Supporting your communities to thrive
Our Community Fund is about helping people thrive, backing projects that bring communities together, boost wellbeing, and create new opportunities.
09 December 2025
Supporting your communities to thrive
Our Community Fund is about helping people thrive, backing projects that bring communities together, boost wellbeing, and create new opportunities.
This year, £30k is available for individuals and community groups across West Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire. So far, we’ve awarded nearly £26k to 13 projects - from sports clubs and village halls to toddler groups and financial education sessions.
This includes Bampton Bush Centre, which has received just over £2,400 to support accessible transport to its weekly lunch club. This means older residents, like Rosemary (pictured), who have mobility issues can still attend and enjoy meals, entertainment, and outings - helping to combat isolation
Suzy Macpherson, Centre Chairperson, says: “For over 40 years, the centre has been a welcoming weekly lunch club for elderly and retired residents. Many of our lovely members are in their 80s and 90s, with our oldest at 103!
“Thanks to Cottsway’s generous support, we’ve been able to support those who find it hard to get out and about to still join in the fun. We’re run almost entirely by volunteers and are so grateful for the funding that keeps our community thriving.”
Other grant recipients so far this year
Support for young people
Aspire - £2,375
Funding a youth worker at Aspire’s Witney Hub, helping young people build confidence, learn skills, and move towards brighter futures.
Clanfield 85 Football Club Under 18s - £ 2,050
Helping the new under-18 team get started with kit, equipment, and training resources, giving players the chance to develop teamwork, build confidence, and prepare for adult football.
Freeland District Guiding - £ 2,275
Supporting fifty girls from Long Hanborough and North Leigh to enjoy a weekend of adventure at PGL Swindon, building confidence, teamwork, and lasting friendships.
Oxfordshire Play Association - £2,400
Funded three free summer Play and Activity Days in Witney, Carterton, and Eynsham, to promote children’s wellbeing and community connection through play.
Witney Vikings Girls U10 Wasps - £275
Providing new training shirts for the newly formed girls’ team, helping players train with pride while easing the pressure on families to keep kit clean and ready.
Support for local families
Apollos - £2,188
Helping to expand their ‘Save School Uniform’ project, which provides free uniforms to children in need while upcycling donated textiles to reduce waste.
Home-Start Banbury, Bicester and Chipping Norton - £1,660
Supporting weekly 1-to-1 family sessions in Chipping Norton, offering personalised guidance and a friendly, reliable helping hand for families who could use extra support.
Home-Start Oxford - £2,500
Funding for parent and toddler wellbeing groups in Witney – Little Splashers and Puddle Jumpers – offering nurturing spaces for families with children under five.
Support for older people and lifelong learning
Children’s Safety Education Foundation (CSEF) - £1,860
Delivering the ‘Money Wise’ financial education programme at The Marlborough School in Woodstock, giving students the tools to make informed, confident financial decisions.
Yellow Submarine Charity - £2,500
Helping the popular Yellow Submarine Café in Witney expand its ‘Life Changing Bakes’ traineeship programme, giving young adults with learning disabilities the opportunity to gain new skills and build confidence.
Support for communities
Cirencester Community Development Trust - £1,620
Supported the Phoenix Festival, a free, volunteer-run event attracting 18,000 visitors annually, showcases local music and arts while celebrating inclusivity and creativity.
Tackley Village Memorial Hall - £1,875
Funding energy efficiency upgrades to keep the hall - home to the community shop, post office and pop-up pub - sustainable, warm and welcoming for future generations.
Want to have your say?
All Community Fund applications are reviewed by our customers to make sure funding goes where it’s most valued. To have your say:
Did you know as a Cottsway customer you can apply for up to £250 to support your own or a household member’s learning or skills development?