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Welcome to our February Newsletter!
As we move further into 2026, February offers a valuable moment to pause, reflect and look ahead to the opportunities spring will bring for our communities across South West Surrey. At Voluntary Action South West Surrey, we continue to be inspired by the dedication of local charities, community groups and volunteers who work tirelessly to support residents across Guildford, Waverley and the surrounding areas. Even in the quieter winter months, the strength of our voluntary sector shines through — from warm spaces and wellbeing initiatives to new partnerships forming behind the scenes. In this edition, you’ll find updates on upcoming training opportunities, funding news and practical resources to help your organisation thrive. We’re also highlighting stories from across the sector that showcase the real difference being made every day. Thank you for everything you do to strengthen our communities. As always, we’re here to support you — whether that’s through advice, connections, training or simply a conversation.
VASWS News: Voluntary Action South West Surrey Mini Conference 2026: Trustees — a FREE half-day event Have your say on the future of Play & Leisure Short Breaks in Surrey! Progress continues on Surrey’s transition to new unitary councils Pulmonary Rehab Sessions – Fridays in Guildford Rotary in Guildford Raises £4,500 for Mayor’s Chosen Charities Finance Trustee Role Volunteer Opportunity: Help Change Lives at the Therapy Garden Customer Service / Reception Volunteer - Guildford South East Water Launches 2026 Community Chest Fund Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund – Deadline 31 March 2026 McCarthy Stone Dementia Grants Programme - Deadline 13 March 2026 Surrey Charity Earns ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted Rating for Child Respite Care
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Voluntary Action South West Surrey Mini Conference 2026: Trustees — a FREE half-day event |
Calling all voluntary, charity & community sector heroes!
Join us at the Voluntary Action South West Surrey Mini Conference 2026: Trustees — a FREE half-day event packed with practical workshops, inspiring presentations and brilliant networking opportunities!
📅 Tuesday 24 March 2026 ⌚ 9:30am – 1:00pm 📍 Wilfred Noyce Community Centre, Godalming (Caudle Hall)
Whether you’re looking to strengthen governance, improve trustee recruitment and retention, or simply connect with others in the sector, this conference is designed to support and empower your organisation. What to expect: Insightful sessions on trustee roles and governance Practical tools & ideas you can put into action Time to network and share with fellow voluntary sector groups
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Spaces are limited — secure your FREE ticket today!
Let’s build stronger boards and stronger communities together!
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Have your say on the future of Play & Leisure Short Breaks in Surrey! |
Surrey County Council has launched a public consultation asking for your views on proposed changes to Play and Leisure Short Breaks — services that give children and young people with disabilities the chance to take part in fun, social and educational activities across the county, and provide much-needed breaks for their parent carers.
The consultation includes proposals like: • Introducing clarity on eligibility • Setting maximum yearly provision per child • More inclusive mainstream opportunities • Fairer and consistent charges for parent carers • Flexible session options, especially in school holidays
Your feedback will help shape future services to be fair, sustainable and effective. |
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Have your voice heard! Consultation open until 4 March 2026
Or contact Surrey County Council for alternative formats. |
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Progress continues on Surrey’s transition to new unitary councils |
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Work to prepare for the creation of East Surrey Council and West Surrey Council is progressing steadily ahead of the planned transition in April 2027. Surrey’s Voluntary Joint Committees – made up of councillors from the existing county, borough and district councils – met in February to advance key aspects of the reorganisation. At these meetings, both committees: reaffirmed their commitment to a smooth, well-governed transition to the new unitary councils; endorsed core principles such as collaboration, clear communication and accountability; received updated implementation plans for building the councils’ structures and leadership; agreed transparent processes for appointing statutory roles and setting councillor allowances; emphasised communication with residents about forthcoming changes and the May 2026 elections.
Leaders involved in the process stressed the importance of maintaining strong local services throughout the transition and keeping residents informed. Surrey councils will also consider a government invitation to explore a “Foundational Strategic Authority” before the March deadline. |
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Pulmonary Rehab Sessions – Fridays in Guildford |
Looking to gently rebuild your strength, breathing and confidence in a supportive environment?
Join these new Pulmonary Rehab sessions at Guildford Spectrum every Friday, 12:20–1:20pm in the Action Suite.
Led by a fully qualified instructor, these sessions include: Gentle, supervised exercise Breathing and stamina guidance Support to help with recovery and overall wellbeing
£4.80 per session
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Rotary in Guildford Raises £4,500 for Mayor’s Chosen Charities |
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Rotary in Guildford has successfully raised £4,500 for two of the Mayor of Guildford’s chosen charities through its annual Mayor’s Christmas Concert at Holy Trinity Church. Held in partnership with the Vivace Chorus, the festive concert continues to be a much-loved local tradition and an important fundraiser. This year’s proceeds were split equally between Phyllis Tuckwell and The Cheryl King Trust, with each charity receiving £2,250. Cllr Howard Smith, the Mayor of Guildford, joined Rotary representatives at the Guildhall to present the cheques and thanked performers, sponsors and attendees for their generous support. Rotary Clubs in Guildford also expressed their appreciation for the backing from local sponsors — including The Guildford Butchery, Barchester Silverbirch Care Home and AJ Bennewith & Co — and Guildford Inner Wheel for providing refreshments. The next Mayor’s Christmas Concert is scheduled for 13 December at Holy Trinity Church, and organisers are already looking forward to another successful community event. |
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Since launching in 2020, Headroom has grown from 4 counsellors working from home to a thriving charity supporting young people and families
As they continue to grow, they are looking for an ACCA, CIMA or ACA qualified finance professional to help strengthen our financial governance and shape their future strategy.
