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Working in partnership to support local communities across Oxfordshire.
The Community Partnership Fund (CPF) supports collaborative projects between the University of Oxford and local organisations across Oxfordshire.
Formerly known as the Community Grants Scheme, the fund has evolved to reflect a broader ambition, not just to provide financial support, but to enable meaningful, long-term partnerships.
Through CPF, the University works alongside community organisations to share knowledge, facilities, and expertise. This might include student and staff involvement, access to spaces, research collaboration, or co-delivered activities that respond to local priorities.
At its core, CPF is about partnership. Projects are jointly shaped and delivered, ensuring that activity is grounded in community need while drawing on the University’s resources in a practical and relevant way.
The fund supports projects that:
• are co-developed between the University and a local organisation
• respond to clearly identified community needs
• create opportunities for mutual benefit and shared learning
• demonstrate potential for meaningful local impact
Projects can take many forms, from community events and education programmes to sport, culture, and social initiatives.
From grassroots organisations to city-wide initiatives, partnerships take many forms, but at their core, they are built on shared purpose and trust.
Working in partnership with the University, Emmaus Oxford is developing opportunities that support people with experience of homelessness through meaningful activity, skills development, and community integration. The collaboration explores how student engagement, volunteering, and shared expertise can contribute to longer-term pathways for individuals rebuilding their lives.
This partnership focuses on creating inclusive play opportunities for children and young people across Oxfordshire. Through community-based activity, the project supports wellbeing, development, and social connection, while exploring how the University can contribute through research, engagement, and shared resources.
The Fund is open to:
All proposals must demonstrate a clear partnership approach, with both parties actively involved in shaping and delivering the project.
Applications are reviewed on a termly basis.
Projects are assessed on:
Applications are reviewed once per academic term, with deadlines set at the end of Week 4.
Details of 2026/27 will be shared in due course.
Applicants are typically notified within a few weeks of the review date.
Applications for the 2025/26 Community Partnership Fund have now closed. Information about the 2026/27 funding round, including the online application form and key dates, will be published in due course. If you are interested in developing a community-focused project with support from the Community Partnership Fund, please check this page for future updates.
“The University does so much for the local community and enriches the lives of everyone who takes advantage of their generosity.”
The Community Partnership Fund builds on the legacy of the University’s Community Grants Scheme, which has supported local organisations for over a decade.
Since its early years, the programme has worked with a wide range of partners across Oxfordshire, including charities, schools, cultural organisations, and grassroots community groups.
These partnerships span areas such as:
Together, they reflect the breadth of activity taking place across Oxfordshire and the University’s ongoing commitment to working in partnership with local communities.
