London Gatwick seeks good causes from Surrey

Deserving local causes in Reigate and Banstead, Tandridge and Mole Valley can now apply for the second round of funding in the London Gatwick Foundation Fund. 

The fund has £33,000 available across the area of benefit in Surrey and it is asking local groups which need support during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis to apply.

Each year, there are three rounds of grants, with £300,000 in total split equally between groups in parts of Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at London Gatwick, said: “The acute cost-of-living crisis in the UK continues and we know grassroots organisations and voluntary projects are under increasing financial strain.

“The London Gatwick Foundation Fund has supported hundreds of good causes over the years. We would like to urge local charities and community groups to apply for funding and allow us to help make a difference.

The London 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. Funding is available to both new and existing projects.

Amongst the recipients last year was the Guildford Shakespeare Company, which received £5,000 towards its Spirit of Youth project, an innovative initiative that brought together children from Salfords Primary School and residents from Greensand House Care Home in Salfords to explore and perform Shakespeare plays.

The project aimed to foster intergenerational connections and provide a unique learning experience for both children and residents.

Kerrie Driscoll, creative learning producer at Guildford Shakespeare Company said: “The fusion of youth and wisdom, energy and experience, creates a dynamic exchange that benefits both ends of the generational spectrum.

“For the students, interacting with residents of care homes provides a unique opportunity to learn from lived experiences, gaining insights into history, culture and the human condition.

“Conversely, for the elderly participants, the interaction brings a renewed sense of purpose, connection, and the joy of witnessing the vitality of the younger generation. We are so grateful for the £5,000 grant received from the London Gatwick Foundation Fund, as without its support this project would not have been possible.”

Greensand House Care Home wellbeing and activity lead Diedre Jordon said: “Our residents thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the plays. They adore the children coming and are always emotionally lifted when the sessions come to an end, it’s wonderful to see so many of them taking part.”

Surrey applicants must express an interest in the funding by 08 July.

For more information about the London Gatwick Foundation Fund please go to: https://www.cfsurrey.org.uk/

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Editors notes

About London Gatwick Foundation Fund

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 £1.5m 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 Mole Valley, and in Kent across Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks.

For more information visit: https://www.gatwickairport.com/company/community/funding.html