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Food and Warmth Grant Scheme 2025/2026 – Closed

The Food and Warmth Grant Scheme offers financial support to local organisations and food network partners to help them continue to provide vital food and warmth support for our residents. 

How much is available and what for? 

Projects funded must help residents to overcome financial pressures and their ability to access food and warm their homes.  

Awards available are: 

  • Up to £2,000 for un-constituted not-for-profit groups/organisations  
  • £2,000 to £5,000 for individual constituted not-for-profit groups/organisations  
  • Up to £10,000 for collaborations between three or more not-for-profit groups/ organisations with the lead organisation being a constituted organisation 

Capital Expenses 

  • Purchase of food supplies and essential supplies such as household cleaning products, toiletries including period products, consumables either for distribution to residents or for use by the organisation to ensure the safe provision of goods to residents. 
  • Purchase of additional equipment to store and supply food. 
  • Purchase of equipment to be distributed to residents to help keep them warm e.g. hot water bottles and blankets, and (energy efficient) cooking equipment to distribute to residents. 
  • Purchase of general equipment required to deliver specific food and/or warmth projects e.g. gardening/cooking equipment, stock storage etc. 

Revenue Expenses 

  • Contributions towards future energy bills at the premises the VCS organisation or food larder/bank that are or will be registered as Warm Welcome Spaces. 
  • Additional staff, venue and fuel costs specifically associated with delivery of the funded food and/or warmth projects, such as additional staff costs to start/increase skills workshops or fuel costs of increasing delivery of food/warmth supplies to the community.
  • Short-term additional staffing costs and expenses required to deliver the projects
    being funded (not core salary costs).
  • New marketing, printing and distribution costs to promote food and/or warmth projects. 

Who can apply? 

The scheme is open to Constituted and un-constituted not for profit community and voluntary organisations, community interest companies or non-profit organisations who hold a bank account in the organisation’s name.  Organisations must be based in or directly delivering food and energy support or local initiatives/projects to help reduce cost-of-living pressure and build household resilience within the Vale of White Horse district. For a full list, please refer to our guidance. 

Who can’t apply? 

  • Other local authorities/public sector bodies (for example Oxfordshire County Council, NHS trusts and schools). 
  • Individuals. 
  • Profit-based businesses (private businesses). 
  • Political parties and lobbying groups. 
  • Religious bodies where the monies will be used for religious purposes or religious buildings. 
  • Groups who are not base in or predominantly supporting residents in Vale of White Horse. 
  • Nationwide organisations (except where they have a local constitution and/or local bank account. We may also make exceptions if a project clearly relates to a local hub/branch of the organisation). 

These lists are not exhaustive, and the council’s decision is final. 

This scheme closed for applications at midday on 28 November 2025.

 

Guidelines
Return to your submitted application

Equalities

The council is committed to promoting equality and diversity and welcomes applications from organisations representing minority or vulnerable groups. We encourage all applicants to make their projects as inclusive and accessible to all as possible. 

Get in touch

You are welcome to contact us at communityconnectors@southandvale.gov.uk if you have any questions about the scheme.