Category Archives: News

Community Foundation for Surrey’s Tackling Poverty Campaign Provides Essential Support Across the County

17th September 2024

Hands in a jumper in a background with a text overlay that says "Tackling Poverty 2024". It also has a "Surrey County Council matched" badge.

Last winter, the Community Foundation for Surrey’s Tackling Poverty Campaign once again delivered vital assistance to thousands of vulnerable residents across Surrey. Thanks to a generous £90,000 donation from Surrey County Council and additional fundraising efforts that raised £94,089, the Foundation has been able to distribute £164,612 in grants so far, supporting 35 local organisations, directly benefiting 13,500 people.
The campaign focused on addressing the hardships caused by poverty, providing crucial resources during a particularly challenging winter as many households faced rising food and fuel costs. Key areas of support included warm hubs, food banks, energy advice, and access to essential services for individuals and families struggling financially.

Examples of Grants and Impact:
North Guildford Food Bank received £5,000 to restock shelves after a busy Christmas period, helping 315 people. The grant ensured the food bank could continue meeting the high demand for emergency food supplies.
Stanwell Food Bank was awarded £7,000, which was used to prepare and freeze meals for residents facing difficulties affording both food and energy. The funding also supported the creation of a new pantry model, providing affordable food options and energy top-ups, benefitting 149 people.
Citizens Advice Elmbridge West and Citizens Advice Runnymede and Spelthorne each received £10,000 to fund essential advice services for residents dealing with debt, housing issues, and food insecurity.

Rising Demand and Localised Support:
This year, the Foundation saw an increase in applications from charities seeking to tackle fuel and food poverty. The campaign expanded its support through match-funding from Area Funds, enabling more localised aid. Mole Valley, Guildford, Spelthorne, and Woking each received £4,000 in matched funding, with Claire’s Friendship Fund receiving £2,000.

The Tackling Poverty Campaign’s success highlights the ongoing need for targeted support to combat poverty in Surrey. With continued backing from donors, the Community Foundation for Surrey remains committed to helping residents through challenging times and fostering resilience in the community.

To find out more about how you can give to your community, click here or email us at giving@cfsurrey.org.uk

Community Foundation for Surrey Welcomes the Launch of Shepperton Studios’ £250,000 Education Fund

27th August 2024

Shepperton Studios supplied image of people in a studio with softbox lights, it is high contrast black and white and sillouhetted.

Shepperton Studios has launched a significant new initiative, the £250,000 Education Fund, aimed at supporting film and media education across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. This fund, part of Shepperton’s ‘Virtual Academy,’ is designed to nurture the next generation of filmmakers by providing young people in Shepperton and the broader Spelthorne borough with the skills and training necessary for success in the creative industries.

At the Community Foundation for Surrey, we are proud to partner with Shepperton Studios to manage this fund, ensuring it reaches the communities where it can have the greatest impact.
Dr Rebecca Bowden, CEO of the Community Foundation for Surrey, says:
“Once again we are very pleased to support Shepperton Studios with a brand new Fund, enabling them to continue making an impact in schools and colleges in the Shepperton and wider Spelthorne area.”

The Shepperton Studios Education Fund is an accessible resource for the development of film, arts, and media skills among young people. The fund focuses on supporting initiatives that benefit the Shepperton area and the wider Spelthorne borough, with a strong emphasis on aiding under-represented and underprivileged groups who may face barriers to accessing such opportunities.

Daniel Mouawad, Chief Executive of Spelthorne Borough Council, highlighted the significance of this fund, stating:
“This initiative will offer children in Spelthorne an accessible opportunity to explore the film and television industry, helping them to develop their skills and interests in a field that might otherwise seem out of reach.”

The fund’s broad eligibility criteria allow for a wide range of projects to be supported, from technology and equipment upgrades in educational establishments to the development of creative curriculum programmes. The fund seeks to inspire creativity and foster skills development through practical, fun learning experiences at all educational levels.

