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.

Fiona Strong Memorial Fund

29th April 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fiona Strong Memorial Fund was set up in Fiona’s legacy, to champion her strength and determination, and to provide vital support to those in need in Surrey.

Fiona Strong was a strong willed, kind and generous young woman, who was diagnosed with an exceptionally rare form of cancer in 2015 and sadly passed away in 2018. Fiona will always live in our hearts and minds and her enthusiasm for life remains infectious to this day. She will never be forgotten, and to commemorate her life, a Carol Service is held every December at St Mary’s Church, Battersea. This allows her friends, family, and the wider public to not only come together to remember her, but also contributes to raising vital funds for the Memorial Fund.

From time to time her family and friends come together to celebrate her life and raise funds. This has been on an ad hoc basis but is essential in gathering monies for the Fund’s chosen charities. Apart from the Carol Service, other events which have been held include a day at Bocketts Farm where a memorial bench and plaque are located in the Kitchen Garden. Friends, family and visitors are invited to ponder their thoughts from the bench as they gaze across the Surrey Downs. Others have taken part in physical challenges such as cycling LEJOG, the Three Peaks Challenge and walking the entirety of the River Thames National Path amongst many other worthy challenges.

Fiona’s family worked with the Community Foundation to create the Fund, tailoring the criteria and priorities to ensure that it achieves their charitable goals which were very much to do with supporting disadvantaged youngsters whether in financial difficulty or illness/disabilities. The Fund has in the past supported such charities as the Riding for the Disabled, Look Good Feel Better, and React amongst many others.

How the Fund is changing people’s lives

In 2022, the Fund Committee decided to focus their attention on two specific charities so that the funds provided would not only fit the criteria but it would allow the FSMF to align itself in accordance with the objectives to specific charities. These are local non-profit organisations who provide support to help disadvantaged young people and or give respite care to relatives through challenging times.

To meet these aims the Fund has decided to support the following Surrey-based charities for the forthcoming years (2022-2025).

  • The Surrey Young People’s Fund distributes essential funds to persons aged 16-25 who are experiencing disadvantage to enable them to gain access to training, education and employment. By supporting this Fund, even the smallest donation can make a huge impact on the young person’s development and aspirations.
  • Cherry Trees is a charity providing exceptional home-from-home, specialist short-break respite visits for children and young adults aged 0-19 with a range of complex disabilities including learning, physical and sensory impairments.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

If you would like to contribute to Fiona’s legacy then please see the Fund’s Enthuse page. This is a simple and secure online giving platform that allows you to make an immediate online payment.

You can also contact us at any time on 01483 478092 should you need further support.

Community Fund for Reigate and Banstead

17th October 2018

Logo
Charities
arrow

We are a Community Fund dedicated to our local area providing support to charitable projects tackling identified local needs across the borough.

We are a Community Fund dedicated to our local area providing support to charitable projects tackling identified local needs across the borough.

Donate
arrow

The easiest way to donate to the Reigate and Banstead Coronavirus Appeal is via the Fund’s Enthuse Giving page.

The easiest way to donate to the Reigate and Banstead Community Fund is via the Fund’s Enthuse Giving page.

Nicholas Owen
arrow

"I'm honoured to be Patron of the Reigate and Banstead Community Fund and lend my support to this fantastic initiative."
BBC Newsreader and Fund Patron

"I'm honoured to be Patron of the Reigate and Banstead Community Fund and lend my support to this fantastic initiative."
BBC Newsreader and Fund Patron

The Need

Despite being one of the wealthiest boroughs in England, Reigate and Banstead has unseen pockets of hardship and need in areas such as mental health, care for the elderly, poverty, homelessness, and domestic abuse. The borough also contains the most deprived ward in Surrey and many, often underfunded, sports and community clubs.

The Fund and How to Give

The Community Fund for Reigate and Banstead is a growing philanthropic fund set up in 2018 by a group of local volunteers that provides support specifically to local projects which tackle need, disadvantage, and community participation across the borough of Reigate and Banstead.
Run by volunteers, and managed by the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFSurrey), the Fund, comprising donations from individual residents and local companies, has a long-term endowment fund for future growth, and a grants fund from which disbursements are made to local charities and good causes on a regular basis.

