The Community Foundation for Surrey is delighted to announce the awarding of 59 grants, totalling £482,160 to voluntary and community organisations in Surrey.
Funded through the generous contribution of our donor funds, the Foundation’s Young People theme helps to combat issues impacting young people, including:
- Coping with and managing mental health issues.
- Obtaining qualifications and developing life skills that will improve their chances of gaining employment.
- Widening horizons – giving children and young people in disadvantaged communities access to opportunity.
- Supporting young people caring for others.
- Mentoring and coaching.
- Enabling young people to access sports, arts and the environment.
There was a wide spread of issues supported through the funding round, but the two dominant themes were Mental health and wellbeing, and Education, skills and employability which accounted for more than half the awards. Mental health alone made up a third of the awards.
We are very excited that one of our donor funds has awarded four, three-year grants for salary costs, thereby providing stability to the charities supported. One of the recipients said:
“A 3 year funding offer is absolutely brilliant and is a massive weight off our trustee-shoulders, knowing that we have security for our ongoing work with our young people. It also enables more strategic, longer-term planning and will encourage other investments of support. Just wonderful all-round.” (Claygate Youth and Community Hub)
Feedback from grant recipients
We have received some fantastic feedback from our grant recipients. Here are a few of their comments:
– Surrey based charity supporting survivors of domestic abuse.
“This generous grant from the Community Foundation will help us to continue our vital work supporting children who are living in our refuges for families fleeing domestic abuse. Our specialist support workers provide a safe place for children to talk, play and heal from their experiences. Thank you.”
Fiamma Pather, Chief Executive Officer, Your Sanctuary
– A mentoring charity for young people to develop skills so that they can thrive in education, relationships and beyond.
“Buddy Up are incredibly grateful for the grant from The Community Foundation for Surrey. This funding means we can continue to provide our much needed mentoring service to the most vulnerable young people in Surrey.”
Andy Reid CEO and Founder Buddy Up
Horsley, Bookham & Leatherhead Riding for the Disabled Association
– A local charity providing therapeutic riding sessions for children and adults with disabilities.
“Horsley, Bookham & Leatherhead RDA are delighted to receive Community Foundation for Surrey’s grant towards the purchase of our next horse. This ensures that we can cater for more local children/young adults who want to ride with us and have therapeutic sessions with our horses and ponies each week.”
Joanna Marsh, Trustee, Fundraising, Horsley, Bookham & Leatherhead RDA
– Campaigns for a safer internet for all children and young people – whether they are gaming, communicating on social media, using apps or taking part in any other internet-based activity.
“Breck Foundation is extremely grateful for the support of Community Foundation for Surrey, with it we can deliver our powerful and potentially lifesaving ‘Online Safety’ sessions in schools all over Surrey; Breck’s Mother believes that had her son seen our ‘Online Safety’ session, he would still be alive today“.
Michael Buraimoh, CEO, Breck Foundation
– Charity dedicated to the Special Needs’ and Disability Community. We are passionate about making theatre accessible to all and understand that families who have a child with a disability face many barriers.
“We are thrilled to have the support from Community Foundation for Surrey. Many people with disabilities struggle to find a way into the world of performing arts and we want to open these doors to them. Our workshops will give them the confidence, experience and courage to look positively into a future working in theatre.”
Anni Rhodes-Steere, Founder Head2Head Sensory Theatre
Claygate Youth & Community Hub
– Claygate Youth & Community Hub is a registered charity which took over from Claygate Village Youth Association earlier this year. The main objects of both charities is to provide quality youth activities and youth work to Claygate and surrounding areas.
“A 3 year funding offer to support salaries is a massive weight off our trustee-shoulders. We now know that we have security for our ongoing work with our young people. It also enables more strategic, longer-term planning and will encourage other investments of support. Just wonderful all-round.”
Susannah Moffat, Trustee, Claygate Youth & Community Hub
– YMCA East Surrey helps people to believe in themselves, support them to achieve their goals and inspire them to be the best they can be by providing services that focus on those who are vulnerable, have a disability or face disadvantage.
“You can sing, play the instruments or do some music tech and created songs on the computers. It is also a good place to meet nice people and music lovers who might be going through the same things as you. If I didn’t have this I would probably never go outside!”
Rhys, young person attending Beatz Music Project
– Surrey Care Trust provides learning, training and mentoring to support young people and adults in improving their chances in life.
“Thank you! Thanks to this generous grant, STEPS will be able to continue to help Surrey’s most vulnerable young people to gain the qualifications they need to go on to college or an apprenticeship and develop the personal skills to thrive in life”
Richard Tweddle, STEPS Centre Manager, Surrey Care Trust
– The charity’s aim is to transform the lives and futures of adults managing their mental ill-health and help them secure the skills, confidence and training needed to return to the workplace.
“We are most grateful to the Trustees of the Netherby Trust Fund for their support of Oakleaf’s services for local young adults experiencing mental ill-health. Their grant will enable us to provide much-needed, expert support for people coping with the ongoing impact of the pandemic, for the coming three years”.
Clive Stone, Chief Executive, Oakleaf
– LinkAble is based in Surrey and helps children and adults with learning disabilities in Woking and Surrey Heath. The charity offers people activities and experiences that they struggle to access in the wider community, supporting them to learn new skills, form lasting friendships and lead fulfilling, independent lives.
“As a charity supporting local people with learning disabilities, LinkAble is extremely grateful for the continued support of CFS with their latest donation towards our vital work”.
Rhys Parker, Fundraising Manager, LinkAble
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For more information, please contact our Grants Team at email: grants@cfsurrey.org.uk
