Welcome to the May Community Partnerships e-newsletter.

We would love to hear your thoughts on our newsletter, ensuring it is useful and relevant for you. 

If you know someone who may be interested in receiving this newsletter, please do let us know by e-mailing community.partnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk.

Isabel Wootton, Head of Community Partnerships

Do you know someone who gives their time, energy and commitment to make a real difference in their community?

Nominations are now open for the Reigate & Banstead Volunteer Awards 2026, which celebrate the borough’s outstanding volunteers and community groups.     

Nominations close on Friday 29 May.

Led by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, the awards recognise the local heroes who go above and beyond to support others and strengthen local communities.The awards have been running for over 20 years and are delivered in partnership with Voluntary Action Surrey East (VASE) 

Award categories include:

• Young Volunteer Award (16-25)
• Volunteer Award (25+)
• Individual Trustee Award
• Volunteer Team Award
• Long Service Award (10+ years)

Nominees must live and/or volunteer in the borough and give their time unpaid (apart from expenses). Successful nominees will be invited to an awards ceremony at the Town Hall in July. 

The first meeting of the East Surrey Shadow Authority took place on 20 May 2026, marking a key milestone in the creation of the new East Surrey Council, due to launch on 1 April 2027. 

Councillors from across Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge came together to begin shaping the new unitary authority. The Shadow Authority is currently majority led by the Liberal Democrats, who secured overall control following the recent elections. 

At the inaugural meeting, Cllr Steve Wotton was appointed Leader alongside a Shadow Cabinet, who will lead work over the coming year to design how the new council will operate. 

Over the next year, the Shadow Authority will focus on preparing for the transition—putting governance, structures and plans in place to ensure services transfer smoothly.

In the meantime, all council services remain unchanged, and residents should continue to contact their existing local councils as usual.

Did you know we offer free use of meeting rooms and at cost printing for the voluntary community sector. 

Meeting rooms are available at the Town Hall on weekdays (excluding public holidays) between 9am and 5pm. All enquiries should be made via Community Partnerships team.

At cost printing is offered to VCSF partners working in Reigate & Banstead for the benefit of our residents. 

Follow the link to the Council website for further information on what is available and to request a booking form. 

In December, we shared plans for a local peer researcher training programme led by Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Surrey. Peer research involves people with lived experience helping to investigate issues that matter to their communities.

The programme is now well underway. Participants have been learning qualitative and quantitative research methods, including interviews, focus groups, surveys, and research ethics. Projects are expected to be completed by October 2026.

Thank you to our partners: East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services, African Community in Surrey and Sussex, Waythrough, Merstham Community Facility Trust, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, and Include.

More updates on the projects coming soon!

Local government is undergoing significant change through devolution and reorganisation, with new unitary and strategic authorities emerging across England.

To support the sector, NAVCA and ACRE have launched a new online resource hub for voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) organisations.  

The resources include practical guidance, insights and tools to help organisations understand what these changes mean in practice, strengthen relationships with new authorities, and engage effectively in emerging local decision making structures.

New content is be added regularly and draws on a range of real life experience and knowledge

Voluntary Action Surrey East (VASE), in partnership with Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Tandridge District Council, is bringing the East Surrey Volunteer Fair to The Belfry. 

Location: The Belfry, Redhill

Date: Saturday 26 September

Time: 11:00am–3:00pm     

The fair will celebrate and promote volunteering across East Surrey, bringing local organisations and communities together in one place. It’s a great opportunity to raise awareness of your work and connect with local people who want to get involved.

We’re inviting organisations operating across Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge to take part by:

• Showcasing your organisation and activities
• Recruiting volunteers by hosting a stall
• Helping publicise the event within your communities and network

If you’d like more info or to get involved, please contact Trish.Kiy@vase.org.uk

Surrey County Councils men’s mental health team are hosting a series of focus groups to better understand men’s experiences of mental health and how local services can respond more effectively.

Sessions will run online and in local libraries throughout May, with alternative 1‑to‑1 interviews or additional sessions available on request.

These sessions are open to all men with lived experience and professionals working with men. The sessions will explore how men access support, barriers they may face and what could improvement engagement.

The work supports the Department of Health & Social Care’s Strategic Vision for Men’s Health, which calls for services to adopt a stronger “men’s lens” and reach groups who may be less likely to seek help.

Find out more and register via the link, or contact gayle.osbourne@surreycc.gov.uk for further information. 

Last week, we delivered a Modern Slavery bitesize briefing to the VCFS, which was well attended and received really positive feedback. Colleagues found the session informative and engaging, helping to build confidence in recognising the signs of modern slavery and understanding how to report concerns.

The session also prompted valuable discussion, highlighting how relevant this issue is across Reigate and Banstead and Surrey.

