Blog Archives

Smyth Community Fund

16th July 2024

the splash pond in spelthorne, a small pool surrounded by trees and shrub

The Smyth Community Fund, established in 2008 by Kathy and Mike, aims to support four key areas, and plays a vital role in enhancing community wellbeing and sustainability.

The fund focuses on:

Environment: Projects that address climate change, promote low-carbon communities, manage resource use, and support biodiversity and local ecosystems.

Quality of Life: Initiatives aimed at improving community quality of life, including arts support and enhancing the built environment.

Community Facilities: Efforts to support and enhance facilities such as village halls, churches, and community centres.

Social Deprivation and Exclusion: Programs that address local needs, build capacity and skills within the community, and combat social deprivation.

In 2023, the Smyth Community Fund generously supported Spelthorne Splash Pond. This funding enabled the employment of a consultant freshwater ecologist (CIEEM registered) to conduct comprehensive baseline surveys of the pond and its surroundings. These surveys included analyses of water chemistry (e.g., pH, conductivity, mineral content), assessments of wetland and aquatic plants, aquatic macroinvertebrates, water and sediment depths, and a desk study of the pond’s location and geology.

Based on these surveys, the consultant will develop a detailed plan for the management, enhancement, and monitoring of the pond and its surroundings, along with a prioritised future work programme. This ensures that the community can continue to access and appreciate the pond and its diverse wildlife.

We are proud to support initiatives like Spelthorne Splash Pond and are committed to fostering sustainable, vibrant, and inclusive communities across Surrey.

Catenum Fund

An adaptive dingy for disabled access to sailing at Frensham Pond with donors, club volunteers and Fund Manager Zoe on a sunny day

Established in 2019 by donor John and his wife, the Catenum Grants Fund began with a focused mission to support a specific rowing club close to John’s heart. Over time, the fund’s scope has expanded to embrace a broader vision: using sport as a catalyst for positive change. The fund particularly aims to support clubs that enhance accessibility, ensuring that individuals with disabilities and additional needs can actively participate in sports.

In addition to supporting sports initiatives, the fund has also extended its reach to local Citizens Advice Bureaus, where John volunteers, reflecting his commitment to community service.

We are immensely grateful to John and his wife for their unwavering support of local sports causes in Woking and across Surrey. Their contributions are making a significant impact.

A notable grant from last summer enabled Frensham Pond Sailability Club near Farnham to purchase a specially adapted dinghy, giving individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of sailing.

Adaptive dingy sailing on Frensham Pond, leaving a jetty which has multiple winches.

Gatwick Foundation Fund

28th November 2022

Grants are available from the Gatwick Foundation Fund for local projects that support young people, improve health and wellbeing, tackle social isolation and disadvantage, or raise aspirations and employment opportunities.

People working for local community projects in Tandridge, Reigate and Banstead and Mole Valley can now apply for funding from Gatwick Airport’s Foundation Fund, with projects receiving £100,000 in total across three rounds of funding.

The Fund is designed to distribute the economic benefits that the airport generates among local people and communities that may not benefit directly from other economic contributions the airport brings to the region.

Gatwick’s Foundation Fund was launched in late 2016 and – to date – a total of £1.2 million has been distributed in 236 grants, benefiting over 100,000 people across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Read more on the Gatwick Foundation Fund website.

Criteria for application

The Gatwick Foundation Fund has updated the criteria for the relaunched Fund which has been driven by a local needs analysis and local priorities piece of work that has been undertaken.

Building Better Communities

Strengthening social links and fighting social isolation and exclusion particularly in deprived neighbourhoods.

Enabling Social Mobility

Raising aspirations and increasing the skills and opportunities of those who face barriers to employment or those seeking career prospects.

Improving Health & Wellbeing

Improving health (physical and mental), wellbeing and safety.

Supporting Young People

Making a real difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and young people (up to 25)

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How to apply to the Gatwick Foundation Fund

The process starts with submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) – this is a simple form where you can tell us what you need to fund. Don’t overthink it or spend too much time on it. Complete the EOI form by clicking the link below and the Grants Team will be pleased to advise you on whether we can invite an application.

Please visit our what we do and do not fund page for more information and our eligibility guidance.

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:

Kaye Family Fund

28th April 2016

The Kaye Family Fund was established by a local family and is one of the Community Foundation for Surrey’s Endowment Funds, providing long-term support to local communities.

