Birtley House Community Fund

The Surrey Community Foundation was established in 2005 and aims to inspire more giving in Surrey. Matching those who want to give, with those who need to receive, they are able to make a real difference to the well-being of people across the county. The grants make a real impact, reaching out to many who live in areas of acute need with surprising levels of deprivation. 

Administered by the Community Foundation for Surrey, the Birtley House Community Fund was established in February 2007, becoming one the first private funds in Surrey.

"As owners of probably the oldest family-run care home in the world we were looking for ways of developing an interactive route to charitable giving that could link the residents of the home to worthwhile, local charities. It is important for their quality of life that our residents feel involved with the community and it was just this aspect that first excited us about the work, then in its infancy, of the Surrey Community Foundation in 2006. When we discovered that Surrey was one of the last counties to embark on this work we felt that we had to do our best to encourage the development of the Foundation and soon found that our residents were very much in agreement. Although our Fund is not large it has managed to support the work of several local charities (all approved in advance by our residents) and has continued to raise funds each year to support their on-going work or specific projects. That we have made enduring friendships with some of the beneficiaries is a huge additional bonus for everyone at Birtley House."

Simon Whalley

Using monies raised at various fund raising events held at Birtley House and from generous donations, often from our residents and their families, we have been able to support several local community projects and charities. e.g. the Guildford and Godalming GAMBIT groups of blind and partially sighted, the Haslemere Alzheimer's society, Sayers Croft Education Centre and Age UK (Waverley)