Category Archives: Case Study

Community Foundation for Surrey grant funds Waverley Hoppa Community Transport

13th May 2016

A grant of £4,400 from by the Community Foundation’s Haslemere Challice Community Fund and also the Thomas Trust Fund has supported the Waverley Hoppa Community Transport service to continue to provide accessible and affordable community transport service for people living in rural areas of Waverley.

Hoppa is a lifeline for many older residents and people who are isolated, have a disability or mobility difficulties, a low income or find it difficult to use public transport. This recent grant will ensure the vital service continues to support local people.

We are delighted to support such an active and important service in Waverley This is about local people supporting other local people. The Community Foundation gives donors a chance to connect with their local area and directly benefit local causes based on their passions and interests; whether that be supporting older people, those with disabilities or local sporting projects.- Wendy Varcoe

Steve Forward, General Manager at hoppa says:

“We were thrilled to hear we had been awarded a grant by the Community Foundation for Surrey. The number of people using hoppa is increasing and this money will help us to continue to provide the personal, door-to-door service upon which so many of our passengers rely.”

 

Epsom & Ewell Community Fund awards its first grants

The Epsom & Ewell Community Fund has supported four inspiring local community projects in its first round of grant awards.

The grants have funded local charities and community groups based within Epsom and Ewell to help vulnerable people access training, conserve the local environment, support local homeless people and help disadvantaged young people access sport.

A grant of £1,000 supported the Richmond Fellowship to expand their Old Moat Garden Centre Café in Epsom to help more people gain work experience and training. The project offers people with mental health problems, the opportunity to enrol in training and work experience programmes in a realistic, commercial, but supportive environment.

Another grant of £500 to the Epsom Common Association has helped this volunteer led group to continue their project converting timber from local conservation activities into charcoal.  By continuing this ancient craft, the project minimises environmental impact, promotes sustainable practices and uses the sale of the charcoal to fund further nature conservation on Epsom Common.

Other grants awarded include:

–       £900 to The Meeting Room to support a drop in centre for homeless and marginalized people in Epsom & Ewell

–       £900 to Epsom and Ewell Colts Youth Football Club to fund subsidised places for young people to play football

Founder of the Epsom & Ewell Community Fund, Mayor, Councillor Chris Frost explains

We are delighted to award our first grants to such inspirational groups working across the Borough. This Fund provides a permanent source of funding for local people; run by local people, who care about Epsom & Ewell.

A number of local businesses and individuals, including Epsom Coaches and the Rolf Charitable Trust, have been quick to see the benefits of the Fund and already signed up as founding donors.

Melanie Cox, Epsom Coaches Group and Fund Panel Member explained

“This fund provides the perfect way for our staff to give back to the local area and be involved in the grant making process, I am delighted this was elected by our team as our chosen charity to support this year and would recommend other local companies join us in supporting the Fund.”

Play equipment for Horsleys youngest residents

11th May 2016

A grant of £600 supported Puddleducks Playgroup to purchase new soft play equipment, toys, dressing up clothes and craft supplies to provide higher quality and more exciting play experiences for West Horsley’s youngest residents. The new equipment enables Puddleducks to offer more varied activities, encouraging existing members to return and appealing to new parents and carers to attend the group, giving them the opportunity to socialise, reduce isolation and make friends within the local community.

Puddleducks are absolutely delighted with our grant from the Horsleys Community Fund. It will make such a difference to all the children, parents and carers to have new, exciting toys and activities during playgroup. We can’t wait to share the news with everyone! – Chairperson, Alicia Grainger

Puddleducks has been running as a local playgroup in West Horsley for over 30 years. A minimal charge is made by parents which covers some costs but the group relies on donations for toys and books and, as a result, much of the equipment is now very old, worn, broken or with missing pieces.

For many parents Puddleducks is a lifeline, and provides them with regular peer support from other parents and the opportunity to make lasting friendships. They regularly welcome new parents who have recently moved into the village, and the group can really help them to become a part of the local community.

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9th May 2016

In 2014, David Bampfylde suffered a severe stroke which left him paralysed down the whole of his right side and unable to speak clearly. Having been very active and traveled widely in his life, to be wheel chair bound, unable to drive and suddenly very reliant on his wife, Katia, was not where he wanted to be.

After nine months in hospital, considerable effort was made to transform his house to accommodate his needs. This has drawn heavily on their own financial resources even with the help of Social Services with the provision of disability equipment, David became somewhat house bound.

