SURREY CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE FUND REACHES £1 MILLION

28th April 2020

The Community Foundation for Surrey urges people to continue to donate as Surrey’s charities face increased demand.

The Surrey Coronavirus Response Fund, established by the Community Foundation for Surrey, has reached the remarkable milestone of £1 million raised. The Foundation, which brings together local donors with those providing positive solutions to the issues facing Surrey, has already distributed more than £600,000 from the emergency fund.

Laura Thurlow, Chief Executive of The Community Foundation for Surrey says:

“The generosity and response of our community to this crisis has been extraordinary. This milestone is the clearest example yet of what our community is able to do when we come together. And whilst this is definitely good news, the reality is there are still hundreds of groups who are in need of funding. I am certain this £1 million milestone will inspire those of us in Surrey who can help, to donate now so we can keep on helping and plan for the crucial next stage of support.”

The £1 million figure includes £326,700 from the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal, and more than £717,000 in donations from generous local donors and partners. This concerted effort has ensured the Foundation has been able to quickly award emergency funding to 122 community groups reaching more than 90,000 beneficiaries across Surrey.

Funding needs continue during uncertain times

These emergency grants have been used by charities to cover unexpected expenses. Sarah Beasley, Scheme Manager at Home-Start Runnymede and Woking, and her team were surprised when they discovered many families lacked simple basics for their children, such as craft materials, pens and paper:

“Our family support worker offered to bring around some colouring books for the children. And the mum said, ‘OK, yeah, that’ll be great. But we don’t have any crayons or pens.’ And that was when it really hits us that actually so many families don’t have anything. So what we’ve used some of our [grant] funding for is a whole load of resource packs.”

The urgency has also seen the charity, which supports families with young children through their challenging times, distributing its Christmas donations in April due to the sudden need for toys and games. Sarah Beasley continues:

“Obviously that will be a challenge when it comes to Christmas. But we just thought, actually, this is where the real need is now. It’s the kind of decision that needs to be made straight away – and we just have to do it.”

Other charities are finding themselves unexpectedly struggling to meet their essential running costs during a period of increased demand. Jen Clay, Fundraising and Partnership Manager at Oakleaf Enterprise, a mental health charity based in Guildford and serving Surrey, says:

“The £5,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Surrey, from the emergency fund, that was one of the very first grants we received. And I remember it being such a moment of hope, because to be honest, that was at the start where we really were concerned whether Oakleaf was financially going to make it through this.

We don’t know when the lockdown is going to lift. We don’t know when fundraising will resume. We expect a shortfall of £100,000 this financial year, which for us a small charity is huge. We need to make sure that our core costs are covered so that not only can we be there during this crisis, but we can also be there on the other side when we’re only going to see an increase in the need for our services.”

Laura Thurlow continues:

“So many of our community groups have had their fundraising efforts put on hold whilst demand for their services only continues to increase. We are grateful to everyone for the amount we’ve raised, yet we know we need to keep looking ahead to that next milestone. Together we can make sure that this emergency fund is there for our community’s charities even beyond the lockdown – just as they have been there for so many in Surrey during this crisis.”

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) have estimated that charities across the UK stand to lose £4 billion in 12 weeks as a result of the crisis.

Charity and community groups interested in applying for Coronavirus Response Funding, can find the eligibility guidelines online and apply online here. Applications can be made either by filling out a short online form or by selecting a time for a telephone interview with a CFS volunteer.

To donate

Donations to the Fund are collected securely online through Virgin Money Giving and by direct bank transfer.

A list of additional grantees is available here.

Coronavirus Response Fund distributes £150,360 in next grant awards

24th April 2020

A further 33 local charities and community groups have benefited from our Coronavirus Response Funding from the latest round of grant awards, totalling £150,360. These grants have been made available to help the county’s most vulnerable people during the Coronavirus pandemic.

It is thanks to the generosity of local people, businesses and funding from the National Emergencies Trust Appeal that we have raised a staggering £970,000 to date.

