Community Foundation for Surrey grants awarded

We are proud to announce that Age UK Surrey has been awarded two tranches of funding from the Community Foundation for Surrey’s Elder Companionship Fund:

£10k for Information and Advice and
£10k for Men in Sheds

This grant for our Information and Advice service enhances our support for older adults in Surrey to obtain guidance and direction. We know how valuable this service is to our community, and Ms M's story below highlights the impact our advisers have on everyday life.

"I decided to phone and ask for some help to apply for a disability Blue Badge. I spoke to an adviser in the Information and Advice department, and her help was great. I couldn’t have done it without her. Having the blue badge has really made a huge difference to me and reduced the stress of getting into a tight parking space.

She told me I could be eligible to receive Attendance Allowance, which I hadn’t even considered before she mentioned it. She helped me to apply, and I’m over the moon that I’ve got it... She was really helpful, and I’m very grateful."

Our Information and Advice service is completely free, so this grant means we can help adults over 50 keep living a better later life.

The men who attend our Men in Sheds project come from all backgrounds and situations and face a variety of challenges.  The majority are retired, and we know from their experience that many found the transition difficult, due to the loss of routine that going to work gave them and regular interactions with colleagues. 

Shedder Tony said: “I’ve made lots of friends here.  You start to look forward to it.  On a Sunday, I start to think about going to the Men in Sheds on a Tuesday”.

Shedder Jim “I finished work when I was 74, and then I sat at home, bored and didn’t know what to do.  I said to my partner, who was working, that I felt as if I was buried alive!  

I came here, and I’ve met some blokes, and we’ve been out on some outings.  I enjoy coming here; it breaks the week up, and I learn quite a bit. I’ve made some friends. It’s a good outlet for me, and I look forward to it.  It feels like you’ve done something, you’ve been out and met people - it’s good!

This funding will contribute toward the salary costs of two Co-ordinators who play a vital role in providing training in carpentry skills, mentoring, networking with other local organisations, sourcing donations for timber, and finding outlets to sell the Men in Sheds hand-made products.