Supporting people across East Surrey - £134k in grants awarded to help create healthier communities

The grants of up to £10K include organisations in Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge areas.

East Surrey Place is a partnership of health and care organisations - including Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Tandridge District Council - working together to plan and deliver services that improve the health and wellbeing of local communities.

In February 2022, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council was asked to set up and administer a Creating Healthy Communities (CHC) grant fund - managing £134,000 from ESP - to support the delivery of the Prevention and Communities Programme across East Surrey.

This programme aims to help people stay well by working together to prevent illnesses and create conditions to enable everyone in East Surrey to improve their own health and wellbeing.

The CHC grant funding was used to support initiatives in the ESP region, which covers the Reigate & Banstead area south of the M25 and the whole of the Tandridge District Council area. 

Partnership working for better health and wellbeing outcomes 

Mari Roberts-Wood, Chair and Senior Responsible Officer for the East Surrey Place Prevention and Communities Programme Board and Managing Director of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: “Working closely with partners in East Surrey Place means we can help each other to support communities and residents more effectively in improving their own health and wellbeing.  

“Managing this important fund is just one of the ways that Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Community Partnerships team works with and empowers local voluntary and community organisations to support those most in need. It’s fantastic that this funding will help so many local people.”

Sumona Chatterjee, East Surrey Place-Based Leader added: "We're delighted we've been able to help 25 different organisations in the voluntary and community sector through the provision of these grants. The range of projects is inspiring and we look forward to seeing the initiatives develop and start to make a difference to local residents."

Julie Porter, Head of Communities and Partnerships at Tandridge District Council, said: “Voluntary and community groups play a key role as we found during Covid-19 and this funding is an excellent way to build on their strengths. The grants are focused on supporting projects that address prime concerns like preventing illness, reducing the burden on urgent and emergency care, ageing well and staying independent and good mental health. A great initiative to improve health and wellbeing which is so crucial to us all.” 

£134k funding helps support 25 different VCS organisations

Applicants for the grant funding were invited to submit an expression of interest, which was then developed into a full application, with assistance from the Council’s Community Partnerships Team.  

A residents Participation Group reviewed the final applications and gave their feedback to the ESP Prevention and Communities Board, who made the final decision on the allocation of the grant fund.

Some of the 25 organisations awarded grants operate within the Reigate & Banstead area, some within the Tandridge area and some cover both places.

These ranged from helping the Brigitte Trust to provide a befriending service for adults with a life-threatening diagnosis, to I Choose Freedom with a support group for survivors of domestic abuse and Sight for Surrey, whose grant will contribute to the salary costs of an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer at East Surrey Hospital.

Two grant recipients explain what this funding means for them

Gaynor Thurbin, Fundraising & Marketing Officer from Bloomin’ Arts – who are driven by the voice of adults with disabilities to provide high quality opportunities in the creative arts: “A huge thank you to East Surrey Place for giving the Bloomin’ Arts Dance Company the opportunity to share their work with the local community. Funding ten dance sessions and two performances has enabled the group to enhance their performance and workshop delivery skills set and show their audiences that ‘Dance is for All’. Our vision is an inclusive world, and projects like this work to challenge perceptions, and provide impactful and meaningful creative opportunities for our participants and our audiences. Thanks again for your support!”

Jenny Rayner, the CEO of The Lucy Rayner Foundation (LRF) – who support young people struggling with their mental health, providing vital help and counselling services: “The need for counselling support is increasing every month and the funding we have received has helped 58 young people who have been referred into our service.”

One of LRF’s client’s testimony: “The Lucy Rayner Foundation was absolutely outstanding. I contacted them due to feeling not mentally well in myself, as I had been given a recent diagnosis of ADHD. They went out of their way to find me a counsellor specific for my needs who was experienced in neurodiverse behaviour. He was absolutely fantastic and really helped me put the tools into place which could significantly help me day to day. I have come on leaps and bounds since my first session.”

Full list of grants awarded and more details

For information about all the organisations who received funding visit our  Creating Healthy Communities grants web page

The vision for East Surrey is a healthy, happy and equitable place, where people are supported to be independent, live well and stay well. For details about East Surrey Place, including its priorities.

You can find more about Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s  voluntary and community sector support on our website.