The fund will support locally-led projects across the district, giving communities the opportunity to deliver exciting projects that have the backing of the community and the Council alike. 

Typically projects can expect a pledge of up to £10,000, max 40% of the target, but the Council will consider applying a premium to projects which are seeking to directly address climate change, the ecological emergency or providing direct support to vulnerable groups, up to a total of 50%.

Please note: the council will not be the first organisation to pledge to your project and will first want to see community support and backing, in the form of pledges from local people towards your campaign. Start by getting lots of small pledges from the community to show local support for your project. This will help unlock bigger pledges.

Through the Westhive Fund we would like to see the following outcomes delivered within the West Oxfordshire district:

1. Improving our natural environment: Project examples: Landscape and habitat restoration and creation, active travel (walking and cycling) opportunities, improved access to greenspaces and the countryside, environmental awareness training.

2. Taking action towards the climate and ecological emergencies: Project examples: Landscape, ecology and wildlife conservation, community energy generation, energy efficiency, restoration of meadows and trees to reduce flooding and improve water quality, carbon reduction initiatives.

3 .Increasing community resilience and amplifying the voice of the seldom heard:

Project examples: Food equity initiatives, community food growing, community art, cultural events, reducing social isolation and loneliness, facilities and/or activities for improved physical and mental wellbeing, activities for young people.

1.    Improving our natural environment and the access to it, so that we enable physical and mental wellbeing and cohesive, connected communities.

2. Taking action towards the climate and ecological emergencies, so that we reduce carbon footprints and encourage nature recovery.

3. Increasing community resilience and amplifying the voice of the seldom heard, so that we take action on issues most important to our residents and their needs, such as access to food, supporting young people and cultural provision.

All projects seeking support will be expected to complete a set of questions when pitching to the fund to determine the eligibility of their projects. The pitch is where you explain why your project deserves a grant from the Council. Follow our video here.

Eligible projects can expect a pledge of up to £10,000 or a maximum of up to 40% of the crowdfunding target.

West Oxfordshire District Council will consider these responses to determine if an activity is eligible. Projects will also need to demonstrate that they have local support for the activity proposed prior to project assessment, 6-8 weeks after the deadline. This will be through pledges offered on its spacehive campaign. You are therefore advised to start your campaign as soon as possible. Projects are also able to upload funds raised offline and upload funds raised pre-campaign to evidence existing support. Find out more here.

Projects will need to evidence both fund eligibility and local support to be considered for a pledge by West Oxfordshire District council. 

We will support the following organisations: 

• Registered charities 

• Charitable Incorporated Organisations 

• Community Interest Companies

• Social Enterprises

• Unincorporated community groups

• Individuals for community projects - not individuals for individual endeavour/benefit

The following are not eligible to apply to the West Hive Fund:

• Private companies

• Statutory service providers

• Groups proposing for-profit projects

• Groups proposing projects with a political affiliation

• Schools and religious organisations may only apply if the project will have a demonstrable benefit to the wider community and not just the school’s students or congregation.

For any queries about the programme or support from West Oxfordshire District Council please contact: west.hive@westoxon.gov.uk

• Community Infrastructure Fund to support Capital projects.
• Eligible Projects can expect a pledge of up to £20,000 of capital towards your project or a maximum of up to 50% of the crowdfunding target.

We are looking for projects that restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging, especially in those places where these have been lost.  In line with our Council Plan, we particularly encourage projects that support the most vulnerable in our communities and which address exclusion for whatever reason (eg mental health, financial or disability) as well as those that meet the needs of young people and indeed projects run by young people.

THE OUTCOMES OF OUR FUND

Capital Projects that emphasise these outcomes and have a lasting legacy will be prioritised: 

• Are community led.
• Support the retention of existing and development of new services and facilities that contribute to the local economy, community wellbeing and cohesion.
• Support voluntary and community groups to undertake activity which helps to address specific needs such as access to food, youth support and cultural provision. 
• Increase numbers of volunteers
• Make a dedicated effort to further understand and meet the needs of young people, from children to those entering the world of work and/or seeking to set up home in the District, including supporting their mental health.
• Provide a long term sustainable benefit to the local community or area.
• Enhance community spaces (including green spaces) so they could be:
  • More flexible
  • Able to host extra services
  • More resilient
  • More useable by the wider community as a whole
• Address climate change and nature recovery
• Encourage the rural circular economy (repair, re-use, local food etc) 

We cannot support projects that have received funding from other Defra schemes. This includes:

• The Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme - funding for farmers and land managers to work in partnership with National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty bodies to deliver projects on climate, nature, people and place
• The Farming Investment Fund - grants to improve productivity and bring environmental benefits, covering 2 funds - the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund and the Farming Transformation Fund
• The Platinum Jubilee Village Hall Improvement Grant Fund - grant funding over 3 years (to 2025) to support capital improvement projects for village halls, covering extending buildings and modernising facilities.

• Community Infrastructure fund is to support capital projects.
• Eligible projects can expect a pledge of up to £20,000 of capital or a maximum of up to 50% of the crowdfunding target. 
• Disclaimer: West Oxfordshire District Council are happy to accept and consider pitches from projects to both the Westhive fund and the Community Infrastructure fund (capital projects) – the council will take a view on whether they pledge from one or both funds dependent on the nature of the project pitching. 
• All projects seeking support will be expected to complete a set of questions when pitching to the fund to determine the eligibility of their projects. The pitch is where you explain why your project deserves a grant from the Council. Follow our video here.
• West Oxfordshire District Council will consider these responses to determine if a project is eligible. Projects will also need to demonstrate that they have local support for the activity proposed prior to pitch assessments, 6-8 weeks after the deadline. This will be through pledges offered on its spacehive campaign. You are therefore advised to start your campaign as soon as possible. Projects are also able to upload funds raised offline and upload funds raised pre-campaign to evidence existing support. Find out more here.
• Projects will need to evidence both fund eligibility and local support to be considered for a pledge by West Oxfordshire District council. 

Eligibility

The fund is for established community groups from one of the following forms:

• Community Interest Companies

• Social Enterprises

• Registered charities

• Public bodies, such as Parish Councils where they are delivering or hosting community projects (mainstream expenses such as salaries, building maintenance or replacement street furniture will not be supported)

• Constituted bodies

The Community Infrastructure fund (capital projects) cannot support: 

• Private companies

• Statutory service providers

• Groups proposing projects with a political affiliation

• Schools and religious organisations may only apply if the project will have a demonstrable benefit to the wider community and not just the school’s pupils or church’s congregation.

• Individuals (the fund is for organisations with legal status only)

Permissions

It is the project creators responsibility to ensure that all necessary permissions or licences are in place at the verficiation stage of the campagn process.  If the applicant does not own the land or building that the grant relates to, the owners informal permission must have been obtained when an application is submitted and formal agreement must be confirmed before any funding will be paid.

For any queries about the programme or support from West Oxfordshire District Council please contact: west.hive@westoxon.gov.uk