Blog Archives

Surrey Supported Employment Fund

27th April 2016

The Surrey Supported Employment Fund supports people with disabilities or mental ill health to overcome barriers to work, contributing towards the social and economic well-being of our area.

From 2019 the Surrey Supported Employment Fund has provided funding to partner organisations who are best placed to make individual grants to their beneficiaries. By providing funding to trusted organisation who are supporting people with disabilities the Fund has enabled fast and efficient support.where it is needed.

Grants have supported individuals to

  • undertake specific work related training,
  • purchase work equipment or meet other set-up costs for individuals becoming self-employed,
  • obtain or renew necessary accreditation and memberships of recognised professional bodies,
  • purchase suitable work clothing
  • meet travel costs where this was a barrier to individuals accessing interviews, work placements and employment.

The Fund currently works with the following organisations;

Good news – Funding Available!

Surrey Supported Employment invite applications from charities and not-for-profits in Surrey who wish to hold a pot of funding to support their beneficiaries with small grants which will help them to overcome barriers to work.

If your organisation is supporting people with disabilities and would like to apply to be a fund-holder, please complete an application form below by 9am on Monday 3 June.

Apply to be an SSE Fund-holder
Guidance on being an SSE Fund-holder

Support and advice is available in making your application to become a fund-holder. We will be holding two Q&A sessions to share more information about the Fund, becoming a fund-holder, and answer any questions about the application process. Please email grants@cfsurrey.org.uk to request the link to join one of these online sessions;

  • Tuesday 14 May at 11am
  • Thursday 23 May at 2pm

Individuals seeking support are advised to contact the most appropriate group directly – if you are encountering difficulties please call the Community Foundation for Surrey.

Grants are usually just a few hundred pounds, but these small amounts can be life changing. Examples include the following:

Give a man a bike… and a small grant can go a long way!

Funding of £79 enabled an individual with a learning disability to purchase a bicycle to travel to and from work each day for the early morning start, otherwise impossible due to a lack of suitable public transport. The grant not only helped this individual to attend an initial employment placement, but this small amount has had a lasting impact by giving him the confidence and experience to secure and sustain a substantive job afterwards. Referee and Employment Support Officer at EmployAbility, Carolyn Tucker noted:

“Thank you to everyone who approved this grant, he really does appreciate everything you have done to help him keep his job which he is really enjoying.”

Supporting travel costs

A grant of £336 supported the costs of taxi journeys for an individual who is registered blind and also has a mild learning disability to attend employment. The grantee stressed:

“Without this funding I would have lost my job.”

Other individual recipients of grants from the SSE Fund have commented:

“The money was of great help, significantly reducing the stress levels.”

“I have found it so difficult to get anywhere before, so your funding has greatly helped me to achieve something I would never have been able to fund myself… I really appreciate it, many thanks.”

Surrey Community Arts Fund

Our Surrey Community Arts Fund supports arts projects which enable people to benefit that would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate.

If you have a project we could help, complete an Expression of Interest today.

Examples of grants from the fund:

The OMHI Trust – £1,000

The OHMI Trust is a national charity aiming to remove barriers to participation in music-making for physically disabled people.

A grant was awarded for adapted musical instrument lessons for children and young people with a range of upper limb disabilities. By providing an instrument that is capable of all that a standard instrument can do, despite an individuals disability, the charity offer the chance to play any type of music and encourages true social inclusion.

Momentum Children’s Charity – £2,000

Momentum Children’s Charity support children with cancer and life limiting illnesses.

A grant was awarded for a music therapy service supporting 6 children with cancer or a life-limiting illness and their families that had been referred by their Momentum Family Support Worker. Funding provided a 6-session individually-tailored course, for 6 children to help improve their physical and emotional health, to help them to communicate, and build their self-esteem and confidence.

Surrey Sports Fund

Surrey Sports Fund launched in 2008 to provide funding for local projects which enable access and participation in Sport across the county, with a focus on making sure that opportunities are created for people who may not otherwise have them.