Please donate to help your local community at this critical time, by clicking the following button:

Beneficiaries of the Fund

We are delighted to have been able to distribute more grants to local good causes:

Stripey Stork – support for the ‘school days’ project which provides school uniform, new school shoes and bags to families who cannot afford them. Each school bag comes equipped with a water bottle and stationery for the new term. Stripey Stork have been supplying these items to school children from pre-school age to secondary school age for several years through their professional referral partners. In 2022 they supplied 1,194 filled school bags, 608 pairs of school shoes and 733 bundles of school uniform. Referrals are distributed through the network of professional referral partners who ensure they are distributed to the most vulnerable families in the community.

Look Good Feel Better – confidence boosting workshops in East Surrey Hospital and Redhill for people experiencing the effects of cancer treatment.

Sparkfish – Youth worker provision for schools in East Surrey to deliver mental health and emotional wellbeing support through one-to-one mentoring, lunchtime activities, small group courses on emotional wellbeing, and assemblies on self-care and self-esteem.

Kinetic Foundation – funding for October half-term sports provision to run engaging and active sport sessions for 6-12 year old children in two areas of deprivation in the Borough: Preston and Redhill West reaching 200 young people in key stages 1 and 2 who otherwise would not be able to afford to attend holiday clubs or participate in activities.

YMCA East Surrey – Beatz programme working with disadvantaged young people aged 11-25, teaching them to compose and record music. The young people will learn new musical skills as well as developing life skills such as teamwork, organisation, and communication skills. They will have access to a fully operational music studio at the Family and Young People Centre in Horley, where they can compose and record music, play musical instruments and sing, as well as broadcast on the radio.

Our Grants Fund Panel

Our independent grant making panel is supported by the Community Foundation for Surrey, Crispin Blunt MP for Reigate, and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, and is made up of local stakeholders and donors with a knowledge and interest in the community.

No matter how much or how little you give, your donation will go to a really important local good cause.

The Community Foundation for Surrey thanks SES Water, Concept Financial Planning and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council for their generosity towards this local area fund, and is delighted to be able  to support even more vital local causes with this funding!

“As a small local company deeply embedded in the communities we serve, we are not seen as just a supplier of water and we don’t want to just deliver great service for our customers – we want to play an active part in improving the areas we are privileged to serve.”

– Cat Holland, Head of Communications at SES Water

If you have a project in the area of Reigate and Banstead that needs support, submit your interest today.

More information

More information about the Reigate and Banstead Community Fund can be found within the Fund’s Brochure here. If you are interested in donating to the Fund, please email us at giving@cfsurrey.org.uk


 

Crispin Blunt MP presents 2020 winner of Reigate and Banstead Writes competition with her prize – Monday 15th June

Orla McNally, a pupil at Reigate Grammar School, is the winner of R&B Writes 2020. Orla received her prize, sponsored by the Community Fund for Reigate and Banstead, from Crispin Blunt MP. Read more here!


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.

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 to grants@cfsurrey.org.uk.

Application Pack

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 Council previously matched this donation at a rate of 50%.

David Tyson Memorial Fund

17th March 2017

The David Tyson Memorial Fund was established in David’s memory to provide financial support to enable young people to develop their skills and pursue a career within the engineering field.

The Fund supports budding young rail engineers with grants (up to £500) that can cover the following costs:

  • Course fees;
  • Accreditation;
  • Resources such as books or additional computer software;
  • Travel to courses and training sites;
  • Equipment, materials or tools to enable young people to take up training; and
  • Work-based training costs.

To apply to The David Tyson Memorial Fund please complete an Application Form here. Please be sure to read the accompanying Guidance Notes also. You can contact us at any time on 01483 478092 should you need further support.

 

“The David Tyson Memorial Fund provided me with invaluable financial support throughout my university journey, alleviating the burden of educational expenses. Thanks to their generosity, I could focus on my studies without constant financial worries, paving the way for a successful academic experience.”

