London Gatwick Foundation Fund awards £30,000 to Kent causes

London Gatwick has donated more than £30,000 to deserving causes throughout the Kent region.

A total of seven deserving groups have been handed a lifeline, which means they can continue to build better communities, support young people and those with additional needs, and improve the health and wellbeing of thousands of people.

Melanie Wrightson, stakeholder engagement manager at London Gatwick, said: “We are so happy to be in a position to help such worthy causes in Kent.

“The past few years have been especially difficult for so many of the charities and support organisations that work incredibly hard to help people in need.

“These financial awards will go a long way to making sure that the essential services they provide remain accessible to those that benefit from them the most.”

Crossroads Care Kent received £4,000 to support its essential work of providing respite for unpaid carers. The organisation is a lifeline for so many, and helps carers get the extra support they need to live their own lives.

Space 2 Be Me, which supports disabled children and their parents, has been awarded £4,000 to support core costs for its work in West Kent.

Fiona Pender, manager at Space 2 Be Me said: “Space 2 Be Me is delighted and grateful to the Gatwick Foundation Fund for its support, which will be ringfenced to help support families of children with additional needs in West Kent, both of which are seen as lifelines to the local communities we support. Thank you!”

The money will be put towards services and activities for children with additional needs and their families in the Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells areas.

Many of these services were at risk due to funding gaps so the group was thrilled that the money has been found to continue.

The Counselling Centre in Tunbridge Wells has been awarded £4,000 towards its core running costs. It aims to make counselling available to everyone and its fees are based on what people can afford.

Tunbridge Wells Mental Health Resource Limited received £4,000 towards its core costs as it provides practical and emotional support in a safe and caring environment for people suffering with mental ill health.

Age UK Tunbridge Wells was awarded £5,000 to help with its programmes for preventing isolation and loneliness. It offers a vast array of services for older people and those who care for them. 

Aspens in Tunbridge Wells has been given £5,000 to help run its employability sessions. Its mission is to provide high-quality care and support to individuals on the autism spectrum and with learning disabilities, helping them to fulfil their potential.

Hope Church Tonbridge has received £4,000 funds for its life skills project. The charity helps people with services including life skills, dietary training and providing help and support with social services and the local courts.

To find out more about the Gatwick Foundation Fund, which is administered by the Kent Community Foundation visit: https://kentcf.org.uk/

Ends

Editors notes

About Gatwick Foundation Fund

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/.