The income which is generated each quarter is used to award grants which meet the Fund criteria.

The Kaye Family Fund supports projects in West Surrey which improve facilities for leisure and recreation – particularly those relating to sport, for the benefit of local young people.

 

Examples of funded projects:

Walton Firs Foundation – £60,000

The Walton Firs Foundation is an outdoor activity centre that provides a superb environment for camping, skills training, games, nature and environmental studies, alongside other activities vital to young people, both individually and together.

This grant was awarded for the creation of a high ropes course, that will test and challenge young people to overcome their fears and help them to develop teamwork, self-confidence and communication skills.

Bagshot Infant School – £3,160

Bagshot Infant School is a special needs support centre in Surrey, supporting local children with special educational needs and disabilities, including those with physical disabilities, speech and language delays and autism.

Funding awarded allowed for horse riding lessons for a group of 8-10 vulnerable children experiencing emotional and behavioural challenges. The children in attendance of the riding group have a range of needs and this programme provided bespoke support to help each child reach their full potential. The lessons used aided communication for children both within the group and helped them thrive within the wider, mainstream school environment.

Explore some of our other Personal Funds

Orchid Environmental Trust Fund

The Orchid Environmental Trust Fund supports projects across Surrey which conserve or improve the wildlife value of an area; and/or raise awareness of and access to the environment

Community environmental projects which have been supported by this Fund include community gardens and wildlife areas, as well as community orchards.

Grants are prioritised to small, volunteer-led community groups.

The Donors to this Fund (a local Surrey couple) are also interested in supporting the start up costs of new initiatives.

 

Examples of funded projects:

Guildford Environmental Forum – £1,000

The Guildford Environmental Forum work to make Guildford a greener and more sustainable place – by educating, informing, cutting energy use, reducing ecological footprints, helping wildlife and tackling climate change.

A grant provided the group with purpose built swift nesting boxes around the area. Swifts have become much less common in the countryside and have become largely urban birds. As well as providing a safe place for the birds to nest, there was an increased boost in the wellbeing of residents in Guildford and Woking involved in the project.

Autism and Nature – £2,000

Local charity, Autism and Nature, strive to tackle the lack of opportunities for children with ARD to learn about and experience the outdoors.

Funding was awarded for the production and distribution of a colouring book created specifically for children with autism & related disabilities (ARD), in order to help them engage with nature.

An initial grant helped produce ‘Alex and Rosie’s Adventures in Surrey’ – a pilot storybook that was found successful in helping parents and teachers in Surrey encourage autistic children to engage with the natural environment.

The books are aimed at children aged 5-11 and have been designed to improve communication with ARD children, encouraging them to stay calm, be self-expressive, aid in the development of motor skills and help them better relate to their surroundings.

Explore some of our other Personal Funds

Cyrus Fund

The Cyrus Fund, just like the Community Foundation for Surrey’s other Funds, was established by a local Donor.

The Fund awards grants to support local grassroots organisations to do things that they would otherwise not have the opportunity to do.

Grants are targeted to enable local groups to grow and develop, or improve the services they offer to local people.

Grants are focused in Waverley, and particularly around the Godalming area and fund capital costs or one-off items to improve or extend existing services and infrastructure, or to help develop a new initiative.

 

Examples of funded projects:

1275 Godalming Air Cadets – £2,000

The Air Training Corps is a voluntary uniformed youth organisation which is supported, in part, by the Royal Air Force. It provides the opportunity to learn valuable skills, receive training and gain personal development for young men and women aged 12-20.

Funding supported the purchase of a flight simulator to assist the Air Cadet Squadron in providing training for young air cadets. The simulator offered an opportunity to learn practical aviation skills alongside an established training process resulting in a BTEC in Aviation Studies. It facilitated better learning through physical and realistic demonstrations, as as acting as an exciting addition to the training programme.

Elstead Sharks Youth Football Club – £1,275

Elstead Sharks Football Club (ES) started operating in 2008 and is a youth football club that caters for 206 children from the Elstead area and surrounds.

Funding was awarded to replace the clubs 20 year old rusted steel goals. New FA approved aluminium goals were purchased in order to improve the safety of the children aged 13-18 that attend the club. Thick, but lightweight these goals also benefit other local teams such as the Elstead Ladies, Men’s and Vets teams.

Helping carers to get the support they need

27th April 2016