OXFORD City Council is giving £10,000 to charities and community groups through an innovative online platform after a successful pilot earlier this year.

The second round of the council's 2018 Small Grants Scheme is open to applications through charity-owned website The Good Exchange.

Just over £4,000 was awarded to three organisations following the pilot between January and March, with the Young People's Puppet Theatre given £2,241 towards a marionette show at Wolvercote Primary School.

Oxford charity My Life My Choice, which supports people with learning disabilities, received £1,200, while £590 was awarded to the Oxfordshire Play Association to help deliver a Level 2 Diploma in Play Work.

Councillor Marie Tidball, Executive Board Member for Supporting Local Communities, said: “This online platform demonstrates the City Council’s commitment to seek innovative ways of supporting groups and organisations in Oxford, allowing them to fundraise more effectively.”

Oxfordshire-based organisations can apply for grants of up to £1,000 and are automatically matched with the City Council if successful.

Oxford City Council provides £1.4m of grants annually to help charities and community groups tackle inequality, deprivation and homelessness, and promote arts and culture.

The scheme ends on March 1 2019 but organisations are encouraged to apply soon as applications are decided by the City Council when they come in.

For more information visit www.thegoodexchange.com and search for Oxford City Council’s Small Grants 2018 – Second Round funding scheme.