His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex last summer visited one of the projects which typifies the work Guildford Philanthropy undertakes to give opportunity and tackle need across the Borough of Guildford.
The Guildford Bike Project is a social enterprise set up by the Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership which, since its inception, has received grants from Guildford Philanthropy and from three other funds supported by the Community Foundation for Surrey. The Bike Projects refurbishes donated bikes, provides free skills, accredited training and work experience for local job seekers and young people. The bikes are then sold to the local community at an affordable price and the income is “recycled” to sustain the project. In the six years since its inception over 400 people have benefited from the project with 106 achieving an accredited qualification and 58 having gone on to get jobs.
Guildford Philanthropy is a local initiative which aims to transform the lives of less fortunate members of our community and address the disadvantage that exists on our doorstep. We seek to do this by supporting enterprises like the Guildford Bike Project, which delivers training opportunities, work experience, jobs and other benefits to local people who need help whether due to poor education, disability or mental illness. Building confidence and self-esteem by facilitating access into a working environment and by encouraging the development of new skills, gives those most in need the tools to improve their lives.
We also believe that just providing funding in itself may not be sufficient. Though an affluent borough, many people would not know that Guildford has nearly 2,400 children living in poverty, 9,400 unpaid carers looking after family members and nearly 6,000 adults without any qualifications. Mentoring support and the provision of helpful advice in many cases is as important as providing funding support and Guildford Philanthropy has recently expanded its Panel Membership to enable it to go out into the Community to hear directly what is needed. This proactive stance is also displayed by Guildford philanthropy actively seeking to involve Guildford Borough Council, local businesses and the University in a co-ordinated way to help address local need.
Raising awareness remains the biggest challenge. Guildford Philanthropy and the Community Foundation for Surrey can only help to change lives through the generous support of its donors; and widening that donor base and informing local people of the need that exists on their doorstep is of paramount importance. Guildford Borough Council have generously set up a match funding scheme to encourage residents to become local philanthropists. For every donation to Guildford Philanthropy the Council will increase it by 50%. This means a £100 donation becomes £150 and if gift aid is available £175 (a £10,000 donation could therefore become £17,500!)
It is possible to make a donation via our website to help us in our work; giving opportunity and tackling need.
