‘Happier Together’ with the Mental Health Scale-Up Fund

11th March 2024

a light pink background with cupped hands holding a drawn brain symbolising Mental Health Awareness

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 this a 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.
CFS general eligibility criteria applies.

What size of grants are available?

Grants of up to £15,000 will be awarded.

Who can apply?

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.
CFS general eligibility criteria applies.

Additional support

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

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.

Further information

For grant application and funding enquiries please email grants@cfsurrey.org.uk

Announcing our Surrey Strategic Transformation Programme

23rd June 2022

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.

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.
CFS general Eligibility Criteria apply

What size of grants are available?

Grants of up to £15,000 will be awarded

Who can apply?

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
CFS general Eligibility Criteria apply

Additional support

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.

Further information

For grant application and funding enquiries please email grants@cfsurrey.org.uk

Elder Companionship Fund

19th October 2020

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.”

– Founding Donor, Elder Companionship Fund

For further information, please visit our webpage: cfsurrey.org.uk/hips-webinar-series-loneliness-and-isolation/

Match Funding Opportunity!

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

Download Match-Funding PDF

Surrey Education Fund

20th June 2019

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.

Focus on Local Philanthropy

10th August 2016

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:

Surrey Community Fund

27th April 2016

SCF

Our Surrey Community Fund awards grants to a range of projects which support priority and emerging needs across Surrey.

Donate to Surrey Community Fund

The Surrey Community Fund (SCF) was established in 2006 to address identified gaps and funding needs. It is the Fund we use to support any emergencies.

The Fund supports current and emerging needs in communities across the county, and using our local knowledge and expertise, enables us to be pro-active and responsive in addressing critical issues identified at any one time.

Over recent years, we have used this fund to support the county to cope and recover following COVID-19, as well as using it to fund Afghan and Ukrainian refugee support.

In addition, this vital fund is used to provide crisis grants to charities and organisations who are facing a cashflow crisis. We have seen more and more of this type of application as the impact of rising energy costs, increased staffing costs and increased people needing their services have made a very challenging environment for our community organisations.

You can donate securely online via our Enthuse giving page.

Donate to the Surrey Community Fund!

Alternatively, you can donate via bank transfer. Please contact us for information on how to do this.

You can apply for a grant from our Surrey Community Fund by filling out our Expression of Interest Form.

Groups - Expression of Interest Form

Surrey Hills Trust Fund

The Community Foundation for Surrey is working in partnership with the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to manage the Surrey Hills Trust Fund.

Our beautiful Surrey Hills are in danger of irreversible damage from development and careless over use. To protect our children’s rural heritage, please support the Surrey Hills Trust Fund.

The Fund has been established to help conserve and enhance this specially protected landscape. By supporting projects, programmes and activities that benefit the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, we can ensure our countryside is preserved.

We will work with local communities, landowners and partner organisations for the benefit of residents, workers and visitors to the Surrey Hills.

Give locally to protect the Surrey Hills now and in the future:

With your help, we can create a lasting legacy for the Surrey Hills ensuring it is enjoyed by generations to come. The Surrey Hills Trust Fund provides the chance to support projects that will benefit local communities and the environment.

How your donation can make a real difference:

The Surrey Hills Trust Fund will support a wide-range of local projects from landscape conservation grants to community enterprise schemes. Below are examples of areas of work that your donations could support:

Landscape Conservation projects to open up viewpoints, restore landscape features etc.
Working with volunteers to undertake landscape access and conservation work.
Educating younger generations on the importance and value of countryside.
Enhancing the ecology & biodiversity of the local area through practical projects.

The Surrey Hills Trust Fund helped students experience the Surrey Hills – Bear Grylls style!

The first grant awarded from the Surrey Hills Trust Fund enabled ten students from Therfield School in Leatherhead to undertake Forest School Survival Skills training, which involved building shelters, camp fires and learning how to forage for food, as well as outdoor team building.

They also undertook a mountain bike course on Leith Hill, learning how to navigate the trails, understand the environment and work together.

The aim was to offer a unique outdoor learning experience to young people who may not always get the opportunity, helping them engage with the Surrey Hills countryside and boosting confidence and learning.