The fund, which has been set up to support the inspiring local initiatives who are getting food to our most vulnerable, supporting our most isolated elderly residents, and adapting other vital services to ensure people with the highest needs continue receiving the help they require, has awarded out over £550,000 in grants.

Below is just one example of how these grants will make a difference to the lives of people in Surrey:

Stripey Stork received funding towards emergency baby supplies to continue their work offering support for vulnerable local families. Based in Reigate, the charity collects donations of toys, clothes and other essential items for babies and children and, after checking they meet current UK safety standards, rehome them with local families experiencing hardship.

The Foundation awarded Stripey Stork their first ever grant of £1,400 to assist in setting up the baby bank, back in 2013 and has supported their work ever since.

Stripey Stork has been able to respond to an additional 532 requests of help since the crisis started thanks to vital emergency funding.

“We really appreciate your support. It makes such a difference when we know the funds will be administered by the Community Foundation – we trust that you know the area, the challenges and the up to date stats. You keep up to date on the work local groups are doing. It has to make a huge difference in making sure the funds get to the right place.”

Nicola Dawes – Founder and General Manager, Stripey Stork

The remaining 32 grants can be found here:

Bloomin’ Arts received funding towards their essential running costs to continue their work supporting adults with learning difficulties

Brightwells Gostrey Centre received funding to provide a delivery meal service to the elderly and isolated in the Farnham area

Caterham Foodbank received funding to support the increase in demand for the foodbank, serving local people

Challengers received funding for IT support to enable their work supporting disabled children and young people to continue at this time

Citizens Advice Waverley were awarded funding to implement IT solutions to enable them to continue supporting vulnerable people in Waverley

Citizens Advice Woking received funding for IT equipment and increased salary costs to assist their work supporting vulnerable Woking residents

Community Debt Advice (CDA) received funding to support their team to work remotely, and extra salary costs for working overtime, to continue their debt advice service to local residents in times of trouble

Coronavirus Aid Chelsham, Farleigh and Warlingham received funding to support their work helping vulnerable people at this time. The group provide subsidised food boxes to those on low incomes, a delivery scheme for shopping and prescription collection, as well as welfare calls and visits to lonely residents

Crossroads Care Surrey received funding towards the purchase and first years’ rental cost of a VOIP telephone system to continue their work supporting unpaid carers across Surrey

East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services received funding to upgrade their phone system to enable their work supporting victims of domestic abuse remotely

Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre received a contribution towards their essential running costs, to continue their work supporting people with dyslexia

Home-Start Epsom, Ewell & Banstead received funding to continue their work supporting vulnerable families across East Surrey

I’m all ears received funding to provide 190 hours of free counselling to people in Waverley who are struggling during the Coronavirus pandemic

Oasis Childcare Centre were awarded funding towards their essential running costs to continue their work offering support to families on low incomes that has been exacerbated by the crisis

Parity For Disability were awarded funding to meet staff costs to help the continuation of their work supporting adults with profound disabilities

Peer Productions received funding towards online classes to teach young females with learning disabilities about online safety

RASASC Guildford received funding to convert their service to remote working; the charity supports those who have suffered from rape and sexual abuse

Relate Mid-Surrey received funding for salary costs and Zoom licences to transition from face to face counselling to online counselling services

SeeAbility received funding for an Advice Line for Carers working during the Coronavirus pandemic, to continue their work supporting people with sight loss and disabilities

SHIFA received funding to continue their work supporting vulnerable and isolated Asian women across Woking, via online help sessions

Sight for Surrey received funding for IT and phone costs to continue their work supporting people with sight and hearing loss

Spurgeons received funding to support bulk buying of essential items, to enable vulnerable families across Elmbridge to have food, baby items etc.

