Bicester Village will donate £40,000 to local charities focusing on empowering women, supporting young people and improving mental health and wellbeing.

The seventh edition of the Bicester Village Unlock Futures Fund will award £40,000 in total, with a maximum award of £4,000 available to any one organisation.

Local charities are able to apply on the Bicester Village website before a judging panel will decide on the projects that will receive the funding.

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To be eligible, applicants must be not-for-profit organisations, such as charities, social enterprises and community groups, that are based in, or primarily support activities within, Bicester and its surrounding areas.

Lucy Busby, community manager at Bicester Village, said: “We are very excited to announce the launch of the Unlock Futures Fund for its 7th year and welcome applications from any local charities who believe they might benefit from the boost this fund can provide to their organisation.”

Bicester Community Fridge, Friends of Bardwell School, Open Doors Community Café, Bicester Green and the Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse & Rape Crisis Centre were among the 14 charities awarded funds last year.

Also awarded funding in 2023 were Get Fed, a social enterprise supporting young people at risk of exclusion and exploitation. 

The organisation provide enterprise and employability skills with barista and business training on their coffee van. 

Founder, Tim Parkhouse said: “The Unlock Futures Fund has been a launch pad for our innovative work in Bicester with young entrepreneurs who needed this double shot of skills training. 

“We infuse our young people with the aspiration to be the best and believe they can achieve.’’

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Bure Park Disability Football Club were also awarded funding last year.

The club said in a statement: "The fund has been such a wonderful thing to be a part of. We have done exactly as the name suggests, and made a difference to more children in Bicester with disabilities."

The judging panel will choose the organisations based on a specified criteria.

The criteria states: "Empowering women, activities that directly support the empowerment of women in our community including, gender equality in education, economic empowerment and supporting women and girls to build skills and confidence. 

“Unlocking the futures of young people, innovative projects that create positive impact on the lives of young people in our local area, empowering them to build positive futures by raising aspirations, building life skills and breaking down barriers to employment.

“Mental health and well-being, projects that support good mental and physical health in our community by improving access to support and tackling stigma and discrimination.”

The deadline for the receipt of completed applications is Sunday, June 30.