Page 9 - OCF - Pandemic Year Impact Report

Further recovery and legacy investments were later made for three key projects:
BAME infrastructure group
A growing body of data shows that people who are Black, Asian and from minority ethnic (BAME) groups have been disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. BAME-led organisations are playing a pivotal role in ensuring that vital emergency funds reach those from these hard-
hit communities. OCF has supported a diverse group
of Oxfordshire community leaders to apply for funding from UK Community Foundations (matched by OCF and private donors) to establish a formal, proactive forum of representatives from various minority ethnic civil society groups in the county.
Oxfordshire All In (OAI)
OAI is a collective of volunteers who created open platforms and mechanisms to support collaboration and engagement during lockdown 1. Their work brought together individuals, communities, voluntary organisations, public bodies, businesses and partnerships across Oxfordshire, facilitating greater collaboration and preventing duplication. They published COVID-19 resources for anyone wanting to help their community, including a map of both newly formed neighbourhood support groups, and established charities.
A grant of £20,000 is enabling them to continue to provide these services as well as ensure their long-term sustainability.
Getting Oxfordshire Online
The pandemic has made it obvious that digital access is
now a need not a luxury. Being unable to get online means schoolchildren are disadvantaged, older people are more isolated, and many cannot access essentials such as benefits or appointments. In January, thanks to seed funding from Our Common Good and matched by OCF, we appointed a project manager for our Getting Oxfordshire Online initiative to address lack of access to devices and data, and support people with the training they need.
SOFEA community larders deliveries
Oxford Hub
Phone Links service
Asylum Welcome refugee community organisation
February
• Further fundraising
push solicits £65k in
new donations to OCF’s Community Resilience Fund
• UK hits target of 15 million first-dose COVID-19 vaccinations to top four priority groups
March April
• Schools reopen
• OCF’s £1 million COVID grants milestone reached on the anniversary of the first lockdown
• Rule of six returns
• OCF’s CEO makes a personal commitment to ensuring diverse voices are heard in the local charity sector
• India added to UK red list as Delta variant spreads and third wave begins...
Oxfordshire Community Foundation 7