Mike Rushby, a near neighbour of David’s, heard of his plight and suggested to the Horsley Community Fund that they might be able to help. The need was for a specialised swivel car seat which could be retrofitted into their existing car. And so The Horsley Community Fund together with the Rotary Club of Bookham & Horsley combined to make a major contribution towards the new swivel seat. Supplied and fitted by Mountside Mobility of Guildford, it makes it easy for David to transfer from the wheel chair to the car.

So now he is ready to start travelling again, not only to satisfy any medical appointments but also to go to the seaside and beyond!

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Find out more about the Horsleys Community Fund and view thier latest e-news bulletin here.

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Helping those with mental ill health have fun and access support

27th April 2016

A grant of £1,000 to 4getMe-Nots has supported isolated individuals, particularly those with mental health problems, to meet on a weekly basis, take part in activities, receive support and access services and community facilities.

Whilst the group aims to reduce isolation, it is also a place where community needs can be expressed with Community Wardens and others working within the local community. Additionally, the group helps participants to practice techniques suggested by organisations such as the NHS which are designed to help people with mental health problems. The group also enables members to learn about practical ideas to improve their caring skills by talking to other carers and benefit from respite care.

The group runs in a notable area of deprivation and many residents suffer from social isolation as a result of their mental health problems. Participants look forward to each session and to the benefits that they receive from well-being courses and the activities provided, impacting positively on their overall health.

The group offers courses throughout the year, which include craft skills and first aid training, as well as informative talks for the group on subjects of interest. This grant has also supported the group to go on some day trips which provide a safe, supported and affordable opportunity for people to visit places they otherwise wouldn’t be able to.

 

 

Football project helps isolated adults in Molesey

Grants totally £5,000 from our Surrey Sports Fund and money donated from the Bishop of Guildford’s Foundation supported adults not in education, employment or training to participate in weekly football sessions.

This project is an expansion of the Trust’s existing adults’ football activities, all of which currently take place in evenings and at weekends. The aim is to provide a daytime football session, which meets the needs of those aged 16 and over, who are not in education, employment or training.

This project aims to get people active and provide an opportunity for them to meet new people, and access support. Often those who are not in education, employment or training are lonely and iscolated, making it harder for them to find help. Through this targeted project, they will be able to meet and interact with others and feel part of a team, joining in with community activities, often for the first time.

Helping carers to get the support they need

Essential support to children in need in Elmbridge

Grants from the Community Foundation for Surrey’s funds including the Elmbridge Community Fund have supported Oasis to enhance their outreach service, train a second facilitator in the Freedom Programme, a nationally acclaimed programme supporting female victims of Domestic violence and buy equipment for the Charity’s new, larger premises.

Oasis Children’s Charity provides essential support to children in need and their families across Elmbridge. Helping on average 250 vulnerable families a year, Oasis works closely with the family unit as a whole together with schools, GP’s and Social Services with the aim of keeping vulnerable children out of the social care system and with their own families.

Elmbridge has one of the highest rate of abuse in the country – statistically 1 in 3 women here in Elmbridge will be a victim of domestic violence

The following story is an example of the complexity of cases we handle and how effective we are at responding to the needs of an individual.

Kate’s story: Finding my voice.

I was brought up in a secure and reputable family, I received the very best of private education in Surrey and went on to gain 3 qualifications from English Universities. By my early 30’s, my CV and my attitude to work was outstanding, I got every job I ever went for, owned my own house and I had a huge group of friends – I was every parents success story.

In Easter 2007, I met the man of my dreams, he was driven, self-assured and financially secure. I was sure he loved me. We made plans, got engaged. I thought ‘this is it now I have it all!’

The cracks only really started to show when we began to disagree – the small things at first – about decorating or me doing something without his permission. He was now in charge of all the finances, he owned the house and I had to ask for money for anything that I needed as all my money was to go on groceries.

Whenever I thought I was getting anything right, he moved the goalposts and criticised me for not knowing. I became terrified, confused and I was very much alone in the world.

None of us know what life’s cards will deal us or what we will have to face or learn along the way. But what is absolutely crucial is that there is someone who understands and that there is help available when we need it.

After our baby was born his behaviour became even more frightening. His temper would fly if my son didn’t finish his bottle, he kicked my dog across the kitchen and he shook our son because he wouldn’t settle one morning. Not long after that, he raped me.

I was utterly terrified and thought I had no way out. I firmly believe that if my mother hadn’t come to collect my son and me before he returned from London that weekend he would have killed me.

Social Services simply didn’t have the resources to help us – Amazingly the Oasis Charity did. They arranged for me to receive specialist counselling and gave me the courage to face my son’s dad, attend mediation, set boundaries with him and even represent myself in court.

As humans we need to relate to each other to survive, to learn and to face things together, and we should never need to be alone in finding our voices. Without Oasis I would not have found mine and for that I will be forever grateful.