Six deserving causes in Surrey receive £27,000 ‘essential lifeline’ from London Gatwick

London Gatwick has delivered a fresh cash injection for six of the most deserving organisations and special causes in the county just in time for Christmas.

This latest wave of financial awards totalling £27,000, is part of the ongoing London Gatwick Foundation Fund initiative, which includes three rounds of funding every year.

The successful recipients included Big Leaf Foundation, which provides a programme of activities, projects and events that focus on combatting social isolation for displaced young people in East Surrey, as well as across the county. It was awarded £5,000 for overall running costs.

Kayte Cable and Vicki Felgate, co-founders of Big Leaf Foundation said: "We are very grateful to have received £5,000 from the London Gatwick Foundation Fund.

“Big Leaf Foundation supports displaced young people in Surrey through a nurturing programme of activities, projects and events that focus on combating social isolation and improving wellbeing. Our projects include sports, creative arts, casework support, education, leadership programmes and residentials.

“Over the past year, demand for our services has grown exponentially. This funding will go towards our core costs, helping us to support even more young people across the county, develop new projects and grow as an organisation.

“We're thrilled to have received this funding from the London Gatwick Foundation Fund, which will make a huge impact on what we can achieve this next year."

Horley Lions Club works year-round to raise money for numerous charities. It received £5,000 for its much-needed Warm Over Winter project, which aims to help people in the community cover their heating bills.

Horley Lions trustee and head of PR and communications Fiona Reilly said: “The Horley Lions really appreciate the support provided as this will allow us to continue to help those households in need.”

Leatherhead Youth Project offers innovative youth services in Leatherhead, Bookham and across Mole Valley that respond to local needs and help young people to be safe, happy and make positive changes in their lives. It received £4,800 for a sessional worker in Bookham.

One of the UK’s biggest baby banks, Stripey Stork, which collects donations of clothes, toys and essential items for babies and children, was awarded £5,000 towards a project manager in Reigate and Banstead.

Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership, which connects with learning providers throughout the Surrey region, received £2,877 towards its Musical Harmony project in Mole Valley.

YMCA East Surrey, a community-focused nonprofit with recreational programmes and services for all ages, received £5,000.

Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at London Gatwick, said: “It’s important to us that the people of Surrey 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 in Surrey are experiencing a fall in income as well as rising operational costs. We’re very pleased to be able to offer an essential lifeline to eight key organisations.”

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.

To find out more please visit the Community Foundation for Surrey, which manages the fund on behalf of London Gatwick: https://www.cfsurrey.org.uk/

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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/.