The first local organisations are set to benefit from Bicester Town Council’s COVID-19 Emergency Fund.
The new £20,000 fund was launched two weeks to help organisations who are directly supporting the community during the coronavirus emergency.
Four organisations to benefit are Citizens Advice North Oxfordshire & South Northants, which received £450 to cover 1,000 miles that have been driven by volunteer drivers delivering essential supplies and medicines to those in need in Bicester.
Bicester Good Neighbour Scheme gets £500 to cover an identified shortfall in income normally generated through coffee mornings and prize draws to enable them to continue their service to vulnerable older people.
Rainbow Bicester received £500 to cover 50 bi-weekly learning resource packs for the summer term to support families with pre-school children to help prepare them for starting school.
And Bicester Foodbank has received £500 to cover the cost of buying additional food to meet demand and increased diesel costs for their van.
A further six applications are being processed.
Bicester’s mayor Jason Slaymaker said: “We are delighted to be able to support this vital community work.
“It is great to see how the community has come together to support each other, those who have been self-isolating and our more vulnerable residents.
“We hope this extra funding will enable these organisations to carry on their important work, which is needed more than ever.
“This grant scheme was set up to provide financial support for organisations who are supporting Bicester residents. Funds are still available, and I would urge any group or charity who may need extra financial support to apply for a grant.”
Organisations in the town can apply for grants of up to £500 each to carry out work to support the community through the coronavirus pandemic.
Applications are invited from groups, clubs, committees and charities who are either based in Bicester, or directly support people in the town. It is not open to individuals or profit-making businesses and organisations.
For more information or to apply view https://www.bicester.gov.uk/covid-19-grant-application/
Last Updated 23 July 2020