St Catherine’s Hospice received funding towards their essential running costs to provide end of life care to patients across East Surrey

Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership were awarded funding towards additional mentoring support and a bursary to pay for online learning platforms. The charity helps unemployed adults back into employment

Tandridge Voluntary Action received funding towards overtime salary costs, to co-ordinate the rise in volunteer activity at this crucial time and to support local volunteers

The Artventure Trust Ltd received a contribution to their salary costs to continue their work offering arts-based activities for isolated people with disabilities in Guildford

The Lightbox in Woking received costs to deliver arts-based support to elderly, isolated and vulnerable clients during the outbreak

The Lucy Rayner Foundation was awarded funding to provide free counselling for those struggling during the outbreak; the organisation works to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms around depression and mental-ill health

The Sunnybank Trust received funding towards activity packs and provision for a radio show to continue supporting adults with learning disabilities at this time

Woking and Sam Beare Hospices received funding towards the salary of a temporary member of staff working at the hospice, based in Woking

YMCA East Surrey received funding to produce online exercise programmes for people with health conditions, whilst isolating during the Coronavirus pandemic

More donations needed

It is thanks to the generosity of local donors that we have been able to launch this local response Fund. We are incredibly grateful for all the donations received so far, but we are still urgently seeking further contributions. More vital funding is needed to continue to support the level of urgent requests for support we are receiving.

If you would like to donate to the Fund, you can do so via the secure online Virgin Money Giving page or by direct bank transfer. If you would like to donate via bank transfer, please contact Laura Thurlow on 01483 478086 or email Laura@cfsurrey.org.uk.

If you are interested in applying for Coronavirus Response Funding, we encourage you to read the eligibility guidelines and apply online here. Applications can be made either by filling out a short online form or by selecting a time for a telephone interview with a CFS volunteer.

Eagle Radio 21st April 2020

21st April 2020

BBC Radio Surrey 18th April 2020

18th April 2020

Coronavirus Response Fund distributes £144,917 in next grant awards

14th April 2020

We are delighted to share that we’ve supported a further 31 local charities and community groups in the next round of grants awarded from our emergency response funding, totalling £144,917. These grants have been made available to help the county’s most vulnerable people during the Coronavirus pandemic.

The fund has been set up to ensure quick and responsive grant-making for the community and voluntary groups assisting in the relief effort, and we’re proud to announce that the total funding awarded from the Surrey Coronavirus Response Fund to date is over £450,000!

Since launching this urgent appeal a few weeks ago, we have raised £950,000.

This figure includes a recent contribution of £100,000 from Surrey County Council, close to £600,000 contributed by local donors, along with £188,100 allocated to us for distribution in Surrey from the National Emergencies Trust Appeal.

Below are just some examples of how these grants will make a difference to the lives of people in Surrey:

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice provide critical care to local people. They received a grant for essential running costs to increase their capacity and support additional patients and families at this time. This funding will support the costs for 2 additional beds on their In-Patient Unit in Farnham, additional staffing, housekeeping, maintenance and Personal Protective Equipment.

“We are so grateful to Community Foundation for Surrey who have awarded this generous grant for £5,000 to help us respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. We have been able to reopen all of our beds on our In-Patient Unit, so this money has enabled us to support more people in our local community who need end of life care, which also helps our local NHS hospitals.”

– Sarah Church, Chief Executive of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice

Foodwise (TLC) Limited were awarded funding for project costs to provide cooked meals to disadvantaged families, older and isolated people in Guildford. The organisation is working with Stoke Community Support and three local schools to operate kitchens at Emmanuel Church and Burpham Church to feed families during these challenging times. The meals are delivered for free and to those most vulnerable in the community.

Transform Housing & Support provide housing and support for homeless, vulnerable and excluded people, that can face challenges such as mental ill-health, disability, a history of offending or substance abuse. They received funding towards personal protective equipment to carry out their service safely to clients. These clients often have no support network other than their Transform key support worker.