Since establishing, the Fund has awarded 96 grants totalling £196,000, and the projects we have supported show the incredible determination and passion of local people and their desire to take part in sport and benefit other peoples lives.

Grants are awarded from the fund to help people to access & enjoy sport who are prevented due to:

  • A mental or physical disability – for example disabled children who require special equipment to enable them to play a sport
  • Social or economic deprivation – for example funding the training of volunteers on a housing estate to become sports coaches for young people

Examples of recent grants from the fund:

Kinetic Foundation

A grant was awarded to the Kinetic Foundation to run October 2022 Half Term Sports Projects in the east of Surrey (Redhill & Preston).

This charity ran engaging and active sport sessions for 6-12 year old children giving activity for up to 100 young people this autumn. The sports offered varied from football and cricket to netball and athletics, making sure that young people had the opportunity to try new sports and take part, socialise and learn with new friends in a fun and safe environment. The sessions were free and open to all. Kinetic Foundation links with children services and Raven Housing to target specific families, who otherwise would not be able to participate in this type of activity.

Read about Richmond Lawn Tennis Club’s fundrasing event that raised £1,200 towards the above grant award – Game, set and Match!

Disability Initiative – £2,000

Disability Initiative specialises in the provision of services to adults with complex physical disabilities and/or acquired brain injury.

This grant will support the charity to continue to provide non-contact boxing sessions to clients who attend the service. The grant will help address the needs of up to 20+ physically disabled or brain injured clients each week but will also be beneficial to the 70+ disadvantaged young people who currently attend the local boxing gym who access this resource.

Clients who have attended the boxing sessions to date have reported an improvement in their fitness, mobility, co-ordination, and general well-being.

Scorchers Basketball Foundation – Basketball for All

Surrey Sports Fund made a grant of £3,000 in 2018 to enable the Surrey Scorchers Basketball Foundation to deliver basketball sessions to hundreds of local young people from disadvantaged areas in Surrey. The Scorchers professional players take part in the sessions, providing young people with positive role models and mentors whilst also helping to increase their physical activity and engagement with sport.

Surrey Scorchers have been successful in working with local schools in the county and continue to target areas of highest need to ensure their support reaches those who need it.

Supporting the Surrey Sports Fund

Our goal in 2020 is to significantly increase the number of projects in Surrey which we can support. We are keen to hear from people and businesses in Surrey who share our passion for helping people to access local sports opportunities. Please do get in touch if you would like to make a donation or can help in another way.

 A message from founding donor to the Surrey Sports Fund John Jeffrey:

A relatively small grant can make a real difference to the lives of local people, and donors to the Sports Fund can go and visit the projects to see how the money has benefitted others. Anyone in Surrey who is passionate about Sport in Surrey can donate – it is extremely rewarding. One particularly outstanding group we supported is the Frensham Pond Sailability, which gives people with disabilities the opportunity to sail. They were a very inspiring group of people.

Mamie Mollan Community Fund

Chief Executive - Vacancy

Mamie Mollan was an artist and writer who, in her lifetime, supported anyone in difficulty or in need of recuperation. The Mamie Mollan Fund in her memory enables her spirit of generosity and warmth to live on.

The Mamie Mollan Fund awards grants to charities, community and voluntary groups, supporting people at a time of need or crisis. This includes supporting people who are experiencing difficult circumstances due to an illness, injury, disability, bereavement, financial difficulty or domestic violence.

The Fund also awards grants to groups who support people seeking solace or a way to overcome a particular difficulty such as respite, counselling, training and the development of new skills.

 

Example grants from this fund:

Topic of Cancer – £3,000

Topic of cancer provides local support services for cancer patients and their families in social meetings, exercise classes, and a choir. The charity manages 3 support groups which are funded by MacMillan and are designed to provide emotional, educational and social support for patients and their families.

