Connected Communities Fund Update: The Story So Far!

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Connected Communities Fund Update: The Story So Far!

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

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