Grant recipient, 2023

 

David Tyson (1948 – 2015) was a highly respected permanent way engineer who became an established figurehead and head of discipline for several railway consultants and who successfully established and managed the permanent way departments of a number of companies. With his expansive railway knowledge, intuition and unparalleled flair for track design, he influenced major railway projects and inspired many colleagues both in the UK and overseas. He was also a Fellow of the Permanent Way Institution.

David had a natural eye for track layouts and alignments and towards the latter stages of his career was virtually peerless in his ability to see a smooth line and to realise it effortlessly through a nimbly draughted sketch. A sixth sense for how a train rides the track was equally his gift and this culminated in the writing of sophisticated computer programs that not only married the modern world with his understanding of the first principles of track engineering but also belied an acknowledged and envied skill in the ability to develop complex software tools. This was one of his many strong points and often seemingly a passion that ran alongside his continued love for building model railways.

Such was his experience and knowledge, to have David involved in a project was considered as having one of the very best in the business and this was reflected in the high regard in which he was very quickly held by those with whom he worked for the first time, including clients. His attention to detail, together with a generous attitude and easy manner, lent themselves to a highly effective application of track engineering know-how to complex and high profile projects. While working on the HS2 project, on which he was the lead track engineer for Parsons Brinckerhoff for over two years, he conceived and wrote an advanced software tool for the in-depth analysis of track geometry. This remains in extensive use today and leads the way in processing substantial volumes of alignment data with unsurpassed efficiency, in-built intelligence and the means for indicating compliance with a variety of standards and recognised good practice.

His attributes made him a natural and effective mentor and with his inspiration and caring nature his students and team members gravitated towards him. He was able to assemble and lead teams wherever he worked. Track engineers felt privileged to work for David and his teams were dedicated to him.

Outside work, David seemed to have countless varied interests, and an energy and adventurous spirit that put many a younger man to shame. He owned his own yacht on which he lived and worked with his wife, Elif, for several years in Turkey. A keen traveller, he embarked on European road trips in their motor-home. David was also a guitar player and photographer and tried his hand at painting, and of course continued to turn his hand to model railway building.

By Tony Jory, friend and colleague

Charles Russell Speechlys Community Fund

6th May 2016

The Charles Russell Speechlys Community Fund was established to support existing services or facilities and new initiatives of non-profit organisations including charities, social enterprises, community groups and voluntary organisations which help people to gain confidence and skills and which provide opportunities for young people at a local level in Surrey with a specific focus within the Boroughs of Surrey Heath, Guildford, Waverley and Elmbridge.

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

  • Employment, training and Skills – Helping people to gain confidence and raise aspirations through training and development of new skills;
  • 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.

 

Example grants from the fund:

The Normandy Community Therapy Garden – £500

The Therapy Garden is a horticulture and education charity that uses gardening as a way of supporting and engaging adults and teenagers with learning, physical and mental health disabilities.

This funding helped support the charity’s ‘Stroke of Genius’ project that offered therapeutic horticulture to a group of stroke survivors and their carers, thus providing survivors with gentle exercise whilst they are learning about gardening. Stroke sufferers often become isolated while they are recovering, but this project offers an opportunity to socialise and gain confidence.


Challengers – £500

Challengers is charity dedicated to ensuring disabled children and young people, who are frequently marginalised from mainstream settings, have access to inclusive and high-quality play and leisure activities.

This funding helped the support of the charity’s ‘Young Ambassadors’ project to achieve more engagement with siblings of disabled children and young people, and to bring to the forefront the voices of young carers. Funding was given for a particular group of carers who support ‘hard to reach’ disabled children and young people; the siblings. The Young Ambassadors were trained and supported before becoming a fully operative ambassador of the charity and for disabled people. In doing so, the Young Ambassadors were able to raise awareness and increase understanding of disability, and the opportunity to develop their CV and skills, through training provided by Challengers around disability, business, communication skills and career opportunities.

 

Read more about the fund here in our Charles Russell Speechly’s blog post!

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