This funding will support the operational costs for the charity’s weekly choir that helps both cancer patients and their families through difficult times. Singing is very beneficial to patients in treatment and recovery, and complements the other Topic of Cancer support groups available to people at this time.

Rainbow Trust’s Children’s Charity – £1,500

The Rainbow Trust provides practical and emotional support to families throughout the country who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness. The charity provides individually tailored support to approximately 1,000 families each year.

This funding supported the Surrey Care Team to host a series of Sibling Support Days over the course of 12 months for families who have a child diagnosed with a terminal illness. The charity were able to provide a day’s outing to Bockett’s Farm, Drusilla’s Park and a trip to the seaside, as well as a Christmas pantomime visit, a trip to Legoland and a cinema outing, in order for families of terminally ill children to spend much needed quality time together.

Dora Fedoruk Memorial Fund

The Dora Fedoruk Memorial Fund was established in 2012 in memory of Mrs Dora Fedoruk and her dedication to helping people in need.

After graduating as a Research Chemist, Dora helped produce and research vaccines for a variety of illnesses in humans and animals. It was in the early days of immunity and part of Dora’s work was to evaluate the strengths of each batch of Schick Toxin used as a skin test for Diphtheria. She also evaluated the strength of each batch of Tetanus Toxoid which was being produced to protect soldiers in the World War II from the disease should they be wounded.

In August 1940, Dora joined the H.M. Factory Inspectorate organising fire watching orders in factories to support the firemen. These orders prevented thousands of fires and saved lives. At the age of 27, Dora became the Personal Assistant to the Deputy Director of Scientific Research and Development during the war. She then went on to become a Factory Inspector at Peek Frean & Co where she met her future husband Janek Fedoruk, a Polish Army Captain. They married in 1955 when Dora was 39.

With little money Dora and her husband Jan built up South Park Farm in Grayswood, Haslemere. The farm was an open house to the community and especially the Polish contingent. Her philosophy would embrace those in hardship with her generosity and kindness, extended to animals as she was passionate about their protection and rescue.
Following the death of her beloved husband Jan in 1974, Dora spent her years supporting families in need in Poland thorough the Haslemere Polish Relief, sending over food, clothing and medical supplies.

The Community Foundation for Surrey is delighted that Dora Fedoruk’s legacy lives on through the Dora Fedoruk Memorial Fund which awards grants to support people at time of need or crisis in Surrey.

Woking Community Fund

CFSurrey heart logo with Woking written in teal and Community Fund underneath written in dark blue.

The Woking Community Fund supports local community and voluntary groups who are making a difference to the quality of local community life by awarding grants to fund their work. The Fund enables and encourages local giving to support local communities to develop and thrive by supporting voluntary effort, not just for a single cause, but across all sectors including; isolated older people, those affected by long term illness and disability, the environment, sport and recreation, young people, families and community facilities.

The Woking Community Fund makes it easy for local residents to support the breadth of local needs by:

  • Exclusively supporting local community projects
  • Pooling donations from companies, individuals and families to make a bigger impact
  • Providing a sustainable source of funding to support the evolving community needs
  • Developing the capacity to respond to local issues as they arise

At the moment we are able to double your donations to Woking Community Fund thanks to matched funding up to £4000 from Surrey County Council – click the banner above to donate!

There is also the opportunity to help by volunteering in Woking, and we are looking for interested community members to help us make a difference in our town. If you think you could spare time and/or skills and advice to local organisations, please email recruitment@cfsurrey.org.uk to find out more.

Example grants from the fund:

The Woking Community Fund has recently awarded £17,000 to support project in the local community:

Catalyst – Shifa (£5,000)

Funding towards the staff costs of a project supporting women from ethnic minority backgrounds with health and wellbeing.

Emmaus Transformation Trust Limited – Nurture Project (£5,000)

Funding is towards staff costs for Emmaus Transformation Trust’s Nurture Project for women in Woking facing hardship, helping them to become more resilient, to make friends and gain self-esteem.