For those interested in applying for a grant, the process begins with submitting an Expression of Interest, which opens on Tuesday, 27th August, and closes at 9 am on Monday, 14th October 2024. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full application, with a deadline of 9am on Monday, 9th November 2024. To support potential applicants, we will be hosting a Q&A session on Wednesday, 18th September at 4pm.

For further information on how to apply, please visit our website at www.cfsurrey.org.uk/makeanapplication, or contact us via email at grants@cfsurrey.org.uk.

We look forward to seeing the positive impact this fund will have on the future filmmakers and media professionals in our community.

Surrey Supported Employment Fund Empowers Local Organisations to Enhance Employability

23rd August 2024

Post it notes in all colours with a line drawing of a person on, one blue post it note says "Support Employment" in rounded handwriting.

The Community Foundation for Surrey (CFSurrey) is thrilled to announce 6 new grants through the Surrey Supported Employment Fund. The Surrey Supported Employment Fund (SSE) supports people with disabilities or mental ill health to overcome barriers to work, contributing towards the social and economic well-being of our area. Grants are awarded to organisations, charities, and not-for-profits across Surrey. These grants enable the partner organisations to have ring-fenced funds to make quick, high-impact awards to the people they are supporting through their projects.

Our SSE Fund-holders are able to respond to the bespoke needs of their clients who may have barriers to employment. Funding can be used to provide individuals with crucial resources such as training, transportation, workwear, and personalised support, empowering people to gain meaningful employment and achieve financial stability.

The recent partner organisations of the Surrey Supported Employment Fund are listed below:

The Hope Hub is dedicated to supporting individuals in Surrey Heath and surrounding areas, particularly those facing mental health challenges and disabilities. With the grant, they plan to offer training courses, transportation assistance, and essential workwear to remove barriers to employment for their service users. By addressing these needs, The Hope Hub aims to increase employability, job placements, and overall well-being among participants.

Patchworking Garden will use the grant to provide rapid access to funds for supported volunteers and students facing financial difficulties. This will enable them to continue their participation in the garden’s programs, which include training, volunteering, and employment opportunities, despite their challenges.

The Lighthouse is known for its holistic approach to support; they partner with organisations like Halow and LinkAble to help individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and other employability challenges. The grant will help The Lighthouse to work with individuals across a range of support methods to ensure they’re in the best position to receive support with employability – either through The Lighthouse, or another suitable organisation.

Catalyst Support is dedicated to helping vulnerable individuals across Surrey by offering a range of services that include practical support and emotional care. With the Surrey Supported Employment Fund grant, Catalyst Support will provide essential items like transportation passes, workwear, and technology, enabling service users to access employment, education, and training opportunities. This personalised assistance aims to empower individuals to overcome barriers, improving their chances of securing stable jobs and enhancing their overall well-being.

Active Prospects has over 35 years of experience supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism, and other needs in Surrey. The grant will bolster their Aspiring Prospects programme, which provides young people with the skills and confidence needed to transition into the workforce. By offering tailored training, volunteer opportunities, and work placements, Active Prospects ensures that each participant is equipped to achieve their employment goals and contribute positively to the community.

YMCA East Surrey focuses on supporting young people, particularly those who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), through their Step Forward programme. With the support of the Surrey Supported Employment Fund, YMCA East Surrey will continue to offer one-on-one sessions, group activities, and therapeutic services to help young people with mental health challenges and disabilities develop the skills they need to find meaningful employment. This holistic approach aims to improve both the employability and emotional well-being of participants, helping them to build a brighter future.

The Surrey Supported Employment Fund is also proud to have awarded further funding to our previous partner organisations; Oakleaf Enterprise, Surrey Choices Employability, and the Surrey Young People’s Fund. Surrey Supported Employment has been working with these organisations to distribute funding to individuals since 2019.

