Community Foundation for Surrey’s Tackling Poverty Campaign Provides Essential Support Across the County
17th September 2024
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
Surrey Supported Employment Fund Empowers Local Organisations to Enhance Employability
23rd August 2024
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.
‘Happier Together’ with the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund
11th March 2024
This UN International Day of happiness theme is ‘happier together’ so we are celebrating the amazing achievements of our Mental Health Scale-Up Fund which really demonstrates what a bunch of people can achieve together through the power of positive thinking.
In 2022 applications for our funding by groups supporting young people with mental health issues had increased by 260% on the previous year. There was a real crisis in the mental health of our county’s children.
We knew that over many years we had funded great organisations to do really positive work with measurable impacts on mental health and wellbeing in children and young people BUT we had only ever been able to give small grants, for short periods. This wasn’t good enough.
We set out to put a new fund in place to identify what was working and scale it up. Our aim was for every child and young person in Surrey to be able to access help and support. We committed to awarding 5-year funding, which would also support learning and sharing of best practice. We had no donors at this point – but failure wasn’t an option, because it was too important.
We were thrilled to raise £1m from a group of 4 brave donors who backed our idea, and Surrey County Council matched it – so far we have raised £2,046,962,29 and we have pledges in for another £0.5m this year.
We started our work by carrying out an extensive listening programme to identify priorities and published the report so that others can use it too. We have used it to prioritise what we fund.
We committed to running one funding round a year – to date we have awarded £763,666 in Grants. In addition to the funding, all our partner organisations can access our Funder Plus volunteers to help with business & financial planning and governance support as they grow their programmes in a sustainable way.
Finally, we all come together annually – donors, trustees of CFSurrey and our partner charities and community organisations, sitting around a table together to hear what is working – and what isn’t – so that we all learn together how best to tackle this huge and challenging problem.
Why haven’t we simply given all the funds away as fast as possible? Because it is too important to do that. We are trying to make a systemic change in our county – so that the support system for children and young people is universally available to all those who need help AND so that early intervention, preventative support is available to all – rather than waiting until our young people face mental health crisis.
We think deeply and carefully about how we award funds, using the results of our consultation to prioritise. We listen to our partner organisations about how we can support in a way that will continue to make a positive difference long after our first grant has finished funding. This fund is also designed to continue to give annually after the first 5 years so that it becomes a regular source of funding to improve the mental health of children and young people in our county in the future.
‘Since getting involved with CFSurrey, through the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund, you have taught me how to give well, so that it really makes an impact’ Founder Donor MHSU
We have funded the following:
Surrey Care Trust – in Nov 2022 we awarded a 5-year grant of £249,921 to support the Nurture through Nature programme utilising allotment and boat-based activities.
This work will particularly focus on providing support to:
Students (aged 14-16) struggling with poor mental health that leads to school avoidance;
Post-16 young people up to age 30 who are (who are at risk of becoming) NEET (not in education, employment or training);
Young carers;
Those engaged with Targeted Youth Support and in need of additional MH support;
Those with neurodiversity and disabilities that require further support needs.
This funding will support provision of nature-based activities, but crucially will allow SCT to properly structure their work into a programme of activities available in a wider geography to many more young people. Year 1 focuses on delivery in Reigate, subsequent years will roll-out activities to new sites in West Surrey. Target – additional 50 young people per annum supported. Total 2,500.
6 month report – Participant numbers exceeded; on average each participant made progress against 4-5 wellbeing measures. The biggest improvements from this course were made in beneficiaries’ friendships, relationship skills, and emotional wellbeing (feelings & behaviour), reflecting our focus on mental health and social skills/social confidence. Also 2 new sites identified – Woodland in Woking and animal therapy in Caterham – for development of activities in second year.
“We were all focussed on the same small part of the allotment doing the same job…
[These] 3 lads struggle spending time closely with others (in different ways)
so it was wonderful to see them all working
together as a team. When leaving Gateway
Mike & Joe left chatting.”
John Downing, Chief Executive, Surrey Care Trust said: “Everyone at Surrey Care Trust is delighted to receive the first award of the Community Foundation for Surrey’s Mental Health Scale Up Fund. This award will enable us to develop and expand our pioneering Nurture through Nature activities across Surrey and, most importantly, reach even more young people affected by poor mental health.