LinkAble Woking – Life Skills Plus (£7,000)

Funding for a project providing life skills and learning opportunities for adults with learning disabilities to improve wellbeing.

Other projects supported include:

True Honour – £2,000

True Honour delivers training and awareness on crimes such as domestic violence, female Genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour based violence. The charity’s mission is to engage with Police and other agencies to gauge a better understanding of victims, to meet the needs of all communities, by providing awareness-raising activities on hidden abuse, and to support them in a safe and empowering way.

This grant will help with the continuation of the women’s support group at the Woking Children’s Centre and to run workshops for women who attend as they have been through domestic abuse. The charity will run keep fit classes for the women to encourage both positive mental and physical well being, as well as provide the charity’s volunteer to complete a counselling course to support victims further.

Bright Shadows – £7,178

Bright Shadow’s mission is to enable people with dementia and those affected by it to live well and to thrive. Creativity and performance are used to create means and opportunities for people with dementia to express themselves, interact with others and take part in meaningful activity.

This grant helped support the charity’s ‘Zest’ workshops and programmes for people living with dementia and their carer’s, in care settings and the community. Bright Shadow also deliver training for care staff and activity workers, produce resources to enable those working with people with dementia to deliver meaningful and creative activities, and deliver creative public awareness raising events.

Tandridge Community Fund

The Tandridge Community Fund supports local community and voluntary groups who are making a difference to the quality of local community life by awarding grants to fund their work. The Fund enables and encourages local giving to support local communities to develop and thrive by supporting voluntary effort, not just for a single cause, but across all sectors including; isolated older people, those affected by long term illness and disability, the environment, sport and recreation, young people, families and community facilities.

The Tandridge Community Fund makes it easy for local residents to support the breadth of local needs by:

  • Exclusively supporting local community projects
  • Pooling donations from companies, individuals and families to make a bigger impact
  • Providing a sustainable source of funding to support the evolving community needs
  • Developing the capacity to respond to local issues as they arise
Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey, is seeking donations to support work to address social isolation amongst people in Tandridge and East Surrey and has chosen to work with the Tandridge Community Fund to raise funds. 

“Social isolation is when you feel alone (even if you are surrounded by people) and not part of social or cultural groups and activities. Feeling isolated can often have a negative effect on a person’s mental well-being. There are many things that can increase feelings of social isolation including bereavement, relationship breakdown, role change, job less, having a baby, moving home, social anxiety, or shyness.” Ref. Healthy Surrey

You can donate to Claire’s Friendship Project via the Tandridge Community Fund. Donations will go directly towards supporting work to address social isolation amongst people in Tandridge and East Surrey. Please see How to give below.

Example grants of the fund: 

Tandridge Voluntary Action: Tandridge Befriending Scheme – £3,500

The Tandbridge Befriending Scheme is well established, having started in 2001, and matches volunteer befrienders with people who feel socially isolated or lonely. The number of referrals and enquiries has continued to rise year on year and especially as a result of the Covid pandemic. At the end of March 2021 the organisations had 172 active clients and 172 active volunteers.

The grant provides a contribution to support the salary costs of a part-time befriending coordinator costs. who works 20 hours per week, enabling Tandbridge Befriending Scheme to continue its work and hopefully, to grow the Scheme.

Oxted and Limpsfield Cricket Club – £1,000

Oxted and Limpsfield Cricket Club aims to provide good quality cricket and a social forum to all who would like to play or be involved in Cricket at Oxted and Limpsfield.

This grant was awarded for their ‘SMASH IT’ cricket in schools project for coaching and tournament costs within local schools in Tandridge and surrounding areas.

Sport has a number of benefits and the group aims for attendees of the project to build on their courage and compassion, increase mental and physical well being and help with communication skills and social interaction. It is predicted that 600 children will benefit from fun and active coaching and participation in 3 tournaments.

