London Gatwick seeks more deserving causes in Surrey, Sussex and Kent

London Gatwick is looking for more good causes to support in Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

The Gatwick Airport Foundation has £100,000 to donate in the third round funding and is asking for deserving causes to step forward.

Applications for funds in Kent need to be in by 31 August, with requests welcome from 1 June.

In Surrey, the deadline to express an interest is 12 June and applications have to be in by 24 July.

All those interested in Sussex need to apply by 8 September.          

Each year, three rounds of grants totalling £300,000 are made available to beneficiaries 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.

Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at London Gatwick, said: “It’s very important to everyone at London Gatwick that we support our local community.

“As well as providing employment to many people throughout the region, we also want to bolster those charities and organisations that are doing such great work.”

Amongst the previous recipients is YMCA East Surrey which received funding from Gatwick Foundation Fund towards starting up a new sensory group for young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and learning difficulties.

Matthew Lole, senior disability coordinator, YMCA East Surrey, said: "Funding from Gatwick Airport Foundation Fund went towards our LifeWorks project supporting young adults aged 16+ with disabilities.

“The funding will allow us to start an important new sensory project that enables individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and learning difficulties, who have higher levels of need, to achieve their potential.

“By providing this opportunity, we hope to build stronger connections with families and residential care homes and expand the reach of YMCA LifeWorks to those in need."

Melanie Wrightson added: “So far we have contributed to 253 good causes in Surrey, Sussex and Kent because we believe it’s important that everyone in those communities benefits from the success of the airport.

“We want all those who are eligible to come forward. We award grants to support a number of important issues, contributing towards everything from specific projects to everyday running costs. Get in touch if you need our help.”

The Gatwick Foundation Fund was set up in 2016 to award funding to local groups that work to fight social isolation and tackle disadvantage, raise aspirations and develop skills, improve health and wellbeing, and support children and young people.

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

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Editors notes

The 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 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.

The Gatwick Foundation Fund was suspended in April 2020 due to the pandemic. 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/.