Miranda has a nose for best new challenge (From thisisoxfordshire)

Miranda has a nose for best new challenge

8:00am Thursday 14th March 2013 in News By Emma Harrison, Reporter covering Rose Hill, Littlemore and Iffley. Contact me on 01865 425430

TV star Miranda Hart is arriving in Oxford today to take part in The BT Red Nose Challenge.

But the details of exactly what challenge the comedian is undertaking is a closely guarded secret until it is revealed this morning on Chris Evans’ Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

She is visiting five major UK cities in total this week and completing a madcap challenge every single day.

The viewers of BBC’s The One Show will witness the final result live at the end of each day.

Ms Hart, who finds out what challenge she is taking part in when the announcement is made, said: “That’s right everyone, this year for Red Nose Day, I will be doing…. something.

“I have absolutely no idea what, I just hope that the good people at Comic Relief aren’t too hard on me and that the British public get behind me and help me raise heaps of cash for Red Nose Day.”

The actress has so far failed at an attempt to wax 16 armpits in under three minutes in order to set a Guinness World Record and completed a dancing challenge – all while battling a knee injury.

She has visited Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham since Monday and will finish up in London tomorrow on Red Nose Day itself.

Tomorrow will also see communities across Oxford embrace Red Nose Day and raise cash for Comic Relief.

Hundreds of pounds is set to be raised by Rose Hill with baking, bingo, and fancy dress activities on offer for residents.

Community workers are also joining other county projects in bidding for Comic Relief money open to local causes.

Up to £1,000 is available to Oxfordshire community groups wanting a piece of a £50,000 cash pot offered by the charity.

The deadline for bids is tomorrow, and a panel run by the Oxfordshire Community Fund – made up of representatives from the Oxford Mail and Comic Relief – will hand out the money.

Rose HIll Junior Youth Club – for children aged six to 11 – is hoping for about £500 to run activities.

Rose Hill Community Worker Fran Gardner said the money would help sustain cooking classes in which youngsters learn how to prepare food and are encouraged to sit down to family meals.

She said: “While we do get some support this would ensure we could maintain this activity for another year.”

Parents and children are inv-ited to the Red Nose Baking event at Rose Hill Children’s Centre from 9.30am.

There will be Red Nose Bingo for the older residents from 2pm at Rose Hill Community Centre followed by a fancy dress tea party from 3.30pm.

 

HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR CASH

Oxfordshire groups have two days left to apply for cash. The closing date for applications is Red Nose Day tomorrow.

Grant Criteria: Between £500 to £1,000 is being offered to Oxfordshire’s community groups as part of the Red Nose Day Community Cash grant scheme.

The grants are available to community organisations, registered charities, social enterprises, co-operatives, faith organisations and community interest companies.

Groups eligible to apply for Red Nose Day Community Cash grants need to:

• Be small local groups with an income of less that £100,000 run by local people
• Have limited access to other sources of income

Examples of the type of activities we will fund:

• Parent and toddler groups
• Dad and lads group
• Equipment and material for sport groups
• Community festivals
• Cross generational work
• Sport tournaments/competition costs
• Lunch clubs
• Running costs for self help groups
• Committee and volunteer/staff training
• Hire of sports facilities

Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of April.

Grants will not be awarded to the following:

• Individuals
• Statutory organisations including PCTs and schools
• Groups who are not constituted

Grants will not be awarded for the following purposes:

• To fund trips abroad
• To fund buses, mini buses or other community transport schemes
• To fund building costs
• Groups already in receipt of any Comic Relief funding

Red Nose Day Community Cash grant scheme is being run in conjunction with Oxford Community Foundation, Comic Relief and the Oxford Mail.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your project before making an application call the OCF on 01865 798 666 or email jubilee@oxfordshire.org. To apply go to oxfordshire.org