GRANTS – Meet the funder
them today and for many years to come. Each of the 81 local councillors had £100,000 to distribute in their area. YFS is split between two funds:
the Small Community Projects fund, which supports projects requiring between £1,000 and £100,000, and the Large Community Projects fund, which provides awards of £10,000 and above. Since 2020, the council has supported 47 projects across Surrey with £22 million. Personally, I was proud to cut the
MEET THE FUNDER
Grants from the local authority
They collect your bins and sort the potholes but your local council may also be the source of £1,000s in grants that could make a big difference to your school. We spoke to councillor Nick Harrison of Surrey County Council to find out how their scheme works
40 SUMMER 2025 School Fundraising T
hree years ago, Surrey County Council established a substantial fund to be shared among local
organisations such as schools, charities and community groups. We called it Your Fund Surrey (YFS). The money was intended for major capital expenditure. Our aim was to fund large-scale, long-term projects that would positively impact the lives of people using
ribbon on a new outdoor classroom at Warren Mead Infant and Junior School, which is in my area. The classroom was partly funded by the YFS Small Community Fund. This award doesn’t come from an anonymous body; it is always accommodated through a local councillor who acts as the gatekeeper. Typically, we councillors would already have established a good relationship with the schools in our area and have an understanding of their plans. That relationship is frankly the most important thing and is the ideal way to begin the application process. Sometimes, PTAs email me to ask
if there’s any funding left. I can then indicate whether their proposed project is suitable. We also look to see what funding the PTA are putting in themselves or if some money is coming from other donors, as we want it to go as far as possible. It’s not essential, but it helps get things across the line.
Sometimes, PTAs email me to ask if
there’s any funding left. I can then indicate whether their proposed project is suitable
AS TOLD TO ZENA ALLI
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