The additional 28 grants can be found here:

Age Concern Epsom and Ewell received funding towards equipment to enable remote working and the recruitment of more volunteers. This grant also supported costs for the charity to extend the opening hours of their service that supports vulnerable older people
Big Leaf Foundation received funding for their project supporting Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children that will involve interactive accessible activities for young people during the lockdown
Caleidoscope CIC received funding to provide support online and by phone for children with Special Educational Needs, autism and co-morbid conditions
Catalyst received funding to support vulnerable local people struggling with addiction
Caterham and Warlingham Citizens Advice Bureau received funds for mobile phones, phone credit for volunteers and support for essential running costs to support their work assisting disadvantaged people
Citizens Advice Runnymede and Spelthorne received funding for a new phone system to continue their service supporting vulnerable local people
Cobham Area Foodbank were awarded funding towards the purchase of food stock for their food bank, to be able to meet the increase in demand for their service at this time
Dramatize Theatre Company received funding towards salary costs that will support their work producing online content for adults with learning disabilities
East Elmbridge Foodbank received emergency relief funding to purchase food and other basic supplies
Eikon received a contribution towards their ongoing work supporting vulnerable young people – Hugely grateful to CFS for coordinating/mobilising/awarding grants so quickly and providing Surrey charities with much needed support. Extremely appreciated by Eikon, thank you.
Epsom & Ewell Citizens Advice Bureau were awarded funding towards extra salary costs and the cost of ensuring their staff can work from home
Generation Church were awarded funding towards a foodbank in Epsom and Ewell, supporting vulnerable local people
Halow Project received funding towards the purchase of equipment to support counselling and learning activities for young people with learning disabilities
Haslewey (Haslemere & District Community Centre) received support for the staff costs at their community centre providing support to vulnerable people of all ages in Haslemere
Home-Start Runnymede and Woking received a contribution to essential running costs for their work supporting disadvantaged families
Jigsaw (South East) received costs to provide remote support to grieving people across Surrey
Merstham Community Cafe CIC received funding towards subsidising meals for vulnerable local people at this time
Mid Surrey Community Fridges received funding for essential running costs to continue their work delivering food parcels to disadvantaged and/or isolating people
North Guildford Food Bank received funding towards the purchase of food stock to meet the increase in demand for the food bank
Personal Independence Support CIC received funding towards their work supporting children and young people suffering from domestic abuse
Possibility People received essential running costs for the continuation of their work supporting people with long-term health issues –Thank you CFS for keeping our Get Set Surrey project going so it can carry on doing it’s brilliant work! A participant said: “I am surrounding myself with the positive affirmation exercises daily in this surreal time of isolation. Thank you for your continued support.”
Reigate & Redhill Live at Home Scheme received a contribution to the costs of continuing to support older people during the pandemic
St Martins Church Camberley received funding to support local people facing hardship
St Mary’s Church, Ash Vale received funding towards the purchase of emergency food provisions to distribute to vulnerable people in the community
Surrey Coalition of Disabled People received funding to purchase electronic tablets for isolated people with disabilities to access community services and support during this time
Surrey Sands received essential running costs to continue their work supporting grieving parents in Surrey effected by the Coronavirus pandemic
The Grange Centre for People with Disabilities received funding for equipment for staff to be able to work from home to continue their work supporting people with disabilities
Woking Age Concern received essential running costs to continue their work supporting isolated older people

We need further support

We are incredibly grateful for all donations that we have received so far, however the needs are huge and growing every day as our community groups continue to respond accordingly.

Our goal is to not just reach more grantees, but to also increase the amount they receive. It is essential that this fund is able to provide repeat funding to the initiatives having the biggest impact for our most vulnerable people.

If you would like to donate to the Fund, you can do so via the secure online Virgin Money Giving page and by direct bank transfer. If you would like to donate via bank transfer, please contact Laura Thurlow on 01483 478086 or email Laura@cfsurrey.org.uk.

