Winter poverty is the catastrophe about to happen for many people struggling to meet the cost of high energy bills this winter.
Surrey is often thought of as one of the best places to live in the UK. However, there is a hidden side to Surrey, unknown to many, with pockets of deprivation and places of hidden need. Too many people, especially children, are living in poverty in the county.
From Aug 2020 – Aug 2021, the Community Foundation for Surrey experienced a 400% increase in grants awarded to support poverty and disadvantage compared to previous years.
- 23,000 children in Surrey are impacted by income deprivation. In the worst affected areas, parts of Westborough ward (Guildford), and Walton North ward (Elmbridge), over 40% are affected. (1).
- 8% of Surrey’s older people are affected by income deprivation. In the worst affected areas, parts of Goldsworth East and Maybury & Sheerwater wards (both in Woking), over 40% are affected. (1)
- Life expectancy is 5.8 years lower for men and 4.7 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Surrey, compared to the least deprived areas. (2.)
- Research in 2022 shows that “It is clear that poverty and child poverty in particular, has been rising in every district and borough in the county for the past five years.” (3.)
- In 2022 “Research into the experience of residents found that various new ‘regrettable strategies’ have emerged: parents cutting back on food (61%), skipping meals (26%), not replacing children’s shoes (19%) and winter coats (14%), and using debt to make ends meet (80%).” (3.)
Please donate to our Winter Poverty Fundraising Campaign.
We are delighted that Surrey County Council is supporting our Winter Poverty Campaign this year with a pledge to match fund any donations up to £130,000. This means that for every £10 you donate, it will be doubled to £20.
Winter poverty is the catastrophe about to happen for many people struggling to meet the cost of high energy bills this winter. Your donation will be put towards awarding grants to local organisations that are actively helping those in poverty in our county through food banks, community fridges, warm hubs, baby banks, debt advice, energy advice and other urgent help.With your kind support, together we can combat poverty this winter in our community. There are two ways you can help:
Make a donation online (click on this link)
If you are eligible to receive either the Winter Fuel Payment or the Energy Rebate and you are in the fortunate position of being able to manage without it, please donate the money so that we can use it to award grants to organisations who are providing urgent help to those in economic crisis. Donate now (click on this link)
Become a Donation Partner
We are also looking for Donation Partners to pledge £1,000 each to help us reach our Winter Poverty Campaign target of £100,000. To become a Donation Partner, please contact us to arrange a meeting or a call by Zoom. Email giving@cfsurrey.org.uk and we’ll get back to you to discuss the options available.
You can also discover more at our website including options for individuals and families, businesses and corporates, Legacy and Memory Funds, and information for Professional Advisors about how best to support their clients to help now, when it is most needed – Give to your community
Discover how we help to alleviate winter poverty
We are proud to fund hundreds of community groups across Surrey every year. In 2020-201, this totalled more than £4.3 million. We work in partnership with our Donors to fund a range of needs and themes, including helping to alleviate winter poverty. We are incredibly proud to support so many vital groups across Surrey, who work hard to make our community a better place. Here are some of the organisations that are benefiting from generous contributions from our Donors to help to alleviate winter poverty – click on each organisation to visit their website and to discover more.
Funding towards a healthy food delivery box – for families in Elmbridge living in poverty.
Support towards the staff cost and van maintenance of a food delivery service to the isolated and elderly living in Mole Valley, and also a community fridge.
St Andrew’s Church, Goldsworth Park
Help with funding towards a community café which enables the vulnerable in the community to eat for free, at a church based in Woking.
Support towards the essential running costs of a job club that is available to those living in Epsom and Ewell.
Funding towards the salary of a Cafe and Events Manager for a new Community Cafe and Hub in a deprived area to improve community cohesion and tackle disadvantage.
Help through funding to enable long-term unemployed people to access training and experience, whilst also providing services for vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised people in Woking.
References
(1) Surrey-i, 2017. “Economy, Employment and Deprivation.”
(2) Surrey Public Health Profiles, 2019.
(3) Surrey County Council Report to Cabinet on Child Poverty, Jan 2022.
