15

  Non-Confidential 

For information

1. Welcommunity has been a major success over the last 12 months supporting community projects across West Oxfordshire.  
2. We have assessed 23 applications, supported 14 and rejected 9.
3. We have had a gradual increase in applications due to effective advertising, “word of mouth” and Jack FM adverts.  
4. To date we have funded or allocated £9,730 on community groups, projects, events or items which meet our corporate priorities.

1. Funding is available for up to £1,000 for projects/groups which are eligible and address our corporate priorities, which are:

• Services and activities for young people and children.
• Services and activities that help address rural issues.
• Services and activities that help prevent debt, provide financial advice and reduce poverty.
• Services and activities that contribute towards climate change and energy efficiency.

1.  The following groups, projects, events and items will be funded:

• New groups, one off projects and projects starting up.
• Existing groups starting up new projects and/or expanding their services.
• Groups led or managed by local people.
• Groups and projects that encourage local people to get involved.
• Groups and projects working with ‘hard to reach’ groups.
• Items of equipment (which support our corporate priorities).
• Local events.
• Training to improve a group/project’s effectiveness, e.g. management or budgeting.
• Printing and publicity (which support our corporate priorities)
• Environmental projects and community improvements.

1. The following projects have been funded:

• Clanfield Baby and Toddler Group – £1,000 for new equipment.
• Long Hanborough Under 10’s football club – £700 for sports equipment and team kit displaying the Welcommunity logo.
• Milton Volunteers – £600 equipments for gardening or improvement projects around the village.
• Volunteer Link-up – £300 for the provision of maps for volunteers who provide a free transport service.
• Tackley Millennium Play Area – £866 funding towards a village tennis court.
• SWYCH Sustainable Wychwoods – £280 to provide energy meters to the community on loan.
• Eynsham Parish Council – £1,000 towards the Eynsham Directory.
• Burford Oil Syndicate – £700 towards IT equipment to help administer the syndicate.

1. The following project funding is allocated for Q1 2009-10;

• Base33 Witney – £1,000 for a food hygiene course, sports and awards presentation day for disadvantaged and socially excluded teenagers.
• Oxford Parent Infant Project – £1,000 towards the setup of a new Witney satellite project, providing support to parents with infants.
• St John the Evangelist Church (demonstrated that the whole community is welcome, not just one faith) – £1,000 towards kitchen equipment for the improved “Community hub” in Carterton.
• AFC Marlborough Boys U15 Football Club – £489 for sports equipment and team kit displaying the Welcommunity logo.
• Witney Children’s Centre – £495 Cotswold Wildlife Park outing for the newly formed Dad’s and Male Carers group.
• Ryegrass Residents Association – £300 towards setting up a gardening club, new hanging baskets, tools and plants. Supporting Woodstock in Bloom.

1. Cost/budget implications:

• £5,446 has been funded to projects from an initial budget of £10,000 in 2008-2009. 
• £4,284 has been allocated in Q1 2009-10 from our new budget of £15,000.

1. The Welcommunity budget is assessed each year as part of the normal budgetary process.
2. In 2008-2009 we accessed 13 applications for funding. It has taken time to build up funding applications, which has resulted in a budgetary under spend.
3. However in Q1 2009-10 we have already reviewed 10 applications suggesting that with the additional £5K increase to the fund to £15,000 the panel will meet target spend. Benefiting good causes and initiatives across West Oxfordshire.
4. We are currently investigating the purchase of plaques and stickers which can be supplied to projects and groups that receive funding, so Cottsway can promote our work within the community.

1. The Welcommunity initiative has enabled effective partnership working with panel members from our own Residents Forum, Oxfordshire County Council Community Development, NHS Primary Care Trust and Thames Valley Police.

1. The Welcommunity panel places great emphasis on making decisions which demonstrate our commitment to Cottway being a socially responsible landlord.  We have funded initiatives that help with;

• Community impact – Much of the funding provided by Cottsway promotes a strong community impact. Supporting new sports initiatives (Woodstock and Long Hanborough FC), improving the village (Milton), supporting new services for infants (Oxford Parent Infant Project), providing a tennis court in a rural village (Tackley) and helping our tenants find local services (Eynsham Directory) are examples where the Welcommunity fund has made a real impact in bringing groups and communities together with a drive to improve services and facilities.  
  • The improvements to the “Community Hub” in Carterton will also be an exciting community opportunity for the town. 

However there are cases where the general public and our tenants find it difficult to travel, so the panel has funded the Volunteer Link up scheme with new maps. Providing medical and social transport to isolated members of the community. 

• Equality & diversity – Awarding funding for the Witney Children’s Centre Cotswold Wildlife Park outing for new Dad’s and Male Carers group clearly demonstrates the support of Cottsway for new initiatives where support groups are traditionally underrepresented.  This can also be seen with Base33 where Cottsway has allocated funding for a food hygiene course and presentation day for disadvantaged and socially excluded teenagers, encouraging formal training and certification which will help in securing jobs.
• Environmental issues – In Milton we have provided the initial funding for volunteers to help improve the village and take part in community projects such as gardening.  

We have also funded electricity meters that can be borrowed from a mobile library to raise awareness on reducing electrical consumption. Both helping the environment and reducing bills.

• Financial Inclusion – Supporting the Burford Oil Syndicate encourages community cohesion and ensures tenants achieve the best possible price when purchasing their oil.

When assessing applications we have tried to ensure that families on low levels of income can access any service we help fund.  

1. The Welcommunity consists of 2 Cottsway employees, 1 Resident Forum member and 3 community representatives. There must be a quorum of 1 Cottsway employee and 2 other panel members to assess applications and make a formal decision. We are currently looking for a resident panel member and a community representative to replace Thames Valley Police.
2. All panel decisions are noted and recorded for future auditing purposes. We are required to present a yearly update to SMT, Residents Forum and the Board.
3. Cottsway  will not support activities which are;

• For personal gain.
• That does not deliver at least one of our corporate priorities.
• Services that are the responsibility of the local authority, council, education and other agencies.
• Work that will overlap with or repeat what others are already doing in the community.

1. There is also a list of criteria that we will not support such as;

• Political or religious activities.
• Constructing or buying buildings.