BeMe – in Dec 2022 we awarded a 5-year grant of £263,746 to support work in schools with young people aged 11-15. The work involves activity and discussion-based courses designed to raise self-esteem & confidence, build resilience and lower anxiety. This funding supports the step-change required to scale up delivery into Leatherhead, Reigate, Epsom, Ashtead and Guildford. Will also support the charity to scale-up provision for boys from 1 in 5 courses to 1 in 3 courses. Target 640 young people over 5 years, with split 66%/33% Girl/Boy by Year 5.
1-year Report – expanded course offering in Surrey from 39 courses in 2022 to 74 in 2023- the target with scale-up funding was 61. The over-achievement was directly related to our confidence in the funding; without it we would not have been able to book courses with schools, who will always have more need for us to fill, if we have the funding and team in place. We worked with approx 350-370 beneficiaries. We invested in infrastructure costs of an office laptop and phone/contract, as well as training staff and setting up a better system of collecting impact data.
The Community Foundation is a delight to work with. Your guidance and advice in our original application led us to be much more focused in our plans for this year. This revised plan has meant we have delivered more than in full, and have a very clear execution plan for the future. Support from Funder Plus volunteers enabled us to develop a sound business plan, review our financial management and review our governance arrangements.
The visit from CF and funders to our office in June was greatly appreciated; again, your advice was helpful, and ensuring that we did a mid-year project check in against our objectives was invaluable. The meeting in October at CF offices was also helpful, and has led us to a new project where we have been in dialogue with Surrey Care Trust and are about to pilot a visit for our beneficiaries from Reigate School to their Gateway project, as part of the final week of our courses. Needless to say, the Head at Reigate School is also delighted at this initiative.
Eikon in April 2023 we awarded a 5-year grant of £249,999 for development and roll-out of a preventative, early intervention support programme delivered in primary schools for children aged under 10 in order to help them build resilience and learn strategies to manage key relationships and issues in their lives.
Out of the 2,351 young people waiting for support in Surrey from the Surrey Wellbeing Partnership (13 partners) almost 50% are 10 and under.
Surrey schools are telling us that ever more young people of primary school age are struggling with poor mental health, reflecting the national increase. Our Secondary schools’ partners report that many of their young people who struggle had similar challenges during primary school.
This funding will support development of training programmes and materials for teachers and parents, which will be rolled out across Runnymede and Elmbridge in Year 1, extending to whole county by year 5. ‘Heads-Up’ Workshops will be delivered to support year 4, 5 & 6 pupils as a pilot programme to capture impact data. Head-Smart Ambassadors will be used to promote whole-school wellbeing and mental health across primary schools in the boroughs. Target 5,640 children benefit by end year 5.
1 Year report – March 2024 – good mapping of needs for primary-aged children, developing resources for teachers and parents programmes, pilot delivery of self-esteem and confidence workshops to year 4 and 5 children. Recruitment challenges delayed start – key issue across the sector.
We are extremely grateful for your support to this programme. Pam Holmes found the partner meeting very valuable to attend. Huge value always in facilitating the connections and discussions between organisations in the same space. We note appetite to do more partner wide events/ sharing and are keen to progress thisa little bit later on this year when we have further progress on our delivery.
Surrey Strategic Transformation Programme
15th July 2022
The Community Foundation for Surrey is pleased to announce that a number of our Donor Funds have come together to support the sustainability and resilience of our voluntary sector organisations.
Pandemic working has necessitated many charities and community groups working more closely together with other groups to deliver services together and change services to new ways of delivery.
In the current economic climate, coming out of a period when many funders gave an unprecedented amount, the funding environment is bleak. Many public sector contracts have been frozen and public grants programmes either cancelled or drastically cut back. Increasingly charities are looking to respond to the urgent need to cut costs by looking for new ways of working, cementing partnership working or even merging. In addition, many are looking to change their business model in order to achieve greater financial sustainability in the longer-term. On the positive side many are building on what they have learned during the pandemic which enabled them to re-imagine the services they provide to beneficiaries.
In response, CFS has created the Surrey Strategic Transformation Programme. The focus of this funding will be to support local voluntary and community organisations to become more resilient. It will help organisations to plan and adapt to change and be better equipped to survive and thrive through challenges and opportunities that may arise.
