkendon Village Hall Committee received a grant of £5,118 from the CIF scheme in 2007 towards new disabled provisions.  The village hall now provides a new access ramp, disabled toilet facilities, baby changing facilities and disabled parking provisions.