Category Archives: News

Gatwick Foundation Fund Launch

22nd September 2016

Launch of Gatwick Foundation Fund

Gatwick Airport has teamed up with Community Foundations in Kent, Surrey and Sussex to launch the Gatwick Foundation Fund which will oversee £300,000 worth of annual grants for worthy causes across the region. The donations will be divided equally between the Community Foundations in Surrey, Kent and Sussex to make awards to non-profit organisations including charities, social enterprises, community groups and voluntary organisations which play an important role in the local community.

The funding will be used to promote employment, training and skills, alongside support for families, the elderly and young people at a local level across the three counties.

As the world’s busiest single runway airport, Gatwick plays a key role in the South East. The Gatwick Foundation Fund is designed to support important causes across the region. Grants may be used to fund existing services and facilities or new initiatives.

The funding will also be supported by opportunities for Gatwick employees to be closely associated with projects and causes supported by the Gatwick Foundation Fund, whether that’s volunteering their time or skills. To support voluntary work in the community, Gatwick provides staff with the opportunity to take paid for volunteering days and support issues close to their heart.

Grants awarded may include, but will not be exclusive to, the following areas:

  • Employment, training and skills – helping people to gain confidence and raise aspirations through training and development of new skills
  • Families – supporting families and children in need and projects which combat social isolation and disadvantage
  • Widening horizons/providing opportunities – supporting projects that enable young people to have opportunities that they would not otherwise have and to help them to widen their horizons and aspirations
  • Elderly people – improving access to facilities and reducing isolation for the older generation.

To apply in Surrey please see our grants page.

Gatwick Airport CEO, Stewart Wingate said:

Gatwick is proud to be partnering with the Community Foundations for Sussex, Surrey and Kent to launch the Gatwick Foundation Fund in support of important community and voluntary projects across the region.

Each organisation has detailed knowledge and understanding of the community needs across their respective counties and this invaluable experience will help to ensure grants are focused where they can make the most difference.

Community Foundation for Surrey Executive Director Wendy Varcoe said:

We are delighted to be working with Gatwick to support local grassroots community groups. This is an exciting new fund that will provide support at the very local level to help improve the quality of life in our local communities.

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Join the Surrey Hills Challenge

8th September 2016

Surrey Hills Challenge logo

The inaugural Surrey Hills Challenge will take place on 25th September 2016. Set in the beautiful landscape of the Surrey Hills on the Greensand Way, people of all ages and fitness can sign-up to a challenge that suits them, with the option to walk or run 5km, 10km, a half marathon or even a 60km ultra marathon!

Why not have friends, family and colleagues sponsor you to complete the Challenge? All funds raised will be split equally between the Community Foundation for Surrey and the Surrey Hills Trust Fund and support a variety of projects in the local community. To find out more about the event and how to fundraise, please visit the Surrey Hills Challenge website.

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Focus on Local Philanthropy

10th August 2016

Local Philanthropy Podcast

Our Deputy Director was recently interviewed by Martin Bamford, Managing Director of Informed Choice Independent Financial Planning. The podcast has local philanthropy as its focus, and the interview includes information on:

  • How you can make a difference here in Surrey; and
  • How the Community Foundation for Surrey can provide professional guidance and support to make your local giving effective and enjoyable.

Questions answered in the podcast include:

  • What are the Community Foundation for Surrey’s main aims and how does it work?
  • How does philanthropy differ from charity?
  • How can philanthropy fit into financial planning? Where would someone start if they were thinking about allocating some of their financial resources to important local causes?
  • What are the main issues facing Surrey’s community and how can philanthropy help?

Click below to listen:

Community Foundation for Surrey’s Executive Director Awarded MBE in Queen’s 2016 Birthday Honours

13th June 2016

The Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Surrey, Wendy Varcoe, has been awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s 2016 Birthday Honours list. The Honour has been awarded to recognise Wendy’s dedication and hard work in supporting local communities across Surrey.

Wendy said

 It has been a privilege to have been involved with building a Community Foundation for Surrey and to have had the opportunity to work with such an inspiring and dedicated team. Building the Community Foundation has been a joint effort over 10 years with many people involved. I would particularly like to recognise and thank our Founding Chairman, Professor Patrick Dowling, our current Chairman, David Frank, and our amazing Donors, Trustees, Staff and supporters.

Wendy was involved in initiating and developing the Community Foundation for Surrey and was inspired by the need to build permanent community resources through local philanthropy. Wendy said “This is about local people supporting other local people and helping to build thriving communities that are so vital to the quality of people’s lives. The funding so generously given by our donors supports projects at the very local level across the width of need and ensures funding gets right where it is needed to help those in most need and to change lives”.

Over the past 10 years the Foundation has inspired Surrey families, businesses, trusts and individuals to come together and invest in their local communities now and for generations to come. Since it was established in 2005, the Community Foundation has awarded over £6 million in grants to local voluntary groups, community projects and individuals across the width of community need in Surrey and has built permanent community resources of £10 million which generates on-going funding in perpetuity.  Last year alone, the Community Foundation awarded over £1 million in grants to local communities across the county.

David Frank, the Community Foundation’s Chairman, said

It is very appropriate that Wendy’s work in the local community should be recognised during our tenth anniversary year. Wendy has worked tirelessly since the inception of the Foundation to promote local philanthropy and the results that she has achieved to date speak for themselves. She has been an inspiration to the whole team and I am very glad that this has now been publicly acknowledged.

Wendy  said

The Foundation has continued to build year on year and we have ambitious plans to help even more of Surrey’s communities going forward.

