Independent charity the Community Foundation for Surrey believes that winter poverty is the catastrophe about to happen as many people struggle to meet the cost of high energy bills.
Although Surrey is one of the best places to live in the UK, there is a hidden side to the county. Unknown to many of us, there are pockets of deprivation and places of hidden need.
- 23,000 children in Surrey are impacted by income deprivation.
- 8% of Surrey’s older people are affected by income deprivation.
- If you live in the most deprived areas, your life expectancy is 5.8 years lower for men and 4.7 years lower for women, than in the least deprived areas of Surrey.
- Poverty and child poverty have been rising in every district and borough in Surrey for the past five years.
- Parents facing poverty are cutting back on food (61%), skipping meals (26%), or not replacing children’s shoes and winter coat (19%).
Surrey County Council is supporting the charity’s Winter Poverty Campaign with a pledge to match fund donations. So every donation is doubled.
Donations will be put towards awarding grants to local organisations that are actively helping those in poverty, including food banks, community fridges, warm hubs, baby banks, debt advice and energy advice, and other urgent support providers.
If you are fortunate not to need the £400 from the government’s Winter Fuel Payment, with Surrey County Council’s support, a donation doubles to £800. If you add Gift Aid, a donation grows to £1,000! You can donate at: www.cfsurrey.org.uk
Here are just three of the organisations that are benefiting from the campaign:
Voices of Hope – Funding towards a healthy food delivery box to support families in Elmbridge living in poverty.
Mid Surrey Community Fridges – Grant towards the staff cost and van maintenance of a food delivery service to the isolated and elderly living in Mole Valley.
St Andrew’s Church, Goldsworth Park – Funding a community café which that enables the vulnerable in the community to eat for free. The café is based at a church in Woking.
More about the Community Foundation for Surrey
The Community Foundation for Surrey brings together local donors and those acting to provide positive solutions in our communities for people and disadvantaged individuals. Organisations in the Cranleigh area can apply for a grant by submitting an Expression of Interest at: www.cfsurrey.org.uk/makeanapplication
