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Comic Relief launches new funding for 2011 - 2012!

May Gurney Fund – apply now if your group helps get people back to work

How we’re making a difference in your community

Sported. Launches new grants programme in Surrey

May Gurney Fund – apply now if your group helps get people back to work

If your charity helps young people or the long-term unemployed get back into work you may be interested in applying for a grant from the May Gurney Fund. This charitable foundation is distributing around £15,000 through the Community Foundation to improve opportunities in terms of education, self help, health and wellbeing.

Grants are up to £5,000 per charity and the deadline for completed applications is 12 August. Click here for more details or contact Emma Wolfe to discuss your project.

Did you know?

1 in 10 children living in Surrey are classified as living in poverty.

Memset launches a new fund for young people

Local community and voluntary charities that help support young people are set to benefit from a new grant fund established by a Guildford based technology company. Memset specialises in web hosting and cloud computing and its new fund will prioritise support for projects which involve technology and are based within a 10 mile radius of the company’s Guildford office.

We have a number of other funds that support youth projects, particularly those that help increase skills and employment opportunities for young people. If you would like to discuss whether your group might be able to apply for funding contact our Grants Officer, Emma Wolfe to discuss your project.

Applying for a grant – 3 easy steps

If you are concerned about applying for a grant because you think it will take too long or be too difficult to complete, take a look at our easy 3 step application process. We’ve worked hard to ensure that the process is as easy as possible for groups. You can apply online and save your application as you go and, most importantly, there is help and advice available throughout the process so that you don’t waste time.

Community Foundation Funds continue to grow

The Community Foundation for Surrey awards grants from a growing programme of charitable funds established by individuals, families, businesses and trusts who want to support their local community and make a difference. The good news is that, at a time when funding is becoming increasingly scarce for most charitable groups, our funds are continuing to grow.

This year we will be able to distribute £600,000 to support community & voluntary projects across the whole of Surrey and, by inspiring more to give locally, we are continuing to build new funds. Many of these funds are permanent which means we will always be able to support need across the county. We would like to thank our family of donors whose funds enable us to make such an impact locally.

If you would like to give, or have a project that needs support, please stay in touch with us.

Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director

Comic Relief announces new funding for 2011 - 2012

We are delighted to be managing the distribution of the Comic Relief small grants programme 2011 - 2013 in Surrey. A total of £78,360 will be available over the two year period to support projects in Surrey which will have a beneficial impact upon the lives of people who are excluded or disadvantaged.

50% of the money available in the first round of grants will be awarded to sports projects which increase access to sport and exercise for people who are excluded or disadvantaged.

The first deadline for applications to the Comic Relief programme is Friday 14 October 2011 with decisions to be notified before the end of November. To find out more visit our website.

How we’re helping to make a difference in your community

Focus on……The Esher Neighbourhood Fund

Elmbridge is regularly voted as one of the UK’s best places to live, but this is not the case for everyone. Alongside the affluence of Esher and the surrounding areas are families living in very different and often difficult circumstances.

For example, in the local neighbourhood there are pockets of disadvantage where:

· 32% of children live in poverty

· Parents are struggling on a daily basis to provide food and basic items for their families

· 48% of young people leave school at 16 and have poor employment prospects

· Life expectancy is several years below the national average.

The Esher Neighbourhood Fund has been initiated by a group of residents who want to make a difference to some of the significant issues in the community. The really good news is that we have secured match funding from NESTA and the Big Lottery to help build this fund. For every £2 donated we receive another £1 which, when Gift Aid is added, nearly doubles the original donations.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build the fund quickly and help more local families. However the match funding only runs until March 2012 so we urgently need the local community to get behind this project over the next few months.

If you would like to support his initiative, or work for a local business that may be able to make a donation, do get in touch with us.

Inspiring Surrey….

One of the best things about our work is hearing about the amazing work that goes on around the county to support those in need. Here’s just one of the recent projects we have been able to help.

Stepping Stones Downs Syndrome Support Group was set up in 2006 by a small group of parents with young children living with Downs Syndrome. The charity provides support to children and their families by providing advice, activities and access to appropriate services. There are currently 70 families registered as members of Stepping Stones who are supported by a team of 50 parent volunteers.

Since establishing, parent volunteers have developed a monthly toddler group attended by 15 families, monthly speech and language therapy sessions, monthly playball/mobility sessions for 28 children, monthly horse riding sessions and annual Christmas and summer parties.

A grant of £2,415 from the Kaye Family Fund enabled the group to organise a fun summer picnic for families where their children could play with other children in a non-judgemental and safe environment, and also for siblings to share their experiences.

Congratulations

We have a number of collective funds that are set up to support a particular area, whether that’s a village, town or district in Surrey. Richard Page, an intrepid cyclist from Hambledon, recently completed the Lands End to John O’Groats cycle ride to raise money for the Hambledon Community Fund. His efforts mean that many more local groups will be able to be supported.

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For other Community Foundation news check our website