London Gatwick delivers more than £87,000 to good causes in Kent, Surrey and Sussex

London Gatwick has delivered a fresh cash injection for some of the most deserving organisations and special causes throughout Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

More than £87,000 was donated to nearly 20 good causes just in time for Christmas as part of the airport’s commitment to its neighbours.

The London Gatwick Foundation Fund includes three rounds of funding throughout the course of the year which community groups can apply for.

Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at London Gatwick, said: “It’s important to us that everyone who lives near London Gatwick – not just those that work here or use the facility – experience the positive effects of being near one of the nation’s most important transport hubs.

“The London Gatwick Foundation Fund’s role is more important than ever right now as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. So many charities and support organisations are experiencing a fall in income as well as rising operational costs. We’re very pleased to be able to offer an essential lifeline.”

In Kent, the latest deserving recipients included Age UK Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, which received £3,500 towards staff costs for its Information and Advice Service; Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services in West Kent was awarded £4,000 towards the salary of a volunteer recruitment manager and Home-Start South West Kent, which supports families in need with young children in Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, received £3,000 for core operational costs.

St George’s Community Children’s Project in Tunbridge Wells was given £3,000 for its Assisted Childcare Places Scheme, and the Eden Christian Trust in Edenbridge also received £3,000 towards the salary of a full-time youth worker. Tree of Hope, which supports families with sick children in Tunbridge Wells and West Kent Mediation were each awarded £3,000 to cover core costs, and Tonbridge Welcomes Refugees received £7,500 to support Home Office-settled refugee children.

Jane Blessley, chairman, Tonbridge Welcome Refugees said: “The children in the families have all suffered war and violence and the trauma of fleeing their home country.

“The grant funds will be spent on courses which include football, craft, trampolining, gymnastics and climbing.

“A substantial portion of the funds will be spent on swimming lessons, which provide a lifesaving skill as well as such enjoyment that parents describe them as a highlight of the week. Without these funds we would not be able to offer so many children these opportunities.”

In Sussex, Home-Start CHAMS, which supports families with children under five in Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex, received £10,000 towards operational costs. The Garden Army, which looks after people living with mental health and wellbeing needs in Mid Sussex, was awarded £5,000 to help improve accessibility. Crowborough Community Pantry, which aims to address food poverty and reduce food waste was given £5,000 funding towards establishing a base with storage facilities, and Crawley Community Action, an organisation that tackles health and social inequalities, received £5,375 towards staffing. The Crawley CAP Centre, which offers in-home debt counselling and financial planning, was awarded £4,625 towards operational costs.

In Surrey, Big Leaf Foundation, which provides a programme of activities, projects and events that focus on combatting social isolation for displaced young people in the county, was awarded £5,000 for running costs. Horley Lions Club received £5,000 for its much-needed Warm Over Winter project. Leatherhead Youth Project, which aims to help young people to be safe, happy and make positive changes in their lives, received £4,800 for a sessional worker.

Stripey Stork, the baby bank collecting donations of clothes, toys and essential items for babies and children in Reigate and Banstead was awarded £5,000 towards a project manager. Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership in Mole Valley, which partners with learning providers, received £2,877 towards its Musical Harmony project, and YMCA East Surrey, a community-focused nonprofit with recreational programmes and services for all ages, received £5,000.

To apply for the next round of funding from the London Gatwick Foundation Fund in Surrey, applicants should express an interest by 29 January 2024.

In Sussex the deadline to apply is Friday 5 January 2024 with decisions expected in March 2024.

To apply for the next round of funding in Kent, applicants should apply by INSERT DEADLINE.

For more information about the London Gatwick Foundation Fund, please go to: https:// www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/community/our-support/foundation-fund/.

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Editors notes

The London Gatwick Foundation Fund is managed by individual Community Foundations for Kent, Sussex and Surrey on behalf of London Gatwick, which oversees the programme and assesses all applications.

Each year, there are three rounds of grants, which are split equally between Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Since it was founded in 2016, the London Gatwick Foundation Fund has made more than £1m in donations, which support local grassroots community and voluntary projects that make a difference to people’s lives and meet local need.

It operates in Sussex across Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Wealden, in Surrey across Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge and the Mole Valley area, and in Kent across Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks.

For more information, visit: https://www.gatwickairport.com/business-community/community/our-support/foundation-fund/.