Coronavirus Response Fund distributes £89,966 in second round of awards

7th April 2020

Carol Franssen, Surrey Heath Age Concern befriender

We are proud to announce that 20 charities and community groups across Surrey have received a total of £89,966 in the second round of grants awarded from our emergency response funding, made available to help the county’s most vulnerable people during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This brings the total funding awarded from the Surrey Coronavirus Response Fund so far to £208,696!

Once more, we have been overcome by the positive response received from local people, families and businesses in continuing to keep the donations coming in! Since launching our urgent appeal on March 26th, we have raised £500,000.

The fund has been set up to ensure quick and responsive grant-making for the community and voluntary groups assisting in the relief effort, and we’re delighted to be announcing these additional grants in quick succession. We will continue to award grants from the Coronavirus Response Funding for as long as we are able and aim to announce additional awards weekly alongside progress updates.

Below are just some examples of how these grants will make a difference to the lives of people in Surrey:

Surrey Heath Age Concern received funds for essential running costs to continue their work tackling the impact of isolation on older people, particularly during this period. The team at the charity are phoning clients regularly to offer support and reassurance to help deplete feelings of anxiety, loneliness, depression and fear of running out of vital supplies.

“This grant will make such a difference to our charity and enable us to carry on making a vital difference to the lives of the isolated elderly people. We are phoning them 2-3 times a week and reminding them to ring any time if they need anything or just want a chat.”

Tracy Hiney – Manager, Age Concern Surrey Heath

Mary Frances Trust received funds for additional IT equipment to expand support services to people suffering from mental ill-health and isolation across Surrey. This equipment will enable the charity to deliver remote support to clients and offer workshops to both individuals and groups during the Covid-19 crisis, helping those coping with an array of issues, such as anxiety, mental ill-health and physical well-being.

yourSanctuary received support towards salary costs, enabling their work helping victims of domestic abuse. Since the lockdown measures ordered by the Government were put in place, the charity has already seen an increase in demand for their free and confidential helpline service, as more victims are forced to stay at home with their abuser. In order to deal with this rise in demand, their helpline advisors are working extra shifts to increase the overall capacity of their vital service.

“This grant will enable us to continue running our vital domestic abuse Surrey-wide helpline and online chat service. These services are often the only way survivors who are in lockdown with their abuser can reach out for support and information – they are a lifeline to those in our community for whom ‘home’ is the most dangerous place they can be.”

Fiamma Pather – Chief Executive, yourSanctuary

The additional 17 grants can be found here:

Action for Carers (Surrey) received funding for IT equipment to allow their staff to work from home, to continue to support carers
Active Prospects received a grant for IT licences and activity packs to address isolation for people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health issues, as well as sensory resources to address emotional ill-health of clients
Age Concern Voluntary Association for the Elderly Merstham, Redhill and Reigate received a grant for essential running costs to continue supporting isolated older people
Cruse Bereavement Care South West Surrey Area received funding towards essential running costs to continue their work supporting the bereaved
Elmbridge Rentstart were awarded funds for IT equipment and essential running costs to continue their work with helping homeless and vulnerable local people
Farnham Maltings Association Ltd received funding towards a helpline and meals-on-wheels delivery services available in Farnham
Freewheelers Theatre and Media Ltd received funds towards the designing and developing of free online courses for clients to take part in interactive music, dance, drama, media and visual arts sessions within the Mole Valley and Elmbridge area
Guildford Action for Community Care received funds towards their essential running costs to continue to support the homeless
Headway Surrey were awarded funds to help provide hardware, software and internet access to people with brain-injuries
Manna Foodbank (St Mary’s and St Peter’s) were awarded funds for a foodbank serving people facing hardship in Spelthorne
Matrix Trust received funds towards the delivery in amended services and essential running costs to continue to support young people
North Surrey Community Counselling Partnership (NSCCP) received funds for hardware and software costs to move to remote working, to continue to support people with mental ill-health
Outline were awarded funding for IT equipment and essential running costs to continue their work supporting LGBT+ people suffering during isolation
Surrey Care Trust were awarded funding to upgrade and implement a number of remote working practices to enable support to be given to vulnerable people across Surrey
The Brigitte Trust received funds towards a Telephone Befriending Service addressing loneliness and isolation
The Children’s Trust received funding for personal protective equipment and cleaning costs to continue their work supporting children with severe brain injuries and vulnerable children safely
York Road Project were awarded funding towards the purchase of equipment and food to support their work in helping to house and feed the homeless