Gail Rennie from Therfield School comments:

This has been a fantastic opportunity for our students. They have enjoyed the whole experience and learnt so much from practical skills to pulling together to work as a solid team. They have all worked really hard and these new skills will help to benefit their learning back in the classroom environment.

The programme was co-ordinated and led by the Leatherhead Youth Project (LYP), a charity launched in 2005 to help local young people to make safe, happy, resilient, and positive changes in their lives and in their community.

Oli Bell, LYP comments:

We were delighted to receive this grant from the Surrey Hills Trust Fund and work with the group of students from Therfield School. The programme we provided has not only been great fun but provided the students with new skills vital for learning and helped to boost confidence.

Gordon Jackson, Chairman of the Surrey Hills Trust Fund comments:

We were delighted to award this grant from the Surrey Hills Trust Fund. It is so very important to engage young people with their local countryside. The benefit of outdoor education is immense from developing confidence to understanding the natural environment. I hope this programme has inspired these young people and that they carry this experience into their futures.

Surrey Young People’s Fund

The Surrey Young People’s Fund was established in October 2014 to support disadvantaged young people in Surrey to gain access to training and employment.

Grants are awarded by a panel of experienced volunteers who have a passion for assisting young people in Surrey to improve their employment prospects.

The Surrey Young People’s Fund provides funding for individuals (aged 16-25 inclusive) who are resident in Surrey. The purpose of the funding is to assist young people to move towards an identified goal in education, training, apprenticeship, or employment.

The Fund is a funder of last resort and applicants will be expected to have been unable to obtain funding from other sources. Our funds are limited and so we may not be able to award a grant for all the funding requested. We are unable to Fund retrospectively – please make sure you wait for the outcome of your application before you start an activity or book a course that incurs costs, or spend any money.

Grants will typically be up to £300 and will fund items that will directly enhance the young person’s employability skills, such as;

assisting them to obtain qualifications, certificates or licenses
developing vocational or technical skills
providing self-development opportunities that improve social skills, motivation and confidence

Download the full guidelines here.

Successful applicants are likely to be financially disadvantaged and typically fall into one of the following categories:

Young people having achieved or likely to achieve less than 5 GCSEs at grades 4-9
Young people who are not in full-time employment (16+ hours per week)
Young people with disabilities or restricted by health conditions
Young people with mental health conditions
Young people in or leaving care
Carers (including Surrey Young Carers)
Offenders or ex-offenders

Examples of what grants may be used for or towards include:

Course fees and examination costs
Travel costs for education, training or employment
Childcare for short-term education or training
Equipment, materials or tools
Work- or training-related clothing
Volunteering/work placement costs
Online learning

In situations where applicants have disabilities or mental ill-health we often work in partnership with Surrey Supported Employment Fund. Click here to see more details – Surrey Supported Employment Fund.

If you are unsure whether you are eligible to apply for a grant, please contact our Grants Manager, Nicola Bartlett at nicola@cfsurrey.org.uk.

Make a funding enquiry now!

Our Panel Members

: Nick Brooks: Chair

: Andrew Whitby-Collins: Vice-Chair

: Anna Briggs

: Clive Strong

: Jonathan Hayward

: Lesley Machin

: Nishi Singh

: Rebecca Smith

: Sally Knight

: Tim Foster

Volunteering opportunity!

We are currently seeking a new Panel Member to join the Surrey Young People’s Fund. Find out more about the role here.

Become an SYPF Volunteer!

Update – Grants for laptops

COVID-19 disrupted education since the beginning of lockdown in March 2020, and continues to represent challenges to students and teachers. At the outset we were keen to fill the gap that existed as online learning became the main way of continuing studies during the first half of the summer term (though clearly a number of institutions remained open for teaching vulnerable and disadvantaged young people as well as the offspring of vital workers).

In parallel, the Government announced a scheme to provide laptops to many young people who otherwise couldn’t undertake online learning, and many colleges have risen to the challenge of online access by lending laptops to students who otherwise would have to rely on phone access to these materials.

SYPF 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 college-based courses unless there are exceptional circumstances.

In the event of any questions about this, please contact Nicola Bartlett at nicola@cfsurrey.org.uk.

Download the SYPF Annual Report 2022-23!

Download the SYPF Annual Report 2021

Download the SYPF Annual Report 2020