The Surrey Supported Employment Fund is a testament to CFSurrey’s commitment to fostering inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Through these grants, local organisations can continue their vital work, helping individuals achieve their employment goals and contribute meaningfully to society.

Shepperton Studios Community Fund Grants Announced

15th May 2024

Shepperton Studios have awarded the latest round of grants from their Community Fund. The £500,000 Fund was launched in 2022 to support local individuals, non-profit and voluntary organisations including charities, social enterprises, and community groups that serve the Shepperton area and wider borough of Spelthorne. The fund applications are reviewed and presented twice a year and has so far supported 17 local organisations, including five in this latest round. 

Tristam Slater, General Manager, Shepperton Studios said,

“Supporting local organisations around Shepperton Studios is of the highest importance to us as a local business and employer, and with this latest round of grants from the Shepperton Community Fund we are supporting wellbeing initiatives across the community from Childbirth to wellbeing initiatives.”

In this fourth round of grants, five organisations have been awarded grants:

  • TALK Ashford supports people with aphasia (primarily resulting from stroke) by enabling them to practise all aspects of communication and promote confidence in a supportive environment, leading to increased participation and independence in the community. Awarded £2,500.
  • Home-Start Spelthorne offers friendship and confidential support to Spelthorne families with young children to help them through difficulties and prevent these becoming crises. We recruit, train and support volunteers with parenting experience and match them to families with children up to age 11 who are experiencing loneliness, mental or physical illness or disability of child or parent, domestic abuse, poverty, inability to cope and other problems.  Awarded £10,000.
  • Dance Woking  have nurtured and sustained the overall dance ecology in Woking & wider Surrey benefitting many thousands of people as performers, participants or audiences. This year the organisation celebrates 30 years of dance centred activity. Dance Woking provides participation opportunities, to inspire creativity and to connect individuals of all ages in moving and memorable artistic experiences. Their pop-up and festival appearances; working with partners, in shopping centres or local parks, bringing public spaces to life, engaging whole communities, and showcasing skills in extraordinary ways. Working with targeted communities the funding enables Dance Woking to remove some of the financial barriers to participation. Awarded £2,285.
  • Charlton Village Residents Association represents the residents of Charlton Village within the wider community. The association promotes membership to all residents within Charlton Village and represents the interests and rights of residents whilst encouraging them to be more actively involved. Awarded £5,000.

Derek Ferguson , Chair, Charlton Residents Association

“Charlton Village Resident’s Association were delighted to be awarded £5,000 from the community fund. This money will be used to improve and enhance our village and bring colour to our verges and borders. We are very grateful to Pinewood for this award.”

  • National childbirth Trust Sunbury and Shepperton Branch the Sunbury, Shepperton and Chertsey NCT is a branch of the national charity. We aim to support each unique journey of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. The branch has been active locally for over 30 years by providing antenatal and postnatal classes, breastfeeding support and weekly parent and baby groups. Awarded £5,000.

Dianne White, NCT Sunbury and Shepperton, said,

“We are absolutely delighted to receive funding support from Shepperton Studios Community Fund.  Both our weekly drop-ins have been steadily building in momentum since returning to in-person support, so to know we are secure for another year is a huge relief.  We look forward to supporting many more expectant and new parents/carers.”

Rebecca Bowden, CEO of Community Foundation for Surrey said,

“We’re delighted to be able to support Shepperton Studios with their Community Fund to make a huge positive difference to their local communities. It is pleasing that the fund has been able to support people of all ages with this set of grants, from new mums to young children to adults affected by aphasia.”

The Community Foundation for Surrey works with Shepperton Studios to identify worthwhile causes and oversees the implementation and monitoring of all projects that are supported by the Shepperton Studios Community Fund. 

How to apply for a grant

To be considered for an award in December 2024, please send an expression of interest by 9am Monday 8th July 2024. If you are invited to make full application, you will be provided with a link to the application form on 22nd July 2024. The deadline for full applications is 9am Monday 2nd September 2024.