What sorts of things would we support?
Work to carry out a feasibility study for premises move or new merger/partnership.
Strengthening an organisation’s leadership and governance, ensuring it has the right skills available to maintain and develop its work including set up of new partnerships/merger or improving strategic planning.
Building the capacity of an organisation’s digital/IT infrastructure to help deliver services and reach the communities it serves more efficiently and effectively.
Small capital work to adapt or refurbish existing premises for new purpose or support move to new premises.
Work to design and implement new systems to enable two organisations to work more closely together.
Analysis of potential demand for services/needs including analysis of potential partner organisations.
Reviewing structure and governance models.
Reviewing income and fundraising options or impact measurement.
Work to Improve capacity e.g. strengthen impact, effectiveness or sustainability.
Increasing the involvement of service users/communities in the design, development and/or delivery of services.
Feasibility study or provision of expert advice on installation of sustainable energy solutions to community buildings
Improvement in provision of WiFi to community buildings or charities
The Programme will not consider
Applications to support ‘business as usual’ – these can be made through our usual grant rounds, but this fund is specifically to fund ‘business change’
Applications for core/running costs.
Applications from individuals, political or sectarian organisations, mainstream schools and colleges, playgroups, community centres, sports clubs. Religious groups can apply but their services must be open to all and the grants cannot be used for the promotion of religion.
The Programme will support registered charities that have been in existence for at least 3 years with a demonstrably strong track record.
We will prioritise supporting organisations whose primary function and service is supporting people and communities that face the greatest disadvantages and exclusion or have been greatest impacted by the pandemic. Organisations must be focussed on Surrey.
Partnership bids are welcome. For partnership applications, we will expect the applicant to demonstrate what additional benefits will be delivered by working together. To be considered as a ‘partnership’, each organisation must be actively involved in the partnership and have a clear role within it. It is expected that there will be some form of partnership agreement or at least evidence of an agreement between partner organisations.
Successful applicants to the Strategic Transformation Programme will be offered support (where required) from skilled volunteers to assist with financial management, governance or merger discussions
This will be a rolling programme with no deadlines.
Example Grant awards
Investment in an online booking system for a charity providing play-schemes for disadvantaged areas of Westborough, Park Barn and Stoke to improve efficiency and revenue generation.
Funding for a feasibility study regarding the relocation of a charity providing an outdoor learning environment for vulnerable young people.
Installation of two prefabricated cabins to provide flexible expansion of space for service provision and income generation for a charity supporting people with mental health needs.
Computer equipment to enable people with brain injury to be supported more efficiently.
IT System upgrade for a charity which supports disabled people to live independently to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Investment in a consolidated CRM system to manage member data and services more effectively.
Funding support for the merger of five local Community Mediation services to increase efficiency and sustainability; to improve service delivery and to create opportunity for growth, in terms of reaching more people across Surrey.
The Community Foundation for Surrey is pleased to announce that a number of our Donor Funds have come together with some additional generous support from Surrey County Council to support the sustainability and resilience of our voluntary sector organisations.
Pandemic working has necessitated many charities and community groups working more closely together with other groups to deliver services together and change services to new ways of delivery.
In the current economic climate, coming out of a period when many funders gave an unprecedented amount, the funding environment is bleak. Many public sector contracts have been frozen and public grants programmes either cancelled or drastically cut back. Increasingly charities are looking to respond to the urgent need to cut costs by looking for new ways of working, cementing partnership working or even merging. In addition, many are looking to change their business model in order to achieve greater financial sustainability in the longer-term. On the positive side many are building on what they have learned during the pandemic which enabled them to re-imagine the services they provide to beneficiaries.
The Community Foundation for Surrey (CFS) is seeing an increase in applications for ‘crisis’ funding – funding to address urgent cashflow needs. We would prefer to be able to work with community organisations earlier in their journey so that we avoid the need for crisis intervention.
In response CFS has created the Surrey Strategic Transformation Programme. The focus of this funding will be to support local voluntary and community organisations to become more resilient. It will help organisations to plan and adapt to change and be better equipped to survive and thrive through challenges and opportunities that may arise.
What sorts of things would we support?
Work to carry out a feasibility study for premises move or new merger/partnership
Strengthening an organisation’s leadership and governance, ensuring it has the right skills available to maintain and develop its work including set up of new partnerships/merger or improving strategic planning.
