City of Oxford Charity Limited

City of Oxford Charity Limited, with roots tracing back to 1700 as a hospital for the poor founded by Reverend William Stone, amalgamated into a single entity in 2017, operates from historic almshouses in St Clement's. Its mission is to relieve hardship, sickness, and infirmity among Oxford residents, provide supported housing, and offer educational aid to those under 25 in need, embodying values of dignity, fairness, inclusivity, and practical compassion as a last-resort provider for vulnerable locals slipping through statutory nets. Distinctively blending grant-making with managing Stone's Court almshouses, it prioritizes poverty alleviation, crisis relief (e.g., household items, clothing, medical equipment, bankruptcy fees), illness/disability support, and education/training costs for disadvantaged youth.

It funds acute individual needs via Relief in Need/Sickness grants and Educational grants, with occasional support for small local community groups aiding Oxford residents; beneficiaries must demonstrate 3+ years' residency in the City of Oxford (not solely for education). No income thresholds apply, but referrals from professionals like social workers are required.

Applications use a website PDF form with supporting statements, submitted via email or post on a rolling basis, reviewed at monthly Relief in Need Grants Committee meetings (e.g., 7 January 2025 onward, schedule online). Typical grants range £100–£1,000, paid to suppliers or agencies, not individuals. It excludes core funding, capital projects, capacity building, unrestricted support, and non-local applicants, standing out for its hyper-local, history-rooted dual model of targeted relief and housing for Oxford's most vulnerable.