Please access the following website for further information and register on the ‘Expression of Interest’ page https://www.cfsurrey.org.uk/makeanapplication/.


Please note, grants will be awarded subject to meeting the Fund Criteria.

Woking Community Fund – a fund by and for the people of Woking since 2012

5th March 2024

A man in a white apron paints a bird box brown that has been made in a workshop

In a world where communities face diverse challenges, the importance of local support cannot be overstated. For residents of Woking, the Woking Community Fund offers vital assistance to grassroots organisations making a difference in our borough. But what sets this fund apart, and how does it empower locals to create positive change?

First and foremost, it’s crucial to understand the independent nature of the Woking Community Fund. This fund is administered by Community Foundation for Surrey (CFSurrey), an independent registered charity with no direct affiliation to Woking Borough Council, or any other public sector body. The fund was set up in 2012 by local business people and has been run by a team of volunteers ever since, all overseen by the trustees of the Community Foundation for Surrey who have been overall responsibility for the governance and strategy of the foundation.

Led by a dedicated panel of volunteers, including Taravat Taher-Zadeh (Chair), Shahid Azeem DL, Elizabeth Duggan, and Mark Stevens, the Woking Community Fund embodies the spirit of local empowerment. These passionate individuals oversee the fund’s fundraising and awarding of grants, supported by the Community Foundation for Surrey who ensure that donations are channelled directly into projects that benefit our community. From combating social isolation to providing essential support services, every grant awarded reflects the collective effort to uplift Woking and its residents.

But how much impact can local giving truly have? The answer lies in the generosity of donors like you. The Woking Community Fund operates on a simple yet powerful principle: the more we receive in donations, the more we can award to local organisations. The Community Foundation for Surrey has awarded over £22m in grants since it was set up in 2005, and the Woking Fund alone has awarded over £138k since 2012; supporting small local organisations, empowering them to address pressing community needs with flexibility and efficiency.

However, it’s essential to acknowledge the Woking Community Fund is now operating in a landscape where previous sources of funding are limited. Despite our best efforts, our resources may not match those previously provided. Nevertheless, this reality underscores the importance of grassroots philanthropy and the resilience of our community in the face of challenges.

As we navigate the complexities of local giving, transparency and accountability remain paramount. The Woking Community Fund prides itself on its open and transparent allocations process. While all donations are pooled to support various Woking community causes, the panel ensure that grants are made aligning with the fund values and priorities.

In conclusion, the Woking Community Fund represents a shining example of the power of local giving to create positive change. Through independence from the council and a steadfast commitment to community empowerment, this fund empowers locals to make a tangible difference in the lives of their neighbours.

If you are able and would like to help us, you can donate to the Woking Community Fund here:
https://www.cfsurrey.org.uk/wokingdonate

Grants will be awarded to support the following:

  • Supporting projects or improving facilities which combat social isolation and disadvantage;
  • Helping people to gain confidence and raise aspirations through training and development of new skills;
  • Providing counselling, advice, respite and support; and
  • Supporting people who are experiencing difficult circumstances due to an illness, injury, disability, bereavement or financial difficulty.
  • Grants may fund existing services or facilities and new initiatives and can contribute to either capital costs such as funding new equipment or support on-going running costs.

Community Foundation for Surrey & Surrey Cultural Partnership take partnership to a new level

25th January 2024

An older woman holds up a painting she has done with teal, turquoise, orange and mustard yellow paints. It is an abstract pattern a little like a tortoise shell. The woman has attended a workshop at Park Barn, Guildford run by Watts Gallery.

In 2023 our two organisations came together to scope what more could be done to support the arts and culture sector in our county – in particular to tap into the huge potential of the sector to make transformational impacts to the lives of those who are most disadvantaged in Surrey.
Working together we engaged a consultant to review the history and geography of arts and culture funding in Surrey, and help us to identify whether there was potential to reach out to new philanthropists and donors in this space.

