Who better than the people who live in Soha communities to tell the landlord what would make life nicer there?

And who better to make the decision about how the money should be spent than their fellow tenants?

The social landlord, Soha, which manages homes throughout Oxfordshire and beyond, has set aside money from its tenant-led Annual Report to fund a number of community projects on its estates.

It’s going to be the team of residents who produced Soha’s annual report who will shortlist the projects and a wider group of involved tenants who will cast the final vote for which projects get the cash.

Soha has called this one-off grant round The Soha Wishing Well Fund. Applications need to be submitted by a Soha tenant, but the intention is that all residents in a neighbourhood — Soha or not — will benefit. In encouraging applications for cash, Soha has made some suggestions to demonstrate what the Wishing Well can fund.

These are only suggestions though and the more creative the idea, the better!

  • Friends and neighbours (Soha thought residents might like to think about a befriending network or activities to get the generations together)
  • Wildlife/conservation/gardening (one suggestion was gardening lessons so a neighbourhood could create a line of blooming borders and luxurious lawns)
  • Better communications (Soha has already had enquiries about using some Wishing Well money to set up a neighbourhood website, for example)
  • Young people and families (the landlord is always hearing that mums and dads would really welcome school holiday activities)

The Wishing Well can’t fund anything that involves making a physical change to something which is not on Soha property. So that means the Wishing Well couldn’t be used for anything to do with changing parking arrangements, repairing potholes or lighting. And residents won’t be able to draw on the Wishing Well to fund work on individual homes, or for individuals.

The deadline for applications is Friday, August 1, and Soha is glad to talk through ideas with residents before they get as far as submitting a formal application. Shortlisting takes place on August 13 with the final vote on September 10.

Find out more about Soha’s Wishing Well Fund — including full terms and conditions — from Soha’s Resident Involvement Officers by emailing ri@soha.co.uk or calling 01235 515900.