Bloomin’ Arts – £750

Bloomin’ Arts provides accessible opportunities for participation and education in performing arts for adults with learning disabilities, who live in Surrey and the surrounding areas.

This grant funded the charity’s ‘Express It Group’ project, designed to support attendees of the group with a Freelance Artist in visual and performance arts for one day per week. The work will follow-on from previous projects undertaken by the charity, and encourage participants to take ownership of their creative ability with the support and expertise of a professional in the field.

Surrey Heath Community Fund

The Surrey Heath Community Fund is a fund specifically for the benefit of Surrey Heath and its residents established in partnership with Voluntary Support North Surrey. The fund enables and encourages local giving so that we can develop a greater capacity to respond to local needs.

The Surrey Heath Community Fund makes it easy for local residents to support the breadth of needs in the Surrey Heath community by:

  • Exclusively supporting local community projects
  • Pooling donations from companies, individuals and families to make a bigger impact
  • Providing a sustainable source of funding to support the evolving community needs
  • Developing the capacity to respond to local issues as they arise

 

Examples of grants from the fund:

Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care – £2,000 

Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care (SDAC) provides a 24/7 manned confidential helpline giving emotional support, information and advice to drug and alcohol users, their families and friends within Surrey. The service aims to provide a listening ear, offer motivational support and encouragement and advice and information on drugs and alcohol.

This grant supported the charity’s Telephone Counselling Service – a free service which was operated initially as a pilot in 2010 and now provides support to between 500 and 600 clients a year affected by their own or somebody else’s alcohol and/or drug misuse.

Sparklers Foundation – £1,500

Sparklers Foundation supports families where there is a child or young person aged 2-25 with special needs or autism. Support is through provision of social networking opportunities, playgroups, advice, guidance, and signposting, parental advocacy, playgroups for children with special needs and their siblings, sibling conversations groups, and social events for parents and carers.

This grant supported holiday playgroup costs for families with a child with a disability and their siblings. The playgroup sessions reduced isolation for families where an individual has special needs and provided peer support for parents and carers, as well as a nurturing environment for siblings. The events provided an opportunity for families to meet special needs professionals, and families to gain confidence in communicating their areas of difficulty with other parents.

Runnymede Community Fund

The Runnymede Community Fund is a fund specifically for the benefit of Runnymede and its residents established in partnership with Voluntary Support North Surrey and Runnymede Borough Council. The fund enables and encourages local giving so that we can develop a greater capacity to respond to local needs.

The Runnymede Community Fund makes it easy for local residents to support the breadth of needs in the Runnymede community by:

  • Exclusively supporting local community projects
  • Pooling donations from companies, individuals and families to make a bigger impact
  • Providing a sustainable source of funding to support the evolving community needs
  • Developing the capacity to respond to local issues as they arise

 

Example grants from the fund:

Your Sanctuary – £3,000

Your Sanctuary supports people who have suffered from, or who are exposed to domestic abuse. The charity aims to offer protection for survivors and their families; work towards the prevention of domestic abuse; and undo the harm caused by it.

Funding was awarded for the continuation of two programmes run by the charity – ‘Womens’ Freedom’ and ‘Recovery.’ Both are vital and successful community groups for women in Surrey who have/or are experiencing domestic violence. These programmes empower women to keep themselves and their children safe and help them to build a new life free from domestic abuse.

Looking Ahead – £1,500

Looking Ahead runs classes in Addlestone and Windlesham providing 36 x 2hr weekly sessions across 3 terms, where any adult living with sight loss can learn new communication skills such as Braille, touch typing, specialist IT systems on laptops, tablets and smartphones.

This grant allowed for the continuation of communication classes for people with visual impairment. These classes have a number of benefits for attendees; increasing education and skills, helping to improve health and wellbeing, tackling disadvantage and exclusion and reducing isolation.