Surrey Supported Employment Fund
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 organisations 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;
- Active Prospects – Support people with learning disabilities, physical and mental health needs, and autistic people to live full and aspiring lives.
- Catalyst Support – Works to promote the mental health and wellbeing of people in Surrey, improving lives in terms of stability and wellbeing, with the aim of reducing harm to themselves, their families and the community.
- Oakleaf Enterprise – Support for adults with mental and physical difficulties in finding and securing work.
- Patchworking Garden Project – Support for adults with physical or mental health conditions, learning disabilities and experiencing isolation.
- Surrey Choices Employability – Support for young people and adults with a range of issues in their employment journey.
- Surrey Young People’s Fund – Support for young adults with mental or physical health conditions to move towards work.
- The Lighthouse Woking – A hub that hosts a range of projects to support, encourage and empower anyone who finds themselves in need.
- The Hope Hub – Dedicated to relieving poverty and preventing and ending homelessness in Surrey Heath Borough and surrounding areas.
- YMCA East Surrey – Supports vulnerable children, young people and adults across East Surrey to belong, contribute and thrive.
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.”
