Community projects in Oxfordshire are getting the benefit of grants from a county charitable foundation.

The Oxfordshire Community Foundation, launched in 1997, has announced it will be paying out more than £16,000 to help 40 voluntary organisations.

The foundation encourages groups working in the fields of poverty relief, disability, education or health promotion to apply for grants of up to £2,500. The money can be used to buy equipment or fund one-off projects.

Foundation director Emma Tracy said: "We have now given more than £300,000 in grants to Oxfordshire groups and continue to be impressed by the high quality of work that is being done to help people, often by volunteers.

"It's our intention to build up our endowment fund to be a permanent resource for this kind of work for many years to come."

Five projects in Oxford are among those to benefit.

Restore, the mental health rehabilitation service, has been awarded £433 to create a therapeutic herb garden at its gardens off Manzil Way, Cowley Road. The Rap Yard drop-in centre for children in east Oxford has received £850 to purchase equipment, including table football and art materials. The centre, which opened in Cowley Road in January, offers youngsters from the ages of nine to 18 a safe environment where they can meet socially and take part in art and music.

Home-Start Oxford got £500 to buy equipment and toys for a new parent support group in Blackbird Leys.

The Archway Foundation, based at the New Marston Pastoral Centre, Jack Straw's Lane, has been granted £450. The money will help recruit volunteers who act as befrienders to people suffering from loneliness for either physical or emotional reasons.

The Libra Theatre Company, which meets in the Cowley Road Methodist Church, in Jeune Street, will use its £300 grant to encourage people with disabilities to take part in drama.

**Community Grant Awards:

Ambrosden village pre-school - £500

The Archway Foundation - £450

Cherwell Housing Trust - £530

Dashwood Playgroup, Banbury - £500

Disabled Drivers' Association, Oxford and District - £500

Dovecote Carer and Toddler Group, Blackbird Leys - £200

Home-Start Oxford - £500

Oxfordshire Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs - £500

Oxfordshire Playbus - £400

Oxfordshire Group of Down's Syndrome Association - £500

RAP Community Action, Oxford - £850

Redbridge Travellers Women's Support group, Oxford, - £400

Restore, Oxford - £433

Robin Playgroup, Kidlington - £400

Thame and District CAB - £1,000

Volunteer Reading Help, west Oxfordshire - £500

Small Grants:

Abingdon Macular Group - £150

Barton Early Years Playgroup, Oxford, - £500

Barton family link Support and Training, Oxford - £500

Beacon Drop-In Centre, Banbury - £225

Bouncing Bunnies, Thame - £130

Drayton Playgroup, Banbury - £300

Early Birds Club, Bicester - £350

Hardwick School Community & Friends Play Scheme, Banbury - £285

Heyford Park Parent & Toddler Group - £150

Jan Weller Pre-school Playgroup, Bletchingdon - £250

Langford Youth Group - £250

Libra Theatre Company, Oxford - £300

Long Hanborough Evergreen Club - £300

Oxford Homelessness Network - £460

Oxfordshire Pre-school Learning Alliance - £199

Rainbow House, Oxford - £500

Shires Spectrum Support Group, Banbury - £100

Southmoor pre-school - £350

St John's Drop-In, Carterton - £100

St Edburg's After School Club, Bicester - £200

Wallingford Toy Library - £500

Whitchurch-on-Thames Primary School Fund - £450

Willy Freund Centre, Bretch Hill, Banbury - £500