The consultant’s report can be accessed here and makes sobering reading. It is clear that for too long our county has been overlooked by a number of national funders. What is also clear though is the huge variety and vibrancy of the arts and culture sector in Surrey and we believe that there is therefore huge potential to come together to develop a new fund – by and for the sector.

Click here to read the consultant’s report

Surrey Cultural Partnership will be launching their exciting new strategy on 25th January at surreyculturalpartnership.com and we have committed to continue to work together to develop our plans to bring in new funding and support for the sector.

Our vision is to develop a new fund which could:

  • Support Improved quality of life and wellbeing of the most disadvantaged in Surrey through reducing barriers to creative experiences and exploring how they might benefit from the transformative power of arts and culture through participation and engagement.
  • Support arts and culture organisations to develop their capacity to deliver programmes which will bring particular benefits to specific needs in the county such as mental health and wellbeing, place-making and social cohesion.
  • Support arts and culture organisations to be able to form partnerships with Voluntary and Community Groups and other stakeholders in order to co-deliver programmes to address specific needs and issues in our communities.
  • Support arts and culture organisations to improve their representation of all members of our community, as employees, participants and audience members.
Children paint on a long table with older women in the background also painting. The children and elderly women attended a workshop at Park Barn, Guildford run by Watts Gallery.

We hope that this fund will also go alongside pro bono volunteer support for some of the smaller arts and culture organisations to develop their business and financial skills. If you are interested in hearing more, or have views about what we should be doing with the new fund, we would love to hear from you.

giving@cfsurrey.org.uk

Grants Awards – CFSurrey Awards Over £360k in Grants to 54 Organisations in Surrey!

10th July 2023

two ladies at a Look Good Feel Better session receive make up support

We are pleased that we could support 54 local organisations in our most recent round with providing £360,164 in grant funding.

The round included the Woking Council Community Fund. This is the first time we have managed the Community Grants Programme for the borough council. The Fund awarded £144,694 to 21 groups. Our family of Donors awarded a further £21,000 picking up 3 applications which could not be funded by Woking and topping up another application which had been partially funded by Woking.

We are still seeing a huge level of demand for projects addressing health and wellbeing in all its forms, 47% of awards went to address this issue including isolation and loneliness and mental health. The impact of the cost of living crisis is being felt not only in practical difficulties but in the knock-on effect on mental wellbeing as communities cope with these challenges

A few quotes from some of the groups funded in this round:

Guildford Shakespeare Company

 GSC are thrilled to be awarded this grant. By linking primary school children with a care home, participants share their experiences and stories, as they convert Shakespeare’s words into their own. The age-gap complements each group through companionship and respite, combined with a real desire to listen and engage – principles that both ages readily offer and accept.
KERRIE DRISCOLL, GSC Creative Learning Producer

The Mary Frances Trust

We are delighted to have received this vital funding from The Gatwick Foundation Fund via The Community Foundation for Surrey.  The funding will give an opportunity for asylum seekers to learn some basic English, alongside this we will be providing them with some emotional wellbeing support.
Christine Schauerman, Programme Manager, Mary Frances Trust.

St Catherine’s Hospice

We are incredibly grateful to the Community Foundation for Surrey for working with their donors to support St Catherine’s Community Clinical Nurse Specialists with a £7,000 donation. This support will help people facing the end of their life in East Surrey, spend their final days in the comfort and familiarity of home – pain free, dignified, and comfortable. And this hospice care will extend to their loved ones helping them to feel supported, reassured, and better able to cope with the demands of caring for the person they love.
Laura Kelly, Head of Partnerships at St Catherine’s

Canalside Community Fridge

The fridge is has a visibly positive effect on everyone who uses it. It has been fulfilling its explicit objective of using surplus from Woking’s stores, but it is also alleviating food poverty in the town, for example, supplying local schools with items for breakfast clubs; combatting loneliness and encouraging the community to come together through volunteering and using the fridge. As one person said “it is a stigma free place and I enjoy being here.
Gerry Mitchell, Co-Director

