Bicester Village awards local charities more than £45k

Earlier this month 17 local charities were joined by the mayor, Damien Maguire, at Bicester Village for a champagne reception to celebrate receiving an award from this year’s Unlock Futures Fund. 

The Unlock Futures Fund from Bicester Village is a program that supports local charities in creating projects that make a difference in the community.

Bicester Community Hub, Homeless Oxfordshire, Bicester Foodbank and Katharine House Hospice were among the charities awarded up to £4,000 each to support the work they do in the Bicester community. 

The Bicester Community Hub Team (Image: Bicester Village) Tim Parkhouse, founder of Get Fed said, ‘’The Unlock Futures funding is the caffeine in our bean.

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"It’s the boost we need to help inspire young people with barista and business skills on our coffee van.

"When school’s not working, Get Fed is there with an alternative shot at learning practically and creatively.’’ 

Get Fed is a social enterprise supporting young people at risk of exclusion and exploitation and was one of the winners of this year's fund. 

The 2024 fund, which was the seventh edition, awarded a total of £46,000, with the judging panel looking for projects that add value to the Bicester community and that focus on one of three themes: unlocking futures for young people, empowering women and supporting mental health and well-being.  

The successful applicants cover a broad range of causes, from young people impacted by crime and parental imprisonment to supporting the elderly with dance and movement classes, as well as mental well-being programmes and projects tackling food insecurity and waste. 

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Bicester Village community manager, Lucy Busby, said: “The Unlock Futures Fund is at the heart of our community programme but differs from our sponsorship activity as it is the charities themselves who dictate how the fund is spent.

Representatives from local charities Get Fed CIC and Children Heard and Seen (Image: Bicester Village) "By renewing the fund every year we ae able to widen our network of charities across the town and they, in turn, are able to meet each other and forge new partnerships.” 

During the evening, Mr Maguire, who was part of the awards’ judging panel, applauded the charities and praised their valuable work, including Bicester Foodbank and Nai’s House, his chosen charities for the year.   

Bicester Village director of central retail, John Durnin closed the evening by saying: “It is entirely humbling and uplifting to be in a room full of people who, through generosity, develop such incredible acts of kindness, helping those in our community who are truly in need.” 

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