ESF Community Grants panel awards £222,000 to help disadvantaged groups

Recent grant recipients include Bicester-based voluntary group Startupnow, who have been awarded £50,000 for a project that is working to improve life chances for some of the most disadvantaged women in the county.

Oxford-based social enterprise Aspire are teaming up with charities Asylum Welcome, EMBS Community College, and the Workers Educational Association to support refugees and ESOL learners. They have been collectively awarded a total of £74,900 to offer 12 months of classes in English, numeracy, computing, and employability skills, one to one coaching and careers advice, and work placements with local employers.

The European Social Fund and the Education and Skills Funding Agency have made £387,000 of funding available for Oxfordshire. The grant awards are being managed by Oxford City Council and the latest call for applications is open until 30 June.

Jackie Yates, Executive Director at Oxford City Council said:  “The range of projects already awarded grant funding demonstrates the potential impact this funding can have in helping transform the lives of some of the most disadvantaged residents in our county. I would urge interested community groups to apply for a grant.”

Nigel Tipple, CEO of OxLEP, added: “We are delighted that these community organisations have been successful in gaining grants to help some of our residents into training and work and therefore contribute to our successful and growing economy.”

For the full list of recent grant recipients and details of how to apply for an ESF Community Grant please visit our website