West Oxfordshire community projects to receive £218k

West Oxfordshire District Council has committed £218,809 to the initiatives through Westhive, a platform designed to empower communities by allowing residents to lead and raise funds for projects that directly benefit their area.

Councillor Rachel Crouch, executive member for stronger healthy communities, said: "We are delighted to be investing over £200,000 from the Westhive pledge pot in these incredible grassroots groups that have been actively campaigning for projects that will transform and improve the services and facilities that they are providing for our local communities.

"Westhive is all about putting the power into the hands of the community, allowing our residents to drive the changes that they care about and ensuring that the funding we have available for our communities goes to where it will make the biggest difference to them.

“I encourage everyone to visit the Westhive platform and get behind these incredible causes.

"Together, we can help bring even more community-led projects to life and continue making a lasting impact across West Oxfordshire.”

Launched in 2023, Westhive has raised more than £612,367 for local projects, with the council pledging £276,939 towards 14 initiatives.

The latest round of funding will enable Witney Vikings Youth Football Club to expand their facilities, create more teams, and offer sessions for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Steve Bott, chair of Witney Vikings, said: "As busy volunteers, the last thing we needed was an administrative battle but the Westhive platform has been impressive - easy to use and well supported."

Also benefitting is the Eynsham Allotment Association, which will add a composting toilet, plant a communal orchard, and make paths wheelchair friendly, while Long Mead Foundation and Nature Recovery Network will create new meadows across West Oxfordshire to protect rare habitats and boost biodiversity.

The Long Mead Foundation and Nature Recovery Network (Image: West Oxfordshire District Council) Deb Arrowsmith from the Eynsham Allotment Association said: "We are super excited to have reached our funding goal - with loads of support from West Oxfordshire District Council.

"Now we are forming our volunteer team to deliver the project over the winter and are looking forward to cutting the ribbon on our composting toilet in spring.

"And in our woodland, here's hoping we can also get those nesting boxes and insect habitats ready for spring tenants too."

Some Westhive projects are still actively crowdfunding to meet their targets to unlock their funding.

Charlbury Youth Ambassador is one of the organisation's still crowdfunding to meet their targets and unlock their funding (Image: West Oxfordshire District Council) These include Charlbury Youth Ambassador, Growing at Bridewell Gardens, Help children be creative, Stonesfield Scout Woodland Community Hub, Tuition for marginalised young people, and Witney Mills Cricket Nets and Fence.