Supporting local groups
Established as the first Village Community Fund within
Surrey Community Foundation, the village has celebrated its first grant
awards with a visit from Mrs Sarah Goad, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey.
Grants from the Peaslake Village Community Fund have
been awarded to the Village Lunch Group for senior residents, St Marks
Church to help restore the village clock. And the 1st Gomshall,
Peaslake and Shere Rainbow Unit. Members of the Lunch Group, the Church,
Rainbow Unit and the Peaslake Village Community Council met Sarah Goad to
celebrate the grant awards.
The Peaslake Village Community Fund is a permanent fund
set up to help support local community and voluntary groups and local
people in need. Initially established with a legacy from Miss Jean Brodie
who lived in the village, the fund will build over time from additional
donations and the interest generated each year is used to award grants to
community projects in the village.
Michael Urban, Chairman of Peaslake Village Community
Council said ‘We are delighted to be able to make these first grant
awards and would encourage other local residents to support the village
fund. We would like to see the fund grow over time so that we can support
more excellent projects in our village and surrounding areas’.
Sarah Goad, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and Patron of
Surrey Community Foundation said ‘This is an excellent initiative for
Peaslake Village which will provide lasting benefits to support local
community groups. It provides an inspiring example for other local
villages to build their own community funds and make a real difference
locally.’
Wendy Varcoe, Executive Director of Surrey Community
Foundation said ‘For people who would like to support their own local
communities, there is no better time. Surrey Community Foundation is able
to match on a pound for pound basis from the Grassroots scheme all new
permanent funds donated to support local communities, making this a very
effective way to meet local needs in Surrey. For example: a £100
donation with gift aid becomes £128 which can then benefit from a
Grassroots match of £128 resulting in a donation for local communities of
£256.’
Surrey Community Foundation has recently published a
new report called ‘Hidden Surrey’ written by Dr Helen Bowcock. The report
provides a revealing perspective on the surprising depth of social
disadvantage within our communities in Surrey and makes a powerful case
for increased local philanthropy to address Surrey’s community needs on
both an immediate and permanent basis.
If you would like to find out more about making a
donation or about the Peaslake Village Community Fund please contact with
Michael Urban at Woodhouse Farm Peaslake Gu59PB or by email
fund@peaslake.org web site
www.peaslake.org.