Building the capacity of an organisation’s digital/IT infrastructure to help deliver services and reach the communities it serves more efficiently and effectively.
Small capital work to adapt or refurbish existing premises for new purpose or support move to new premises
Work to design and implement new systems to enable two organisations to work more closely together
Analysis of potential demand for services/needs including analysis of potential partner organisations
Reviewing structure and governance models
Reviewing income and fundraising options or impact measurement
Work to Improve capacity e.g. strengthen impact, effectiveness or sustainability.
Increasing the involvement of service users/communities in the design, development and/or delivery of services.
The Programme will not consider
Applications to support ‘business as usual’ – these can be made through our usual grant rounds, but this fund is specifically to fund ‘business change’
Applications for core/running costs.
Applications from individuals, political or sectarian organisations, mainstream schools and colleges, playgroups, community centres, sports clubs. Religious groups can apply but their services must be open to all and the grants cannot be used for the promotion of religion.
The Fund will support registered charities that have been in existence for at least 3 years with a demonstrably strong track record.
We will prioritise supporting organisations whose primary function and service is supporting people and communities that face the greatest disadvantages and exclusion or have been greatest impacted by the pandemic. Organisations must be focussed on Surrey.
Partnership bids are welcome. For partnership applications, we will expect the applicant to demonstrate what additional benefits will be delivered by working together. To be considered as a ‘partnership’, each organisation must be actively involved in the partnership and have a clear role within it. It is expected that there will be some form of partnership agreement or at least evidence of an agreement between partner organisations
Successful applicants to the Strategic Transformation Fund will be offered support (where required) from skilled volunteers to assist with financial management, governance or merger discussions
How to apply
Groups can start their application by submitting an Expression of Interest
This will be a rolling programme with no deadlines.
Example Grant awards
Investment in an online booking system for a charity providing play-schemes for disadvantaged areas of Westborough, Park Barn and Stoke to improve efficiency and revenue generation.
Funding for a feasibility study regarding the relocation of a charity providing an outdoor learning environment for vulnerable young people.
Installation of two prefabricated cabins to provide flexible expansion of space for service provision and income generation for a charity supporting people with mental health needs.
Computer equipment to enable people with brain injury to be supported more efficiently.
IT System upgrade for a charity which supports disabled people to live independently to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Investment in a consolidated CRM system to manage member data and services more effectively.
Funding support for the merger of five local Community Mediation services to increase efficiency and sustainability; to improve service delivery and to create opportunity for growth, in terms of reaching more people across Surrey.
The Elder Companionship Fund has been established to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people.
We know that loneliness and isolation is a real issue across our county, with a third of residents aged 65+ (close to 76,000 older people) living alone. Research shows that loneliness can take a terrible toll on people’s mental, physical and emotional health and has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
The Community Foundation for Surrey established a new Fund, specifically to address this critical issue here in Surrey – the Elder Companionship Fund.
“We’ve been moved to set up the Elder Companionship Fund in response to the extremely distressing consequences of the Covid pandemic. Many people in our community were already suffering greatly from loneliness and isolation, but this has only been made more intense and more widespread in recent months. Our goal is to help provide much needed funds to support the staffing and service provision that will be so critical in the months – and years – ahead.”
We are currently able to match fund new donations that are given to help alleviate loneliness and isolation among older people in Surrey on a £ for £ basis.
Therefore, a gift of £1,000 will immediately become £2,000, and with Gift Aid included also, it can go even further! For anyone that donates more than £10,000, the founders of the fund also invite you, should you wish to, to become more involved and as the Elder Companionship Fund develops.
To find out more about how you can take advantage of this opportunity, and how we work together with Donors across the county (including individuals and families, Surrey-based companies, charitable trusts and other partners) helping them to make a difference in the area of greatest interest to them, please email us at giving@cfsurrey.org.uk
The Surrey Education Fund provides funding to help disadvantaged children and young people up to 25 years to access education and training.
Grants are awarded to fund costs such as equipment, books, travel or tuition fees or support the costs of providing charitable educational facilities. Funding is also available for voluntary or charitable projects that provide training and skills development.
