Communities Month

Making It Happen in towns and villages

June is Communities Month, so we thought we'd recap of some of the initiatives we’ve been delivering on your doorstep to empower local communities to make projects happen.

Library Hubs

We know how loved our Libraries are in Surrey. Not only for providing books, but also as a space to work, study, meet others and relax. There are lots of activities and events taking place inside and refurbishments have made it even easier for us to move the furniture around to accommodate different activities for all ages.  Super Access for Library members has also meant that Libraries are now open for longer hours at a convenient time to suit you. Did you know we have meeting rooms and work spaces in our larger libraries, so it’s even easier to work and study on your doorstep?

Weybridge, Staines-upon-Thames and Epsom are the first of eleven Library Hubs we are opening that will see multiple services and support being delivered alongside Library provision, all under one roof in the heart of our communities. Depending on the locality, this includes services such as:

• voluntary support
• adolescent services
• Brooklands Radio
• Spelthorne Museum
• Birth and Death registrations

We’ll keep you updated as more Library Hubs become available.

Community Marketplace

The newly refreshed Social Value Marketplace is now called the Community Marketplace. This is a place where organisations and community groups can connect to bring projects to life. So if you’re an organisation who can offer help or individual skills, there could be a community group or project wanting help. They could be looking for meeting spaces, skills and knowledge sharing, equipment or even volunteers to help with painting and decorating. Take a look at the requests and offers on the Community Marketplace.

Community Boards

Local government reorganisation (LGR) presents an opportunity to strengthen our links with residents by boosting our local community engagement.

We’ll be establishing local Community Boards to bring people together and create real opportunities for strong local community engagement.

Once up and running, these boards will give communities a chance to have their say, connect with decision-makers, access information, and work together to improve their local areas.

Visit our Community Boards webpage to find out more.

Community Funding

Your Fund Surrey (YFS)

We’ve given local communities over £19m across 49 different projects. These projects have had a demonstrable and long-term impact on people’s health and wellbeing, and quality of life, and provide a lasting legacy in towns and villages.

YFS has also helped fund provision in communities for:

• accessible and inclusive sports facilities
• community spaces
• arts and culture provision
• places that support and enhance people’s mental health and wellbeing

Here are just a few examples:

Over £2.9m for Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford - invested in improving the accessibility of the entire theatre and ensure existing and new community spaces be accessible for a variety of new groups, building on the community initiatives and outreach programmes already delivered by the theatre.

£1.1.m Stanwell Events, Spelthorne - invested in a long-term community base that allows them to expand their service and support to more residents locally. This includes a food bank and activities for young people in the area.

£1.86m for Master Park, Oxted - invested in new fit-for-purpose two-storey community and sports hub. New facilities include a café, rooms for classes and community activities, improved changing facilities and accessible toilets.

Over £500k for Normandy Community Shop and Café - invested in providing a local community shop selling local produce serving the local rural area and providing a place for the community to meet and connect.

£550,000 for Leatherhead & Dorking Gymnastics Club - invested to extend the current facilities and build a new gymnasium and sensory room.

Find out which large projects and small projects we’ve funded in your local area.

Your Councillor Community Fund (YCCF) open again

Surrey residents can once again apply for cash grants to improve their local area through the Your Councillor Community Fund. YCCF has benefitted communities in towns and villages from North to South and East to West.  Last year, the Fund supported over 371 community projects via Surrey County Councillors, totalling £403,344.

Each year, Surrey County Council’s 81 councillors allocate £5,000 of funding within their local communities. With their deep understanding of the needs and priorities of their towns and villages, they can ensure that the funding is targeted to areas where it is most needed and where it can make the biggest impact. It can be used across a variety of projects that help promote the social, economic, and environmental wellbeing of their communities.

Visit our YCCF webpage to find out more.