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The international supplier of customised electronics, acal plc. based in Guildford business park, has signed up to become the first local business to be a Foundation Champion for the Community Foundation for Surrey.

By becoming a Foundation Champion acal will support the local Community Foundation to continue to award more and more grants to help the most vulnerable communities in the county.

The Community Foundation for Surrey is an independent charitable trust established 10 years ago to inspire local giving for local need. Since 2005 over £5.6 million has been awarded in grants to local voluntary groups, community projects, and individuals across Surrey.

David Frank, the Community Foundation’s Chairman said

We are delighted to have acal on board as the first corporate Foundation Champion. Support from local businesses like acal is crucial for us to continue to provide professional donor services and award an ever increasing number of grants. We would like to thank acal for their generous support and desire to help projects across Surrey which are making such a difference to people’s lives.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of the Community Foundation, said

This is about local people supporting other local people. We are excited to have such an exciting local business support the work we do. The Foundation has continued to build year on year and support of businesses such as acal, enables us to continue with our ambitious plans to help even more of Surrey’s communities going forward.

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The Community Foundation for Surrey was delighted to celebrate its 10th Anniversary at a special event for donors and supporters at Ramster Hall on 28th April, kindly sponsored by Investec Wealth & Investment and Barlow Robbins Solicitors.

Guests enjoyed a drinks reception and sit down meal and heard from Chairman, David Frank and Executive Director Wendy Varcoe who thanked donors and supporters for their extraordinary support, discussed the Foundations progress to date and shared exciting future plans.

Joe Crome from Leatherhead Youth Project explained how grants from the Community Foundation’s donors have supported the local charity to grow from strength to strength.

Founding Chairman and Vice President Patrick Dowling closed the evening with a toast to the future and the next 10 years of local philanthropy.

Over the past 10 years Surrey families, businesses, trusts and individuals have been inspired to come together and invest in their local communities now and for generations to come and grants have supported projects across the width of community need.

Since establishing the Foundation has built permanent community resources totaling just under £10 million and awarded nearly £6 million in grants. In the year 2015-16 alone over £1 million was awarded in grants to local communities across the county.

David Frank, the Community Foundation’s Chairman said

This is a fantastic milestone for the Community Foundation. We would like to thank all our donors for their continuing support, generosity and desire to help projects across Surrey which are making such a difference to people’s lives.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of the Community Foundation, said

This is about local people supporting other local people. The Foundation has continued to build year on year and we have ambitious plans to help even more of Surrey’s communities going forward.

 

Surrey Hills Challenge to raise money for local Communities

The Surrey Hills Challenge is set to be one of the biggest sporting challenges in Surrey next year with a series of running and walking events in the beautiful landscape of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) on Sunday 25th September 2016.

People of all ages and fitness can participate in four different running and walking challenges and raise money for local communities.

The Greensand Way will form the backdrop to the event where the super fit can face the ultimate challenge with ‘The Ultra’, a 60km run, ‘The Half’, no ordinary walk (or run) in the park of 21km, ‘The Ten’, a fast and furious 10km or ‘The Five’, a family challenge 5km event.

The challenges start in Haslemere, passes the Devil’s Punchbowl at Hindhead, traverses the main Surrey hills of Hascombe, Pitch, Holmbury and Leith Hill, before descending north to Dorking. Much of the route is rolling hills, woodland trails, fields and footpaths providing participants with glorious views.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of the Community Foundation for Surrey explains;

“This is a fantastic event for people of all ages and fitness levels to walk or run the Surrey Hills and support local communities and people in Surrey. By taking part in the Challenge you will be helping others in our local communities and supporting this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

Chairman of the Surrey Hills Trust Fund, Neil Maltby comments;

“The Surrey Hills Trust Fund is delighted to have been chosen as one of the beneficiaries for the Surrey Hills Challenge event. Money raised will go into local projects with a focus on conserving the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), from clearing viewpoints and restoring landscape features to enhancing the ecology and biodiversity of the area to educating younger audiences and local communities on the special qualities and importance of the Surrey Hills. Your support of this event will help to safeguard this beautiful area for future generations”.

The event will raise funds for the Community Foundation for Surrey, and the Surrey Hills Trust Fund, established to help local projects and community groups within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Those raising funds by participating in the Surrey Hills Challenge will enable the Trust Fund to help local projects conserving the AONB and support the people who live, work and enjoy the area.

Jim McAllister, Chief Executive, Rutland Management Ltd comments;

“We are delighted to be working with the Community Foundation for Surrey and the Surrey Hills to deliver an event that will not only raise funds for local communities, but highlight and help preserve the beautiful countryside we are so lucky to have on our doorstep. Everyone participating in the Surrey Hills Challenge will not only take away memories of a challenge they’ll never forget but leave a lasting legacy through their fundraising.”

The Surrey Hills Challenge will take place on Sunday 25th September 2016. Registration fees per person for ‘The Ultra’ (60km) is £80, ‘The Half’(21km) £35, ‘The Ten’ (10km) £25 and ‘The Five’ (5km) £15. A booking fee of £2 per registration is applicable. The event is open to everyone. Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult or guardian.

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.”

Community Foundation chosen as one of Barlow Robbins featured charities to benefit from their Summer Concert Series

We are delighted the Community Foundation has been chosen as one of Barlow Robbins featured charities to benefit from their Summer Bergamasca Concert Series featuring: Bergamasca Baroque Ensemble.

Join us on Thursday 16th June, 7.30pm at Loseley House, Guildford for beautiful music from 17th and 18th century Europe performed by Bergamasca.

Tickets are now on sale and all proceeds will go to support the Community Foundation for Surrey.