Voluntary Action South West Surrey

Big Leaf Foundation is a small charity working with displaced young people in Surrey. Our aim is to provide a nurturing programme of activities, projects and events that focus on combating social isolation and improving wellbeing for the young people we support.

The experience of arriving in a new country is, for many young people, overwhelming and incredibly difficult. They are often cut off from everything that is familiar to them, leaving them vulnerable to loneliness, isolation, anxiety and boredom. Our founders saw an opportunity to change their situation and help them feel a sense of inclusion within a network of their peers and the wider community. We want to engage the young people we work with to be excited about the opportunities available to them, and to value their unique talents and abilities so that they can rediscover their potential and move forward with renewed optimism.

We want to support and empower these young people to know that they are more than the status they have been given and help them find their place within their local community

Established in 1994, Dance Woking is an innovative dance organisation that provides high quality opportunities to watch, perform and take part in dance, providing new experiences that inspire artists, audiences, participants and communities.

WHO ARE WE FOR?

Our work is primarily for Woking and the surrounding Surrey towns and villages.

We serve and support networks across the age spectrum from schoolchildren, to students and recent graduates, to young people outside training and education, and the perennials.

Dance lovers across the county and into London rave about our regular live public performances.

And our pop-up and festival appearances in shopping centres and local parks bring our public spaces to life.

WHY DANCE WOKING?

Our work brings unexpected and lasting benefits through dance to real communities at grass roots level where it has lasting impact.

We are a thriving and nimble business firmly rooted in Woking and Surrey, soon entering our fourth decade of inspiring dance.

We’re alert to local collaborations and equipped to offer more, especially with our funding partners at the Borough Council.

We work with other regional agents in housing and health, in sport and in schools; and we have successful alliances with independent dance artists and choreographers, and with specialist dance schools and mainstream education providers.

Guildford Twinning Association is a voluntary group which supports the town twinning of Guildford with the beautiful city of Freiburg in Southwest Germany. We promote international friendship, understanding and co-operation. We do this by:

• helping people in both towns to learn about each other and make friends
• supporting/managing exchanges: schools, sport, arts, music, social
• helping people in both towns to work together
• running events: social, arts, educational, fund-raising

See our website at guildfordtwinning.uk

To make a difference

About us

The halow project is a growing community-based charity, situated in Guildford, Surrey. We support young people, aged 16+, with a learning disability on their journey into adult life.

The young people we work with want the opportunity to:

• Build relationships
• Become part of the community
• Find meaningful employment
• Have a home of their own

We believe that the young people we support have the right to be part of and respected in their communities and are entitled to a life they choose in ways which best suit them. halow is committed to developing creative opportunities and removing social barriers.

Scouting exists to actively engage and support young people in their personal development, empowering them to make a positive contribution to society.

Oakleaf Enterprises is an independent registered charity whose purpose is to support people with mental health issues to lead independent, productive and fulfilling lives.

The charity’s aim is to transform the lives and futures of adults managing their mental ill-health and help them secure the skills, confidence and training needed to return to the workplace. This pathway is delivered via three main focuses: Work-Related Training, Wellbeing Activities, and Counselling Services.

Puttenham Barn is run by a small environmental charity called Project Oasis North Downs (POND).

Its mission is to provide simple inexpensive overnight accommodation in a 250 year old barn, in an environmentally responsible way.

It is aimed at walkers, cyclists & people enjoying the surrounding beautiful countryside.

The Barn has many environmental features including solar panels (on its bike shed!), rainwater harvesting & local varieties of apple trees in the garden.

We aim to open at weekends, during school holidays and on as many other nights as we can between Easter & October.

About Denecroft

Denecroft is a small residential home for up to 6 adults with learning disabilities, autism and vision impairment. It is situated near to London Road, Guildford close to GLive.

Volunteers help the people who live there to do the things they love and be active in the community.

About SeeAbility

We provide specialist support, accommodation and eye care help for people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss.

We don't underestimate people.

We encourage people with disabilities to challenge what they expect from life, from themselves and from wider society.

The people we support overcome huge barriers to achieve exciting new things every day - they challenge us all to think about what’s possible and to rethink disability.

Our aim is that people we support are able to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible; whether that is forming more friendships and relationships, enjoying new experiences and activities or finding employment.

Our self-advocacy, influencing, supported employment and research programmes mean more people with disabilities are able to change attitudes, influence service provision and change policies towards people with disabilities.

We prepare young people with skills for life. Through our programme of activities, camps and expeditions we encourage young people aged from 6 to 18 to do more, learn more and be more.

The Surrey Hills Society is an independent charity formed 15 years ago.  It promotes the positive enjoyment and care of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is in the course of being rebranded as one of the UK’s National Landscapes. We encourage those who live, work in, or visit the area to explore and learn about the special qualities and distinctiveness of the area.  The Society also uses its extensive network to actively promote the conservation and enjoyment of the Surrey Hills.

In June 2019 the Society was presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service which is the highest award for volunteer groups to recognise outstanding work done in their communities and is the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary organisations.

Our mission is summarised by four words: Conserve, Inspire, Educate and Enjoy.

For further information visit our website.

Whitmore Vale Housing Association offers services to people with learning disabilities and we work alongside them to achieve the most out of their life. Through supported living and residential care we can meet a wide range of needs, supporting people with a mild learning disability, to those who have profound and complex disabilities.