Community project fund reopens for applications

Surrey County Council said it had opened applications for community projects to receive up to £50,000 of funding

A community fund has reopened applications for projects to receive up to £50,000 in support from Surrey County Council.

The Your Fund Surrey (YFS) community project fund provides grants of between £1,000 and £50,000 to causes in the county aimed at making a difference in local areas, such as improvements to play areas and building community gardens.

Applications for the fund, which has awarded nearly £7m to more than 500 projects since February 2023, reopened this week until March 2026.

Denise Turner-Stewart, deputy leader of Surrey County Council, said the fund "demonstrates our enduring resolve to fund local initiatives that deliver on our residents' doorsteps".

Ms Turner-Stewart added: "A small amount of funding in the right place can make a real difference. Big or small, we know that these funded projects leave a long lasting legacy that help to strengthen and empower communities all over Surrey.

"We are looking forward to seeing what ideas come forward for our towns and villages from what will be yet another funding opportunity provided by Surrey County Council."

Projects supported by the fund so far include Weybridge Cricket Club, which received £36,500 for new cricket nets, and the Surrey Maritime Volunteer Service, which received £5,000 to part fund a new river patrol boat.

Other projects to receive funding include installing play equipment, a parish notice board and storage for a Santa Claus sleigh.

Alongside the fund, each Surrey County Council councillor has also been given £50,000 to allocate to community projects in their area as they see fit.