Gatwick Foundation Fund offers grants to 31 local projects

Thirty-one exceptional projects across Kent, Surrey and Sussex have become the first recipients to be awarded £150,000 in grants from the newly established Gatwick Foundation Fund.

The projects include a broad mix of local charities and voluntary organisations with a key focus on young people, the elderly, disability groups, families, education and training.

The Gatwick Foundation Fund was established to provide £300,000 in annual grants to local charities and other non-profit organisations. Funds are evenly distributed by the Community Foundations for Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Gatwick employees also have the opportunity to be closely associated with projects close to their heart by offering their support and expertise.

The £300,000 annual fund is on top of Gatwick’s existing charitable donations.

The 31 recipients estimate grants will positively benefit 13,750 people across the regions of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

The next round of grants is expected to be allocated in February 2016 and can be used to fund existing services or facilities as well as new initiatives.

Grants awarded may include, but will not be exclusive to, the following areas:

• Employment, training and skills – helping people to gain confidence and raise aspirations through training and development of new skills
• Families – supporting families and children in need and projects which combat social isolation and disadvantage
• Widening horizons/providing opportunities – supporting projects that enable young people to have opportunities that they would not otherwise have and to help them to widen their horizons and aspirations
• Elderly people – improving access to facilities and reducing isolation for the older generation.

Gatwick’s director of Corporate Affairs & Sustainability, Charles Kirwan-Taylor said: “Gatwick is proud to partner with the community foundations for Kent, Surrey and Sussex to support a diverse mix of community projects which make a positive contribution across the region.

“The establishment of the Gatwick Foundation Fund heralds an exciting new venture for Gatwick and we look forward to further boosting our support for important community projects in the future.”