The Southwark Against Modern Slavery has a range of supporting resources available and are happy to deliver similar briefings for anyone who is interested. If you’d like to arrange a session, please get in touch.

An Income maximisation service for carers has recently launched in Surrey. If you are or know of someone who is an unpaid carer looking after somebody with a disability or health condition, this free service can help and advise you to maximising your income.

The service can help with;

• Welfare benefits
• Debt
• Energy advice
• Other income mazimisation options
• Social care funding advice

If you have any queries about the service, please contact carers@swru.org  

Join this session to explore how businesses and VCSE organisations can work together to create positive social impact through donations, staff volunteering, skills sharing and long-term partnerships—while supporting the sustainability of community organisations.

Location: Reigate & Banstead Town Hall (in person, please book via Eventbrite)   

Date: Tuesday 30 June
Time: 9:30am – 11:00am

This practical session will cover:

• How demonstrating community impact can strengthen your offer
• Ways to measure and communicate impact
• Using impact to support funding, partnerships and growth
• Real-world insights for VCSE and community groups

Suitable for VCSE organisations of all sizes (trustees, managers, frontline staff). One place per organisation. Please share with colleagues or partners who may benefit.

Frontline practitioners, managers, and supervisors across the borough are invited to take part in a new half-day training session on recognising and responding to domestic abuse.

Delivered by Better Lives Training and Consultancy, this session offers a practical introduction to the nature, prevalence, and warning signs of domestic abuse, with a focus on less visible forms such as coercive and controlling behaviour. Participants will also gain insight into the impact on survivors and develop confidence in responding appropriately, supported by practical tools and strategies.

Training dates:

• 2 June 9:30am - 1:00pm (online) – please express interest by 29 May
• 11 June 9:30am - 1:00pm  (in person, Reigate Town Hall)
• 25 June 9:30am - 1:00pm (online)

To book, please email communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk to express your interest. For in-person sessions, places will be confirmed subject to availability. For online sessions, a joining link will be sent following your request.

Spaces are limited and expected to fill quickly.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust (SABP) is offering free training for faith leaders and pastoral care workers, exploring the connection between mental health, spirituality and pastoral care.

Delivered by experienced NHS clinicians and chaplains, the courses aim to build confidence, knowledge and practical skills to support people experiencing mental health challenges within community and faith settings.

Courses available:

• Introductory Course: 5 evening sessions in June (15 hours CPD)
• Advanced NHS Certificate: 2 full days in May + 5 half days in June (50 hours CPD)

While some sessions are already underway, SABP is keen to hear from those interested in future training opportunities, as the programme is expected to run again next year.

To find out more or express interest, contact: pastoralcare@sabp.nhs.uk or call 07518 788161 for the application form. Please share with colleagues or partners who may benefit.

AI Can is a new training program to help autistic people and people with learning disabilities to use existing AI tools confidently and safely.

Co‑designed with proactive community members, ensuring the content, pace and delivery reflect lived experience and real accessibility needs.

Funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), supporting national priorities around inclusive digital skills and responsible AI use.

A dedicated website is now live at www.aican.org.uk , offering training materials, resources, and guidance ready for partners and residents to explore

Save the date for our annual older peoples form. This is an opportunity, for organisations working within the sector, to celebrate all that is being done in the borough to support older people and to learn more about the services that are available.

Location: WoodhatchCommunity Centre, Whitebeam Drive, Reigate, RH2 7LS

Date: Tuesday 13 October 

Time:12:00pm - 2:30pm 

This year the theme is safegaurding, and we're excited to hear from our guest speakers Mia Brown from We Are Hourglass. 

If your organisation delivers services to Reigate & Banstead Borough residents, then please reserve a place at the forum by emailing: communitypartnerships@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Joining instructions and confirmation of a place at the forum will be sent out in advance

Local charity, Include.org  has just celebrated its 10th anniversary with (as you might expect) lots of joyfully inclusive singing, signing, and … cake! 

The choir is famous for being 'joyful and uplifting', but fun and laughter are only the top layer of the cake. Include works hard to make sure that people with understanding and speaking difficulties are included and supported, wherever they are.

Through music, outdoors, skills and training programmes, Include.org raise awareness and teach inclusive communication skills to organisations and individuals throughout Surrey. And this makes such a difference, as Adam says, “I've gone from standing at the back to knowing I belong”.

You’re invited to join the celebrations and ‘Be an Includer’ too – by sharing a smile, attending their birthday concert on Saturday 6 June, following them on social media or just taking a moment to connect with someone who finds communication hard.

Email info@include.org if you would like to know more. Picture of four older people on a bench

Thank you for being part of our growing community and for helping us improve the newsletter.