London Gatwick Airport is making a positive impact on communities across Sussex, Surrey, and Kent through its Foundation Fund. The second round of funding for 2024 has awarded nearly £100,000 to 18 deserving groups, enabling them to continue their vital work in the local area.
In Kent, several initiatives received grants to address crucial needs. Life and Soul Youth Work in Tunbridge Wells secured £6,000 to support its annual operational costs and expand its mentorship program. St Philip’s Church Community Larder, also in Tunbridge Wells, was awarded £5,000 to bolster its food larder, ensuring food security for those in need. Compaid Trust received £4,000 to cover its yearly running expenses, enabling continued support for its beneficiaries.
Restore Counselling Training and Related Services in Tunbridge Wells received £2,500 to cover supervision costs for counsellors, ensuring the provision of high-quality mental health support. Therapeutic Equine Assisted Learning CIC, operating in Edenbridge and Sevenoaks, secured a £5,000 donation to maintain its yearly operational expenses, continuing its work using horses to enhance therapeutic outcomes.
Toc H High Brooms will use £5,000 to assist low-income families from its village hub, providing essential support and resources. Tonbridge Counselling Service was granted £2,500 to fund an assisted places program, making mental health services more accessible to those who need them.
Surrey also saw its fair share of funding beneficiaries. The Amber Foundation was awarded £7,000 to provide mental health support for vulnerable young adults facing homelessness. St Mark’s Church in Tattenham Corner will utilize its £7,000 to hire a dedicated children and family worker to address the needs of underserved areas in East Surrey.
YMCA East Surrey received nearly £6,700 to offer inclusive exercise programs for people with disabilities, promoting physical well-being and social inclusion. Home-Start Epsom, Ewell & Banstead (HSEEB) plans to allocate its £3,500 grant towards covering part of its 2024 core costs, ensuring continued support for families in need.
Mental health charity Mind of the Student was granted £3,000 to fund workshops in Surrey’s secondary schools, reaching an additional 2,000 young people. The Be Me Project received £2,320 to support mental health groups in Surrey’s schools, promoting positive mental health and well-being in young people.
Across the border in Sussex, food poverty charity Free Shop Crawley was awarded £7,640 to cover its essential expenses, ensuring food security for those struggling in the Crawley area. The Park Centre in Burgess Hill benefited from nearly £9,900 to fund the salary of a community development officer, helping transform a historic building into a multi-use community hub, fostering social interaction and community spirit.
Befriended will use £5,000 to hire an operational leader to combat loneliness and isolation among older adults in Mid-Sussex, promoting social connection and well-being for senior citizens. Hope into Action: Mid Sussex secured £5,000 to cover staff costs, enabling them to continue offering high-quality supported housing for homeless individuals, families, and refugees. Mid-Sussex Older People’s Council will utilize £2,500 to organize free community events, bringing people together and fostering social engagement.
Melanie Wrightson, Stakeholder Engagement Manager at London Gatwick, expressed the airport’s commitment to supporting local communities. “We love making a difference to our local community through the London Gatwick Foundation Fund, which has helped hundreds of good causes over the years,” she said. “We can’t wait to hear updates from the charities and community projects we have supported this year about their completed projects.”
The London Gatwick Foundation Fund, established in 2016, has become a cornerstone of support for local communities. It distributes £300,000 annually through three grant rounds, supporting organizations working to combat social isolation, address disadvantage, enhance skills and aspirations, improve health and wellbeing, and assist children and young people. The fund’s reach extends across Sussex, Surrey, and Kent, making a tangible difference in the lives of people in these communities.
