Oxfordshire Community & Voluntary Action (OCVA)

Connected Communities Fund 2026-2027

The Connected Communities Fund gives up to £5,000 to groups in Oxfordshire running regular, ongoing group activities that help older people (65+) and adults with additional needs stay active, connected and independent, reducing isolation and the need for formal care. It is funded by Oxfordshire County Council (Adult Social Care), delivered by OCVA with Community First Oxfordshire, and this year prioritises rural areas. The 2026-27 round opens on Tuesday 6 October 2026 and is assessed on a rolling basis until the money runs out; informal groups with a group bank account can apply.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Up to £5,000; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Groups based in Oxfordshire whose activity benefits people living in Oxfordshire: charities, CIOs, CICs limited by guarantee, registered companies with charitable status, co-operative community benefit societies, social enterprises, and community groups with a bank account in the name of the group
You do not need to be a constituted organisation; informal groups with group bank accounts can apply
National charities need a clearly defined Oxfordshire-focused project with ringfenced budget and accounts
Activities must be group-based, regular and ongoing, inclusive, and ready to start as soon as payment is received
No income limit is stated
Groups may apply to either the Connected Communities Fund or the Community Capacity Fund, not both

What it funds

Regular, ongoing group activities that people attend on a regular basis and that benefit older adults (65+) or adults (18+) with additional needs, including:

People with physical or mental health conditions
Neurodivergent adults
People experiencing loneliness or isolation
People who find it hard to access adult social care because of language, cultural or other barriers
Unpaid carers
Activities can include:
Community socialising
Health and wellbeing
Arts, culture and creativity
Green and outdoor activities
Learning new skills

Intergenerational or wider community projects are eligible only where older people 65+ are clearly the primary beneficiaries.

The grant can cover the full cost of the activity up to £5,000, including running costs, promotion and small capital costs completed within the funding period that leave a lasting legacy.

Especially welcome: projects that fill gaps in local provision (e.g. needs highlighted by social prescribers or neighbourhood teams), enhance what is already available, try something new such as tackling digital exclusion, work with local businesses, create opportunities for unpaid carers to connect, and build resilient communities that last beyond the grant.

What it will not fund

One-off events, occasional gatherings or short-term activities that are not part of a regular, ongoing group activity
Projects for children or young people only
Private individuals
Private companies
Public regulatory bodies
National charities without a clearly defined Oxfordshire-focused project and ringfenced accounts and budget
Improvements to land or buildings not owned by the applicant
Activities that promote a single faith or political view

How to apply

Read the criteria for both the Connected Communities Fund and the Community Capacity Fund and choose the one that fits; applications to both will not be accepted
From Tuesday 6 October 2026, complete the online application form linked from the fund page
Applications are assessed as they are received
If successful, the grant is paid when your project is ready to begin; activities should start straight after payment

There is no closing date; the fund closes once all funding is allocated, so apply early.

You may not be awarded the full amount requested.

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