Us in a Bus

You only need to hear some of the stories of connection and interaction with the people we support from the practitioners as they return to the office at the end of each day to know what a difference this grant will continue to make.
Victoria Goody C.E.O

Look Good Feel Better

We are absolutely delighted to have received funding for 12 of our face-to-face workshops for women with cancer at our Guildford and Redhill venues, helping them to face their cancer with confidence, to make friends, and most of all to Look Good and Feel Better.
Ian Daniels, Director of Fundraising

Intergenerational Music Making

IMM are thankful for the support we have received from Community Foundation for Surrey in helping us to continue the intergenerational work we are currently delivering to tackle loneliness and isolating whilst improving the mental health and wellbeing  for all generations.
Charlotte Miller, Founder and Director of IMM

Much needed funds flying in!

15th June 2023

Surrey charities and community groups were celebrating this month as we announced the recipients of £35,000 from round one of the 2023 Gatwick Foundation Fund – the first awarded since the fund was paused as a result of the pandemic in 2020.

Six outstanding organisations benefited from a financial boost:
  • Amber Foundation – Funding towards employment readiness training for young people who have experienced homelessness and/or addiction.
  • Guildford Shakespeare Company – An intergenerational project that enhances people’s mental health through drama by an organisation based in Guildford.
  • Home-Start Epsom, Ewell & Banstead (HSEEB) – support group for parents. Funding for a support group and services for mothers with young children who are experiencing difficulties.
  • Mary Frances Trust – Funding for regular English lessons for asylum seekers together with monthly group support sessions.
  • Mid-Surrey Community Fridges – Funding toward the staff costs of a food delivery service to the isolated and elderly living in Mole Valley by a community fridge.
  • YMCA East Surrey – Funding towards the expansion of a project supporting young people with disabilities to develop life skills and support for employment.

Christine Schauerman, Programme Manager, Mary Francis Trust said:

We are delighted to have received this vital funding from The Gatwick Foundation Fund via The Community Foundation for Surrey. The funding will give an opportunity for asylum seekers to learn some basic English, alongside this we will be providing them with some emotional wellbeing support.

Guildford Shakespeare

The Gatwick Foundation Fund has granted Guildford Shakespeare Company £5,000 to continue their intergenerational programme ‘Spirit of Youth’. Since 2018, ‘Spirit of Youth’ has sought to address social isolation in the elderly by bringing together care-home residents with children from less-advantaged primary schools, exploring Shakespeare’s plays and using drama to learn from each other.

Kerrie Driscoll, GSC Creative Learning Producer said:

GSC are thrilled to be awarded this grant. By linking primary school children with a care home, participants share their experiences and stories, as they convert Shakespeare’s words into their own. The age-gap complements each group through companionship and respite, combined with a real desire to listen and engage – principles that both ages readily offer and accept.

Each course is led by professional drama facilitators from GSC in consultation with school and care-home staff.

The funding from Gatwick Foundation Fund will enable GSC to launch the next ten-week course. Once a week in a safe and a risk-free environment, the children and adults will work together to create a 15-20 minute version of a Shakespeare play, which is then performed to family, friends and the wider community.

One of the relatives of a participants said:

It was so good to see the young children working alongside the residents. Although my mother has difficulty in remembering sometimes, she found it good to have something to work towards.

Gatwick’s Fund was originally launched in 2016 and to date has awarded over £1.2M, in more than 230 grants, benefitting over 100,000 people across Surrey, Sussex and Kent. For Surrey organisations it supports projects in Tandridge, Reigate & Banstead and Mole Valley and each year there are three rounds of grants, totalling £100,000. The community Foundation for Surrey works in partnership with the Community Foundations of Kent & Sussex to support the Fund.

The Gatwick Foundation Fund was set up specifically to support work to fight social isolation and tackle disadvantage, raise aspirations and develop skills, improve health and wellbeing, and support children and young people. See here for more information on the fund criteria.

