Welcome to the September Community Partnerships e-newsletter.

We hope you find this month's edition useful and encourage you to share relevant opportunities with your colleagues, networks and residents.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our newsletter to ensure it remains useful, relevant and informative.

If you know someone who may be interested in receiving future editions, please ask them to contact us at community.partnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.

Isabel Wootton, Head of Community Partnerships

Work continues across Surrey to prepare for local government reorganisation (LGR) and the creation of the two new unitary councils, East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council, from 1 April 2027.

Keep up to date with the latest developments through the Future Surrey partner newsletter, which shares news and information about local government reorganisation across the county

Join us for a special civic ceremony for the presentation of the Freedom of the Borough of Reigate & Banstead to four local cadet units.

Date: Sunday 11 October 2026

Time: 1pm to 2pm

Location: Priory Park, Reigate

The Freedom of the Borough is one of the highest honours the Council can bestow and recognises exceptional service and contribution to the local community.

The cadet units are:

• Reigate Sea Cadets, Reigate Unit No. 281, T.S. Ark Royal
• Banstead ACF, Anzio Company, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
• Redhill ACF, Anzio Company, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment
• RAF Air Cadets, 135 (Reigate & Redhill) Squadron, Surrey Wing

These cadet units have made a significant and lasting impact across the borough through their commitment to youth development, community engagement, support for civic events and participation in Remembrance commemorations.

The event is free to attend and open to the public.

A reminder that our Annual Older People's Forum is taking place next month. This is a great opportunity for organisations working within the sector to come together, celebrate the work being done across the borough to support older people, and learn more about the services available to residents.

Date:  Tuesday 13 October 
Time: 12pm to 2.30pm
Location: Woodhatch Community Centre, Whitebeam Drive, Reigate, RH2 7LS

This year's theme is safeguarding, and we're excited to welcome our guest speaker, Mia Brown from We Are Hourglass.

If your organisation delivers services to Reigate & Banstead Borough residents and you haven't already done so, please reserve your place by emailing communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.

The countdown is on for the East Surrey Volunteer Fair 2026, bringing together more than 25 charities, community groups and organisations to showcase a wide range of volunteering opportunities across East Surrey.

Date: Saturday 26 September 2026

Time: 11am to 3.00pm

Location: The Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill

The fair is an opportunity for residents to discover local volunteering and community initiatives, explore new opportunities and find out how they can make a difference in their communities. Volunteering helps people build skills, confidence and connections, while supporting health and wellbeing and strengthening local communities.

We would be grateful if partners could help promote the event through their networks and encourage anyone interested in volunteering to come along. Together, we can inspire more people to get involved and celebrate the positive impact of volunteering across East Surrey.

The East Surrey Volunteer Fair 2026 is delivered in partnership by VASE, CSVA, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Tandridge District Council and The Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill.

The next Get Connected event will bring partners and professionals together to connect, share knowledge and explore the theme of understanding and responding to social tensions, with a particular focus on young people and community safety.

Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026

Time: To be confirmed
Location: Town Hall, Reigate & Banstead Council

The event is especially relevant to services and organisations working with young people, community safety, early intervention and wider community support. The event provides an opportunities to network, hear from guest speakers and learn more about the work and support available across the area through a range of marketplace stalls.

If you’re interested in hosting a stall, attending the event, or keeping up to date as plans develop, please email communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is encouraging people to check their State Pension age and understand what they may be entitled to in retirement. Between April 2026 and March 2028, the State Pension age will gradually increase from 66 to 67 for people born on or after 6 April 1960.

To support organisations in sharing this information, DWP has created a free State Pension age toolkit with ready-to-use resources, including:

• Downloadable posters and leaflets
• Social media assets
• Copy for newsletters, websites and intranets

We encourage voluntary and community organisations to share these materials with staff, volunteers, members and service users.

If you would like printed copies of the posters or leaflets, please contact communitpartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.

For more information, including free online events from Pension Geeks, visit the Pension Awareness Week website.

We’ve launched the first consultation on our new Local Plan and are asking residents, businesses and community groups to give us their views. We’d also be grateful if you could help spread the word by sharing our communications.

