Heritage for All Fund announces first grant awards!
The Surrey Heritage for All Fund – created by Surrey Cultural Partnership (SCP) and the Community Foundation for Surrey (CFSurrey), with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – has made its first round of awards, totalling £89,874 across 11 projects.
The Fund aims to widen access to Surrey’s heritage, particularly for smaller organisations that may not have applied successfully for funding before. Of the 34 applications received, half were from groups who have not previously applied to CFSurrey. Alongside financial support, applicants benefited from Q&A sessions, training on impact measurement, and one-to-one advice from consultants on planning and applications.
Funding decisions were made by a panel representing CFSurrey, SCP, Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum, DAiSY (on disability inclusion), independent heritage experts, and three young people under 25 appointed through an open process.
Funded Projects
Books Beyond Words – £10,000: Co-creating a word-free storybook with Surrey Choices and Active Prospects, giving adults with learning disabilities the chance to explore nature and heritage through storytelling.
Disability Arts in Surrey (DAiSY) – £9,980: Launching a new artist development initiative in heritage landscapes, co-created with DAiSY artists and delivered in partnership with Surrey Hills Arts and five heritage sites.
New Ashgate Gallery – £10,000: Preserving endangered crafts through free, accessible workshops co-designed with local communities, with a focus on disabled participants.
Horton Chapel Arts & Heritage Society – £9,756: Employing a volunteer coordinator to build a programme of tours, stories and heritage activities.
Intergenerational Music Making – £7,000: Running a creative heritage programme with Surrey Museums and partner venues to ensure long-term access.
Image: Intergenerational Music Making
Delight – £10,000: Bringing Shakespeare into more Surrey classrooms in areas of high need, with productions, workshops, journals and teacher training.
Surrey Coalition of Disabled People – £10,000: Partnering with three museums to go beyond statutory accessibility requirements and improve disability awareness.
The Meath Epilepsy Charity – £7,350: Researching the history of its home and sharing findings with the community, involving service users, families and volunteers.
Crafts Study Centre – £8,928: Expanding its handling collection of pottery, textiles and wood to improve access and collaboration with diverse community partners.
Painshill Park – £6,000: Offering free trips to schools across Surrey to Painshill to provide learning outside of the classroom to children and young people who face hurdles to access.
Number 11 Brooklands Squadron Air Cadets – £860: Purchasing cameras for a youth-led heritage photography project with Brooklands Museum.
Partners of The Surrey Heritage for All Fund
Marilyn Scott, Co-chair of Surrey Cultural Partnership, said: “We are delighted to be announcing these grants, a key step in our Surprising Surrey strategy. Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, local projects will be supported and communities across Surrey will benefit.”
Rebecca Bowden, CEO of Community Foundation for Surrey, added: “These grants will enable community organisations to harness Surrey’s rich heritage to change lives – particularly for those most in need.”