Inspiring local giving for local need

The Community Foundation for Surrey is an independent charitable trust which aims to inspire more giving in Surrey. Our in-depth local knowledge and understanding of community needs enables our donors to direct their support to where it is most needed, helping to make a real difference to the well-being of people across the county. Our grants make a significant impact, reaching out to many who live in areas of acute need. Since establishing in 2005 our donors have enabled us to award over £2 million in grants to over 700 local organisations benefiting thousands of people.

Strengthening Communities

The Community Foundation for Surrey helps strengthen communities by making grant awards to a diverse range of inspiring voluntary and community groups that are working right at the heart of community need. Whether they are effective in combating problems of social deprivation, running imaginative youth groups, pioneering arts education or reducing isolation amongst older people, they often struggle to fund their essential work.

Building Funds

By building a permanent fund for people in Surrey, and distributing the interest as grants, we are not only able to provide a source of funding to voluntary and community groups now, but also year after year. This works very simply; we invest the money donated by local individuals, families and businesses for the benefit of those in need. As these funds grow, we are not only able to support immediate need with donations, but are also building a permanent endowment fund, the interest from which will provide a legacy that will benefit communities in Surrey forever.

Making Connections

We all have interests and passions. Many of us love playing sport or making music. Others enjoy getting involved in community life. For every interest there is a community group near you helping people who, for many different reasons, are unable to take part in the activities you love. The Community Foundation for Surrey works with our donors in a professional and bespoke way, enabling them to set up their own unique funds and helping match them with projects of interest to them. In this way, many local groups receive the vital support that they need, while donors are rewarded by seeing their money making a real impact where it is needed most.

Hidden Need in Surrey

Although Surrey is perceived as an affluent county, there are surprising levels of hidden need. Adjacent to areas of well above average wealth are tight pockets of deprivation with high levels of unemployment, child poverty and other related problems. Not only are they hidden in a geographic sense, but they tend to receive less public funding because the surrounding wealth conceals the extent of need.

While child poverty is as high as 44% in some areas of the county and demand for social care for our ageing population continues to outstrip supply, top level figures ensure that Surrey receives less than half the national average per person in spending on essential services. This lack of statutory provision for those in need puts a huge strain on our voluntary and charitable groups, which is only set to increase in the current climate.

Our 2009 report Hidden Surrey by Dr Helen Bowcock provides insight into the depth of need in Surrey and highlights some truly inspirational examples of how communities are currently helping those in need. If you would like to find out more about social disadvantage in Surrey and some of the amazing projects that Community Foundation for Surrey is supporting around the county you can download our report here http://www.communityfoundationsurrey.org.uk