The plan will guide how the borough grows and changes up to 2044 – including where new homes, jobs, transport links, community facilities and services should go, while protecting the environment, heritage and the character of local places.

Our ‘scoping consultation’ is a chance to tell us what the plan should focus on before more detailed proposals are prepared, including the key issues, challenges and opportunities facing the borough and how the council should engage with local people in the plan-making process.

We are seeking feedback on a range of topics to be covered in the plan, including housing, the economy, employment, transport, community infrastructure, climate change, the natural environment, heritage, health and wellbeing.

The deadline for responses is 5pm on 26 October 2026.

A free community mental health and wellbeing fair is taking place in Tadworth this October, bringing together healthcare professionals and local support organisations to provide information, advice and practical support.

Date: Thursday 15 October 2026
Time: 10am to 3pm
Location: Tadworth Leisure Centre, KT20 5FB

Visitors can find out about a wide range of health and wellbeing support, including mental health, ADHD and autism, dementia, menopause, anxiety and depression, children and young people's mental health, and financial, money and housing support.

There will also be scheduled talks throughout the day, covering topics including ADHD medication, autism, lived experience of mental health, and adult anxiety and depression, alongside a selection of free fitness taster sessions.

The fair is free to attend, everyone is welcome and there is no need to book. 

Surrey County Council offers a range of fully funded training opportunities for staff and volunteers working in community, voluntary, health and social care organisations across Surrey.

Making Every Contact Count (MECC) training helps people use everyday conversations to support positive changes in health and wellbeing, while connecting residents with the help they need.

Courses available this autumn include:

• MECC Level 1 (Foundation)
• A MECC Approach to Mental Wellbeing
• A MECC Approach to Smoking
• A MECC Approach to Alcohol
• A MECC Approach to Food, Fuel and Finances
• Suicide First Aid: Understanding Suicide Interventions

Courses run between September and December 2026, with online and face-to-face options available.

Please share with colleagues, volunteers and partner organisations who may benefit.

Join Southwark Against Modern Slavery (SAMS) for Modern Slavery: Right Here, Right Now, a free Anti-Slavery Day event.

Date: Saturday 17 October 2026

Time: 9.30am to 1pm

Location: Southwark Cathedral, London, SE1 9DA

Featuring speakers from The Passage, Justice and Care and SAMS, the event will explore the realities of modern slavery, share lived experiences, and highlight how local communities can work together to tackle exploitation.

The event is open to anyone interested in learning more about modern slavery and strengthening their understanding of how to recognise and respond to concerns.

Booking is open, for more information email RAsocialjustice@gmail.com 

The Cyber Resilience Centre for the South East (SECRC) offers free support to charities, community groups and small organisations looking to strengthen their cyber security.

As a police-led, government-funded service, SECRC provides practical resources and advice to help organisations stay resilient to cyber threats.

Registered organisations can access:

• Free cyber security awareness training for staff and volunteers
• Practical cyber security guidance and resources
• Monthly alerts on cyber threats and scams
• One-to-one support to discuss your organisation's cyber resilience
• Access to fully funded cyber support services for small organisations and the voluntary sector

This support is particularly relevant for VCSE organisations, trustees and volunteers who want to improve cyber security and reduce the risk of fraud, scams and data breaches.

You can also learn more about the wider support available through the Cyber Resilience Centre Network: https://www.nationalcrcgroup.co.uk

“Summer is always a very busy time at Banstead Pantry. We see more families coming in and more children shopping with their parents. This year we were fortunate to receive funding from Surrey County Council to provide extra support for families who struggle with the cost of living when their children are not eating at school.

"At no additional cost our members were able to select six items each week to make up a healthy meal and some snacks for their children during the summer break. We were also able to offer a summer family membership which allowed families to select additional hearts and diamonds, choosing items from our regular Pantry shelves like meat and dairy, fruits and vegetables, and cupboard staples.

"Children in Banstead also enjoyed a couple of afternoons of arts and crafts at workshops put on by our Steering Group members. Thank you to all our supporters who make this work possible.”