Examples of grants from the fund:
SATRO – £2,500
Surrey SATRO develop and run programmes within schools which enhance young people’s understanding of business, science and technology. Projects include primary science lessons; team building challenges; mentoring programmes and Surrey Apprentices Awards. SATRO has worked with young people in Surrey for over 30 years, providing real-life experience of the working world.
A grant was awarded for a Mobile Construction Classroom for disadvantaged and disengaged young people and those with Special Educational Needs. The mobile classrooms attend schools throughout the academic year and are delivered by specially trained tutors. Students play an integral part in planning and course delivery, providing the opportunity to complete a portfolio designed and constructed to their own specifications, interests and requirements. The courses also deliver key skills to increase student’s self-confidence and self-esteem.
GASP Motor Project – £4,000
GASP Motor Project supports some of the hardest to reach young people in the community by re-engaging them with learning. They provide accredited hands on courses in basic motor mechanics and engineering, targeting disaffected, vulnerable and potentially ‘at risk’ young people.
A grant was awarded for their Industry Project, which enables students to develop skills that help their progression pathway into employment – and to experience the workplace first hand. The workshops provide an alternative learning facility, a recreational and leisure-time activity to assist participants to acquire accredited learning outcomes, and also teaches them vital social skills.
Guildford Young Carers Fund
22nd March 2018
The Guildford Young Carers Fund was set up by Mike Parsons during his year as mayor in 2018/19 and is part of Guildford Philanthropy. The Fund awards grants to support young carers in the Borough of Guildford. Grants of up to £400 will support young carers by providing services or equipment that will help them with their educational, emotional and social needs.
Grants for things such as:
additional non-statutory support in school or college
extra tuition or educational support outside school or college
IT or other equipment to support educational needs**
school trips, outings or residential activities
courses
music, sports or play activities or other clubs outside school (including membership fees)
opportunities to meet other young carers
Grants are not available for duties that are the statutory responsibility of the local authorities.
** The Fund is unable to provide laptops in situations where there is a statutory obligation for a Government body to provide one. We are unable to consider the provision of grants which are solely relating to laptops for school/college-based courses unless there are exceptional circumstances.
How to apply
The Guildford Young Carers Fund accepts applications from Guildford schools and Action for Carers Surrey (ACS). A member of the staff team from any Guildford school, or ACS, can complete an application on behalf of a young carer in their care. The Fund Panel will review the application, and if approved, payment will be made via BACS to the school/ACS.
For more information and advice on how to apply, see the guidance notes.
Please send completed application forms and supporting documents to grants@cfsurrey.org.uk
We will aim to have funding outcomes within 6-8 weeks.
Did you know…
Guildford Young Carers addresses an area of society that is very much overlooked by us all. Estimates suggest that as many as 20% of children aged 5 to 18 in many areas of Guildford act as carers – unrecognised and hidden to society. The effect on these children is huge. Some fail to realise their academic potential, and they often suffer mental health issues, bullying and social media abuse.
These are young people who find their normal young lives being replaced by caring for a relative within the family unit. These responsibilities often cause negative outcomes, such as falling behind at school, or simply a loss of precious childhood time. These children and young people are often unable to access help and many do not even realise that they are acting as carers – it’s just what you do.
Carers Support (Guildford) Fund
4th May 2017
The Carers Support (Guildford) Fund is part of Guildford Philanthropy, and makes small grants to carers who live in the borough of Guildford who are in need in order to provide them with a respite from their caring role.
Grants for things such as:
contribution towards respite holidays or breaks
club membership
courses
second-hand computers or other IT equipment
holiday play schemes
travel costs for specific activities
cover for the carer when engaged in a respite activity
Grants are not available for duties that are the statutory responsibility of the local authorities.
We cannot accept applications direct from carers – the application must be through an organisation that is providing support and can vouch for the need (for example Action for Carers Surrey, Surrey County Council social care and health teams, NHS older adult and mental health teams, local charitable organisations).
Applications are made by referring organisations using the Carer Support application form available below and returned to directly togrants@cfsurrey.org.uk.
Carers Support (Guildford) provided support to carers living within the borough for 19 years up to 2017. Following the closure of the charity the trustees have collaborated on a partnership with the Community Foundation for Surrey and the Guildford Philanthropy Fund to create a lasting resource specifically to support the well-being of carers within the borough of Guildford.Guildford Borough Councilpreviously matched this donation at a rate of 50%.
