Shepperton Studios Community Fund awards new grants to support local people

Shepperton Studios launched a ￡500,000 community fund, in 2022, to support local individuals, non-profit and voluntary organisations including charities, social enterprises, and community groups that serve the Shepperton area and wider borough of Spelthorne.

The Community Foundation for Surrey, a local charity, is helping to identify worthwhile causes and oversee the implementation and monitoring of all projects that are supported by the Shepperton Studios Community Fund.

Areas of particular focus for the Fund include:

??Youth Development

? Community Development

? Supporting under privileged and disadvantaged individuals and communities

Following the first round of grant awards in the autumn of last year, the Fund has now granted?awards to the following organisations: Daybreak - The Staines Parish Community Care Trust, Talking Tree Climate Emergency Centre, and A2 Dominion Housing Group's local Listening Ear service.

Andrew M Smith OBE DL, Corporate Affairs Director, Pinewood Group:

“We are glad to see this second round of grants from the Shepperton Studios Community Fund awarded. The fund is continuing to have a meaningful impact on a variety of very worthy causes, particularly in these difficult financial times where support within our communities is needed most.”

Rebecca Bowden, Chief Executive, Community Foundation for Surrey:

“We’re very pleased to be able to support Shepperton Studios by ensuring that their vital Community Fund is supporting projects that will make a lasting difference to those in the local communities who most need our help. We particularly welcome the fact that the funds awarded will help projects which are providing vital space for people to come together and combat loneliness and isolation.”

Daybreak -?The Staines Parish Community Care Trust

“Daybreak is still recovering from a long Covid shutdown and we are currently only operating on one day a week. This grant will be invaluable in helping us to improve our advertising and recruitment and carry out staff and volunteer training with the ultimate aim of reopening our second day. We are already inviting more varied outside entertainers; our patients ('guests') really enjoy 1950s and 60s tribute acts and we will also now be able to replace some of our ageing furniture. The future of Daybreak is now secure, thank you.”

Geraldine Forster, Vice Chair of Trustees.

Daybreak operated by Staines Parish Community Care Trust?has been running for almost 15 years. They care for disabled and elderly adults in a fun and safe environment allowing their carer, often a husband or wife, to take a few hours for themselves free from worry.?The grant from the Shepperton Studios Community Fund will enable the centre to open for an additional day providing respite and allowing more people to benefit from their support.

Talking Tree Climate Emergency Centre

“The Talking Tree Climate Emergency Centre was struggling with the huge increases in its energy bills and the grant from Shepperton Studios has helped us continue the important work we do in raising awareness of the climate and ecological emergencies during this challenging time. It has also provided the opportunity for us as an organisation to undertake more forward planning to ensure that we can be both more sustainable and more effective in our work in the future.”

Tony Woodward, Director, Talking Tree Climate Emergency Centre

Talking Tree provides a place where people can go to keep warm and find information about how to save energy. The grant from the Shepperton Studios Community Fund will support the increased energy costs of the climate action community café and warm hub.

A2Dominion Housing Group?- Listening Ear project

“We are extremely grateful for the funding, it will help grow the service by training more volunteers and allowing more people to access the service. The funding will help us tackle emotional loneliness and help adults who lack confidence to connect to the local community.”

Danielle Coram, Health & Wellbeing Project Co-ordinator

Listening Ear is a partnership project aimed at men under 60 living in Spelthorne who may be lonely and socially isolated.?The Listening Ear befriender and A2Dominion health and wellbeing coordinator support people through weekly telephone calls and meetups at the Stanwell food bank. The grant from the Shepperton Studios Community Fund will help to fund the social gatherings and cover the costs of the volunteering programme.

More about the Fund

The Fund forms part of the Studios’ ‘Set For More’ programme which is a long-term commitment that focuses on creating opportunities for young people, investing in the local community and supporting underprivileged groups. This is in addition to the community benefits already pledged by Shepperton Studios as part of its plans to expand and improve the world-renowned facility.

How to apply for a grant

To apply to the Shepperton Studios Community Fund visit the Community Foundation for Surrey?website. The Foundation has one application form for all of funds so you don’t need to specify who you are applying to. Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form on the Foundation’s website - this is a simple form where you share your funding needs – and the grants team will let you know if your request is eligible to make a full application.

The next deadline for full applications is?Mon?24th July - to be considered submit your expression of interest by Mon 12th June.

Please note, grants will be awarded subject to meeting the Fund Criteria.

For general enquiries, please contact the?Community Foundation for Surrey?on?01483 478092.

Please?click here?for further information and register on the ‘Expression of Interest’ page.