The Community Foundation for Surrey is delighted to announce the appointment of Laura Thurlow to the role of Chief Executive. Laura begins her new role with immediate effect and will focus on further developing the Community Foundation and building long-term funding to provide support for local communities both now and in the future.

The Foundation’s founding Executive Director, Wendy Varcoe MBE, left in May of this year having established the charity in 2005. Since then, Laura has been acting as Interim Chief Executive of the Foundation, which works with local people and businesses that want to make an impact by connecting them with local causes.

Prior to her role as Interim Chief Executive, Laura was Deputy Director at the Foundation for five years, having been promoted in 2012. She first joined the Foundation in September 2008 as Programme Manager of a grants programme to support small, local groups in Surrey.

Speaking about her recent appointment Laura said,

“During my time at the Foundation, I have seen the real impact which philanthropy can make in supporting local communities. I am delighted to become Chief Executive of such a fantastic organisation, and look forward to building on our work to date and making even more of a difference across Surrey.”

David Frank, Chairman, said

“The Board is very pleased to appoint Laura as Chief Executive. She is a passionate and effective ambassador with innovative plans for this exciting new chapter for the Foundation. The Board of Trustees is confident that Laura’s leadership and proactive approach will result in the continued growth of the Foundation enabling it to continue to address the extensive needs of our local communities.”

In 2016, the Foundation distributed over £1.1 million in grant awards to local charities, community groups and other voluntary organisations. It recently published updated research, “Surrey Uncovered”, that shows the extent of deprivation and other social issues across Surrey. By connecting its donors with local causes, the Foundation aims to address this need.

Following on from its 2013 publication, “Surrey Uncovered”, the Community Foundation for Surrey recently launched updated research. The updated research highlights how key needs such as mental health, poverty, homelessness and domestic abuse continue to affect the county.

Statistics included in Surrey Uncovered are shocking and many people will be surprised that they relate to Surrey. These include that:

• An estimated 24,000 girls and women aged 16-59 in the county have been the victim of domestic abuse
• 10% of children in the county live in poverty, of which two thirds live in working households
• There are an estimated 14,000 young carers and over 30,000 carers over 65

Local voluntary groups’ ability to raise funds from national organisations to support those in need is often affected by the county’s perceived affluence. The Community Foundation for Surrey works with local people and businesses that want to make an impact by connecting them with local causes. Many of its donors choose to invest their money and gift the interest to charities and voluntary groups across the county. This results in significant long-term funding that will support communities both now and in the future.

How the Foundation is making a difference

In addition to reporting on local need, Surrey Uncovered also shows how the Foundation’s donors are tackling these problems.

Elmbridge Rentstart supports people who are either homeless or at risk of homelessness and its work has been supported by several grants from the Foundation, including from a fund set up by the family of Dora Fedoruk. During Dora’s life in Surrey, she embraced those in hardship with her generosity. This included opening her house to the local community. Her legacy now continues that work through the Foundation. In 2016/17, Elmbridge Rentstart supported 421 local people who were facing homelessness; they have advice to 82 people which prevented them from becoming homeless and they housed 102 people and provided them with continued support. Support from the Foundation has enabled Elmbridge Rentstart to expand into a new area. Most recently, they have been able to support an estimated 25% further clients.

The Foundation believes that the real hardship that exists requires more local giving. Laura Thurlow, Interim Chief Executive of the Foundation said:

“People often can’t believe that need on this level exists in Surrey. It was disappointing to discover that in some areas, the situation is even worse than in 2013. We work with many individuals who are passionate about making Surrey a better place for everyone to live in. We hope that this research will inspire more people to make a difference to their local community and be part of the solution.”

A copy of Surrey Uncovered can be downloaded here. If you would like to learn more about how to support your local community, contact the Foundation on 01483 478092.

The Community Foundation for Surrey are thrilled to be developing a fund to encourage and inspire young people in the county to become more actively engaged with their community, in partnership with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (‘PCC’).

The Youth Social Action Fund is offering grants of up to £5,000 to groups working with young people between the ages of 10 and 20 years old (or 25 for young people with disabilities) in Surrey. It covers targeted programmes of activities such as campaigning, fundraising and volunteering, all of which enable participants to make a positive difference to their communities.

The PCC will be matching funds distributed in Surrey by the Community Foundation on behalf of Big Lottery Fund and the Office for Civil Society. £2 million is being invested across England to fund groups delivering local youth social action opportunities.

David Munro, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey said

“I am delighted to see Surrey receive national funding to further this important cause. I hope these opportunities will equip those young people taking part with vital skills whilst reducing anti-social behaviour, exclusion and disadvantage. Encouraging young people to become more engaged with their communities has the potential to significantly benefit local people and places.”

Kate Peters, Grants Manager of the Community Foundation for Surrey, said

“We are delighted that the PCC is supporting the Foundation, allowing us to award twice as much money across the county. Projects who have already benefited from this Fund have shown great promise and we are looking forward to seeing what this next round of applications brings.”

Previous grants from the Fund include an award to Leatherhead Youth Project to establish a monthly youth council creating a positive connection between young people and their community, and a grant to Woking United Reformed Church to support a project for young people as they prepare home cooked, healthy meals which they will then deliver to lonely, elderly or needy people in the community.

All applications to the Fund should be made by Friday 7^th July. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application during August so that successful programmes can start in September.

The Community Foundation for Surrey is pleased to announce a new fund that will provide support to carers within the borough of Guildford, thanks to a partnership with Carers Support (Guildford) and Guildford Borough Council.

Carers Support (Guildford) has provided support to carers living within the borough for the past 19 years. Sadly, the charity is closing following the granting of a significant contract it held to a Surrey-wide organisation. This has left the charity with some generous donations for use specifically for the well being of carers. The charity has donated £55,000 to Guildford Philanthropy in order to maintain on-going support to those who provide care to some of the borough’s most vulnerable residents. Guildford Philanthropy is a collaborative partnership set up in 2013 between Guildford Borough Council and the Community Foundation for Surrey.

Carers in Guildford supported by Guildford Borough Council

Guildford Borough Council has matched the donation at a rate of 50%, creating a ring-fenced fund of £82,500. The fund will offer small grants to provide relief to carers throughout the borough.

£5,000 is available immediately for grants to carers over the next year, with the remainder being transferred to the Guildford Philanthropy endowment fund. This will allow the Fund to continue supporting carers in perpetuity.

Cllr Paul Spooner, Council Leader said:

“We are delighted that we have been able to support Carers Support (Guildford) in its efforts to continue to provide support to carers. Although this change extends the aims of Guildford Philanthropy, we will maintain a strong focus on building the endowment fund to meet its original purpose. This change however provides another opportunity for Guildford Philanthropy to help support some of our most vulnerable residents. We believe that this collaborative approach between everyone involved provides the most effective way of supporting the borough’s carers. Guildford Borough Council’s 50% match-funding will be met from within existing budget provision.”

Continuing work

Kate Peters, Grants Manager of the Community Foundation for Surrey said:

“We are glad to see Guildford Philanthropy develop in this way. It is very sad when a charity needs to close but the Community Foundation for Surrey has been able to help Carers Support (Guildford) continue their work through a lasting legacy.”

David Perry, Chair of Trustees of Carers Support (Guildford), said:

“We looked carefully at our options to ensure that donations continued to be used for their original purpose. We are delighted that Guildford Philanthropy have agreed to widen its aims to allow support to the borough’s carers to continue, and to work with the Community Foundation for Surrey.”

How to Apply

Applications to the fund must be through an organisation that is providing support and can vouch for the need. Further details on the Fund’s criteria and how to apply for a grant can be found here.