A total of 20 local charities, organisations and good causes are set to benefit from a £50,000 charity and community bursary set up by Blenheim.
The bursary is available to all charities and organisations based within a 20-mile radius of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Among groups receiving funds, ranging from £200 to £5,000, are Combe Village Hall Committee, Stonesfield Outdoor Gym, Freeland Baby & Toddler Group, the Plunkett Foundation, Sustainable Woodstock, Edward Field Primary School, North Leigh Roman Villa, Begbroke Orchard and Aspire Oxford.
Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill, who has spent many years supporting and mentoring charity and local projects, provided guidance and advice for the bursary applications and was closely involved with the awarding process.
“Following the disruption and upheaval of the past year, there’s never been a more important time to support and showcase the amazing work being done by small groups and organisations across our communities,” she said.
“We’re proud to be able to provide funding to local charity and community projects and the bursary enables us to highlight the great work people are doing and support the positive impact it’s having,” she added.
Other organisations receiving funding are; Combe Hub, Freeland Allotments, Harvest at Home, Stonesfield School, Woodstock Bowls Club, St Peter’s School, Stonesfield Scouts, Hanborough Manor Preschool, Pink Sky Yoga and Combe Primary School.
Applications for next year’s bursary will open in November and close at the end of January 2022 with successful applicants being notified in March and receiving funds in April.
Since its launch at the end of 2018, the Blenheim Bursary has distributed in excess of £150,000 to more than 50 different organisations across the local communities.
Among the groups to receive funds in 2020, which ranged from £500 to £5,000, were FarmAbility, Oxfordshire Youth, Stonesfield Allotments, Sustainable Woodstock, Forrest Bathing and West Witney Primary School.
The bursary scheme is part of Blenheim’s ongoing commitment to more than double its charitable contributions to the community within 10 years.
To find out more about the bursary scheme, and to download application forms for 2022, go to www.blenheim.org/community/charity-community-bursary/
Issued on behalf of Blenheim Palace. For more information please contact Samantha Vaughan on 07469 129743 or SVaughan@blenheimpalace.com .