There is still great need

We are incredibly grateful for all donations that we have received so far, however there is still great need, with over £800,000 of requests currently in progress. Our team is working endlessly to best distribute donations quickly and efficiently, but without further support, the fund simply won’t survive.

BBC Radio Surrey 3rd April 2020

3rd April 2020

Surrey Coronavirus Response Fund awards £118,730 to support vulnerable local people

1st April 2020

Last Thursday 26^th March, we launched an urgent appeal for funding towards our Surrey Coronavirus Response Fund, set up to address the many urgent funding requests of local charities and voluntary organisations across the county. We have been overwhelmed with the positive response in donations, and together with the generosity of local donors and funds made available for distribution in Surrey from our first allocation of the National Emergencies Trust Coronavirus Appeal, we have now raised £400,000.

We are today delighted to announce the first grants awarded from our Coronavirus Response Funding, totalling an incredible £118,730 across 25 grants, that will support the vital groups working hard in the relief effort of this ongoing pandemic.

Grants of up to £5,000 are available now, with priority given to organisations providing support to the most vulnerable and isolated – including older people, those with disabilities and/or mental health needs and families in need.

Below are just some examples of how these grants will make a difference to the lives of people in Surrey:

Brockham Emergency Response Team (BERT)

was set up to respond to local emergencies and help protect the lives of those in distress. Funding was awarded to set up a foodbank in Brockham Church to provide for those in financial hardship during the Coronavirus pandemic, many of which are older and vulnerable people. Working in partnership with Mid-Surrey Community Fridge and Fare Share, BERT source donated supplies from supermarkets and centrally co-ordinate requests from residents received by phone and email, and provide goods based on three levels of need.

Age Concern Mole Valley

supports older people across the district. The charity received funding to support the costs of its Befriending Service which supports older people, especially in times of crisis. The Coronavirus outbreak has affected the charity’s services by stopping all face-to-face service delivery, resulting in a telephone befriending service. The service involves volunteers telephoning clients to reduce isolation and loneliness.

Oakleaf Enterprise

offer work-related training, work experience and wider support to local adults suffering mental ill-health. Funding was awarded for essential running costs for their Client Services Department, so that they can deliver support to vulnerable clients remotely. Whilst face-to-face activities have had to cease, they are able to continue providing invaluable support to Oakleaf clients, most who live isolated lives and are dependent on the charity’s services for social contact. This crisis response offers daily telephone and email support by Client Services staff, remote counselling as well as remote well-being activities.

The additional 22 grants can be found here:

Cherry Trees received funds towards their essential running costs to continue to offer respite care to the parents of children with complex needs
Citizens Advice Elmbridge West received funds for equipment for their team to work remotely in order to continue to offer specialist advice
Disability Initiative received funding to deliver an outreach approach, continuing to support people with severe disabilities
Dyscover Limited received funds for online classes for people who have survived strokes
East to West received funding to continue to support young people
Emerge Advocacy received funds to support vulnerable young people suffering with mental ill-health exacerbated by the outbreak
Emmaus Transformation Trust received funding for supplies, offering school items to children living in poverty
Esher & District CAB received funds for equipment to enable their team to continue providing advice services for free, via remote working
Home-Start Spelthorne received funding for salary costs to enable help and support to be given to families with children under 5 via remote methods
Intergenerational Music Making were awarded funds for a project to bring connection and joy to isolated older people
LinkAble in Woking received funding to support children and adults with learning disabilities
Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity were awarded salary costs for a Family Support Worker, supporting families with terminally-ill children.
Renewed Hope Trust received funding for the compiling and distribution of food parcels to vulnerable people
Stanwell Events received funding for delivery costs to provide 200+ cooked meals per day to vulnerable people
Stanwell Food Bank received a grant for the essential running costs of a foodbank serving Stanwell
Surrey Drug and Alcohol Care were awarded funds towards a Telephone Counselling Service for people suffering from mental-ill health
The Hope Hub Trust received funds towards their essential running costs, to continue to support, house and feed the homeless
The Meath Epilepsy Trust were awarded funds to purchase equipment to keep residents’ mobility and cognitive conditioning up, all for people who have complex epilepsy and severe physical and learning difficulties
The Orpheus Centre Trust received funding for the ongoing running of their centre supporting young disabled adults
The Vine Day Centre were awarded funds to support new telephones and a cook-and-delivery service for vulnerable local people
White Lodge Centre received funding towards a remote physiotherapy service for individuals who suffer with long-term neurological and physical conditions
Woking MIND were awarded funding for equipment offering remote support to people suffering from mental ill-health

The aim of our new local response fund is to provide quick and responsive grant-making to those across the county that need it most. We will continue to award grants from the Coronavirus Response Funding for as long as we are able.

We are incredibly grateful for all donations that we have received so far, but there is still great need, with a further £700,000 of requests currently in progress. If you would like to donate to the Fund, you can do so via the secure online Virgin Money Giving page and by direct bank transfer. If you would like to donate via bank transfer, please contact Laura Thurlow on 01483 478086 or email Laura@cfsurrey.org.uk.

Surrey Coronavirus Response Funding campaign backed by SurreyLive

31st March 2020

SurreyLive and its associated newspapers will help spread the word about our emergency fund to reliably inform those who need support and those who want to donate.

Since our urgent appeal launched on 26^th March, we have seen the very best of our community come together to raise more than £350,000 in aid of Surrey’s most vulnerable residents. Our most recent support comes from SurreyLive’s backing of the emergency fund. Their support means important updates and progress will be reliably and widely shared in our community.

Charities and organisations in Surrey still face a number of challenges during the unprecedented times that the coronavirus brings. Laura Thurlow, Chief Executive of the Foundation said, “It’s important that, together, we help them through this critical time so they can continue to support Surrey residents. Having the backing of SurreyLive, who is a pivotal player in Surrey’s information sharing, will help ensure that those who need the support know it is there, and that those who want to help know how.”

The more widely information about this emergency funding is shared, the more this fund can grow. Laura added: “We have already seen a rise in donations just over the weekend (£9000) – with the backing of SurreyLive we look forward to keeping everyone up to date on our progress and the positive work being done because of their generous support.”

Richard Duggan, acting brands editor at SurreyLive, said: “SurreyLive’s decision to back the CFS campaign came from our desire to help those in our community who are in desperate need during these very troubling and worrying times.”

Volunteers and community groups play a vital role and are a lifeline to many. Their resolve has been an inspiration and working closely with SurreyLive we will be sure the community shares in our encouraging updates.

Richard added: “We are the county’s leading news publisher and have a responsibility not just to report on local news but to highlight the amazing work being done to help the most vulnerable in our community. Our team live and work in Surrey; we’re invested in the county not just professionally but personally too.”

How can charities and organisations apply for the funding?

Grants are available now with priority given to organisations providing support to the most vulnerable and isolated, including older people, those with disabilities and/or mental health needs and families in need. Charities and organisations in need of support are encouraged to read the eligibility guidelines and apply online here.

Applications can be made either by filling out a short online form or by selecting a time for a telephone interview with a CFS volunteer.

How can I give a donation?

We are able to receive donations via Virgin Money Giving and by direct bank transfer.

If you would like to donate via bank transfer, please contact Laura Thurlow on 01483 478086 or email Laura@cfsurrey.org.uk.