Click here to apply for funding.

Click here if you are a local business who wishes to talk to us about setting up your own Corporate Fund.

Woking community groups receive essential funds through a local council partnership.

13th June 2023

In our latest round of grant funding we have awarded £166,056 to 24 voluntary and community groups of which £144,694 was awarded from the Woking Borough Council Community Fund.

The purpose of the partnership between Woking Borough Council and the Community Foundation for Surrey is to deliver voluntary grants in Woking in the most effective way possible in order to:

  • Leverage funding from other community foundation donors and provide a single front door for applicants to over 80 different funds.
  • Maximise the impact of the grants by applying Community Foundation due diligence to ensure the funded organisations are well run and governed.
  • Ensure projects supporting those in the highest need in Working are prioritised for funding.
  • Ensure projects funded address the strategic priorities of Woking Borough Council.

The Woking Borough Council Community Fund Panel, consisting of Trustees of the Community Foundation, volunteers from the local community, and representatives of Woking Borough Council, met on 4th April and reviewed applications totalling over £250,000 from a wide range of groups awarding a total of 21 grants totalling £144.694 (full list below). The Fund Panel made their decisions by reviewing grant applications against the fund criteria (see below).

This collaborative approach has been more efficient in enabling community groups to apply for funding through one single expression of interest, without the need for multiple applications. All those who applied in this round were also reviewed against the other 80+ funds that CFSurrey manages.

I am delighted Woking Borough Council’s partnership with CFS has been such a success and supported our vital voluntary and community groups. Volunteers and community group are the heart and soul of our Borough. It has been great to meet so many of them to see first-hand the work they do on the ground.

Woking Borough Council’s Deputy Leader & Portfolio Holder for the Voluntary Sector, Cllr Will Forster

On top of the partnership with CFS, the council have directly commissioned some charities that provide an essential service to local people. By providing groups such as Citizen’s Advice Woking, Woking Community Transport, Woking Asian Business Forum, Woking People of Faith and the York Road Project with a service-level agreement, those charities will benefit from secure funding.

Woking Council Community Fund – funding Criteria
Eligibility
What we will fund – our strategic priorities
Healthier Communities
  • E.g. projects which support improving health outcomes in our communities in particular addressing health inequalities in our borough (Priorities: Mental Health, Living independently, carers, isolation and loneliness, obesity)
  • E.g. projects that encourage and increase active lifestyles and participation through the provision of varied cultural and sporting opportunities and amenities
  • E.g. projects supporting safer communities
  • E.g. projects to provide early support to improve residents health and wellbeing, or support residents to be more proactive about their health.
  • E.g. Support improved engagement in active lifestyles, in particular by under-represented groups/ages
Engaged Communities
  • E.g. projects which support the ability of communities to develop solutions to local needs and support those most disadvantaged in our communities
  • E.g. projects supporting older, vulnerable and disabled people in our community
  • E.g. projects supporting engagement in areas of the borough highlighted by the Indices of Multiple Deprivation, particularly with children, younger people and older people.
Greener Communities
  • E.g. projects which support access to green space for members of the community who wouldn’t normally be able to access.
  • E.g. projects which support the Borough in tackling climate change, noting the Council’s target of the Borough becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Prospering Communities
  • E.g. projects which support our communities to improve skills and raise aspirations
  • E.g. projects which improve signposting of career opportunities to those seeking employment and training
What this fund will not support:
  • Large Capital projects such as buildings or purchase of vehicles
  • Projects with beneficiaries not resident in Woking (if you work benefits a wider area, please tell us what percentage of your beneficiaries are resident in Woking)
Size of Grants
  • The level of funding offered would normally be up to £10k for 1 year in the first instance, although this could vary depending on the grant award currently being received from the Council, the level of service provided in the Borough and any exceptional circumstance.
Grants Funded