Ready for Grants & Funding

OUAB Community Interest Company

How we qualify and what we already have in place

1. Organisational Eligibility

• We are a registered Community Interest Company (CIC) limited by guarantee – fully eligible to apply to most UK grant-makers.

• We are composed of a Managing Director, Creative Director, and a Non-executive Director for Governance cf. Director Profiles

• We operate as a not-for-profit organisation with a clear asset lock – any profits or assets are used only for community benefit.

• We are based and deliver our work in England (primarily the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and surrounding Berkshire areas).
  
  

2. Project Alignment - Our projects directly support:

• Helping children and young people reach their potential through early intervention in literacy and learning.

• Bringing people together to build strong relationships via community storytelling events and school sessions.

• Supporting communities facing challenges (e.g., cost-of-living pressures, educational inequality, and post-pandemic recovery).

• Improving access to enrichment activities for those who need it most.
  
  

3. Community Involvement & Co-Design

• We have consulted widely with local schools, headteachers, SEN coordinators, parents, and community groups when shaping our expansion plans.

• Teachers and community members help inform sessions and curriculum links.

• We run ongoing feedback sessions and plan to establish a community advisory group to guide future delivery.

• Many of our activities already involve local volunteers and trainees.
  
  

4. Safeguarding & Good Governance

• We have robust safeguarding policies in place for working with children and vulnerable adults.

• All staff and regular volunteers hold enhanced DBS checks.

• We follow best-practice governance standards expected by the CIC Regulator and major funders.

• Our two founder directors are supported by a non-executive director of governance, as well as a growing team and advisory network.
  
  

5. Financial & Administrative Readiness

• We hold a dedicated business bank account in the legal name of OUAB Community Interest Company.

• We maintain clear financial records and can provide recent bank statements when required.

• We track income, expenditure, and project outcomes transparently.

• Our annual accounts and financial year-end details are available upon request.
  
  

6. Track Record & Experience

• Well over 20 years of successful delivery of storytelling driven workshops to schools, special needs groups, and communities, as well as enterprise/professionals.

• Strong partnerships with local community, schools, Thames Hospice, Maidenhead’s Big Read, and others.

• Proven ability to engage thousands of children, improve literacy enjoyment, and support educational outcomes.
  
  

7. Transparency

We fully understand and respect that funding cannot and should not support:

• Retrospective costs

• Political or religious activities

• Individual sponsorship

• Profit-making activities  

Our projects are 100% focused on community benefit.


Ready to Partner with Us?

If you are a funder, grant-maker, philanthropist, or corporate partner, this resume should demonstrate that OUAB CIC is well-governed, community-led, and fully eligible for funding support.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how your support could help us expand free storytelling services to more children and families in RBWM who need it most.

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LEARNING COMMUNITY

To collaborate and support OUAB CIC

contact arti@sharmagrey.com or call direct on +44 (0)7912 101 619