Working with our community and our local partners, we want to build an Elmbridge free from poverty where we can all thrive.
Last year, we committed more than £735,000 in grant funding to support local people and organisations. We continue to work with local partners to tackle poverty and inequality in Elmbridge, with a particular focus on child poverty.
Scroll down to read more about our impact across our five priority areas. Our download our full annual report here.
“Walton Charity is a professional, friendly, engaged and effective funder. We are lucky to have the charity within our borough.”
Financial poverty and hardship
Working with local partners, we support individuals and families in Elmbridge who are facing financial hardship.
Last year, we awarded over £43,000 in delegated funds and direct grants to help local families with essentials like food, clothing and utility bills.
19 community grants helped more than 6,000 local people access practical help, financial support and debt advice.
Walton & Hersham Foodbank formally joined Walton Charity and together we distributed food parcels to 4,323 local people, including 2,098 children.
We also launched The Bridge, a new community space providing food and practical support to local families.
Local volunteers gave over 4,500 hours of time to the foodbank and The Bridge.
Isolation and loneliness
We support projects that encourage social interaction and help people feel more connected to their community.
£10,000 of community grants were awarded to organisations tackling loneliness and isolation in Elmbridge. Around 150 local people benefitted from these grants.
Our community allotment project brings together people who feel isolated or face barriers because of mental or physical health.
34 people took part in our weekly session at the community allotment.
92% of participants enjoyed being out in the fresh air, and 50% reported an improvement in their mental health.
Health and wellbeing
We fund local projects that support physical and mental health, and make our allotments and green spaces available for local people and community groups to enjoy.
8 community grants, totalling more than £50,000, supported projects across Elmbridge, including football sessions for young people and wellbeing activities for refugees.
405 local people used our allotments for growing and for gentle exercise.
“I love that I have a space I can relax away from the hustle and bustle. It’s a place I can go to nurture, learn and grow things of taste and beauty.”
Working with plot-holders, we established the Walton Allotment Association, giving tenants the power to make decisions about how the allotments are run.
Our newly established Tree Canopy Project also offered forest school sessions for local children, wellbeing workshops for adults, and provided a base for the Elmbridge Tree Warden scheme.
Affordable housing
35 people were housed in our social housing properties.
108 people were housed in our independent living schemes.
Residents say they feel safe and secure in our housing.
Working with New Economics Foundation we released a new report ‘Under the Radar’. The research found high housing costs were a key driver of poverty in Elmbridge.
80% of local residents we surveyed said there wasn’t enough affordable housing available.
30% felt this was the biggest social issue facing Elmbridge.
Education
We know education is one of the best routes out of poverty, but often children in low-income families face extra challenges reaching their potential at school.
Last year, £47,000 of community grants helped disadvantaged pupils across Elmbridge access catch up programmes, mental health workshops and emotional support when moving to secondary school.
“Walton Charity makes a significant difference to our school community and the lives of the children. Without their generosity we would struggle to provide additional support for our children.”
20 local schools were awarded opportunities funds to support low-income families with food, uniform, school trips and other school-related costs.
Ethan’s story
See how support from our school opportunities fund helped take the pressure off Ethan’s family.