This is a key Trustee role, working closely with the Chair and CEO, with monthly and bi-monthly meeting commitments Strategic oversight of financial controls Monthly review and forecasting Annual accounts sign-off and reporting Input into grant applications and growth planning Supporting best practice during an exciting period of change
If you’re passionate about using your financial expertise to make a real difference in young people’s lives, they would love to hear from you.
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Volunteer Opportunity: Help Change Lives at the Therapy Garden |
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Do you want to make a real impact on the lives of vulnerable individuals in your community? At The Therapy Garden, they believe in the transformative power of nature. Through gardening and connection with the outdoors, they work to create a positive and lasting impact on the lives of people facing challenges — including adults and teenagers with a variety of disabilities. They are currently looking for Client Support Volunteers to join them in the garden and support their experienced horticulturists in supervising and encouraging their clients. 🌼 What You’ll Be Doing As a volunteer, you’ll work alongside clients in a friendly, supportive environment, helping with activities such as: You’ll play an important role in empowering both children and adults to work towards achieving a qualification in horticulture, helping them build confidence, independence and practical skills. 🌿 No Experience Needed You don’t need any gardening experience to join — just a positive attitude and a willingness to get stuck in! If you enjoy working with others and being outdoors, this could be a fantastic opportunity for you. Volunteering with The Therapy Garden can also be a valuable stepping stone towards further education or employment opportunities, offering hands-on experience in a supportive and rewarding setting. 🕘 Opening Times They operate Monday to Friday, 9.15am – 2.30pm. Adult clients attend throughout the year. Teenagers attend during school term times, they offer term-time-only volunteering for those who prefer it.
At present, they are looking for volunteers who can offer a regular weekly commitment, either during term time (for teenage sessions) or year-round (for adult sessions). 🌻 What they are Looking For No gardening experience required Ability to get along with others and muck in Willingness to commit to a regular weekly session
If you’re ready to make a difference, build new skills and be part of a warm and welcoming community, they would love to hear from you.
Come and grow with The Therapy Garden — and help others grow too. 🌱 |
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Customer Service / Reception Volunteer - Guildford |
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Help welcome clients, manage appointments, support with forms and admin, and make a real difference in your community. Gain valuable skills Boost your CV Flexible hours Expenses reimbursed
No specific qualifications needed — just a friendly, non-judgmental approach and good IT skills.
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South East Water Launches 2026 Community Chest Fund |
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South East Water has opened applications for its 2026 Community Chest Fund, making a total of £20,000 available to support local good causes across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire and Hampshire. Local community groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help deliver projects that are water- or environment-related, or that benefit the young, elderly or disadvantaged. This initiative builds on the success of previous years: over the past four years, the fund has distributed £80,000 to around 40 community projects, ranging from sensory gardens and outdoor learning spaces to support for families affected by cancer. |
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Applications must be submitted by 5pm on Monday 30 March, with successful organisations notified in early April and grants awarded soon after.
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Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund – Deadline 31 March 2026 |
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The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) has launched the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund (EHCF) – a new £37 million investment to strengthen the role of voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCFS) organisations in tackling homelessness across England. Running from 2026 to 2029, this three-year fund aims to increase community-based support for people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness and rough sleeping. Who can apply? Eligible applicants must: Be a VCFS organisation operating in England Have a maximum annual income of £5 million Have at least three years’ experience delivering support to people at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness or rough sleeping Secure a letter of endorsement from the relevant local authority (from an officer responsible for homelessness and/or rough sleeping)
Grant Objectives Funding will support organisations to: Prevent and reduce rough sleeping through strengthened community-based services Enhance or transform existing day services (including staffing, facilities, service development and partnership working) Help individuals live independently and avoid returning to rough sleeping
Funding Available Revenue funding: £50,000–£200,000 per year for up to three years Capital funding: £50,000–£200,000 (available in Year 1 or Year 2 only) Organisations may apply for revenue, capital, or a combination of both
This represents a significant opportunity for smaller VCFS organisations to expand and strengthen frontline homelessness support. For full details, including the prospectus, scoring criteria and FAQs, and to apply, visit the fund page. |
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McCarthy Stone Dementia Grants Programme - Deadline 13 March 2026 |
The McCarthy Stone Foundation will be awarding grants to more than 20 dementia clubs and memory cafés across the country.
Value: up to £7,500 for project or core costs
Eligibility: Charities, constituted community groups, or a Community Interest Company (CIC) limited by guarantee working with adults aged 65+ living with dementia and/or their carers. Annual turnover must be less than 250,000. |
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Surrey Charity Earns ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted Rating for Child Respite Care |
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Cherry Trees, a children’s respite care charity based in East Clandon, has once again been recognised with an “Outstanding” Ofsted rating, marking the fourth consecutive year it has achieved this top accolade. The charity supports children and young people with complex disabilities, providing tailored care that helps them thrive. Inspectors praised the quality of care, leadership and management, and how staff put children’s wishes and needs at the centre of everything they do. Cherry Trees’ leadership highlighted the organisation’s commitment to giving every child fulfilling experiences in a safe, welcoming environment. With cutting-edge communication tools and a personalised approach, the team strives to empower every individual who stays at the home. The charity also recently announced plans to expand its services with a second respite care home in Hampshire, extending its impact to more families in need. |
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