Guildford’s Angels Receive National Lottery Grant

Published on: 10 Jan, 2025
Updated on: 10 Jan, 2025

Zoe Franklin MP presents the cheque to , Noelle Coe, town chaplain, GTCC) and Anne Thornton Community Angels project coordinator

Local charity, Guildford Town Centre Chaplaincy (GTCC), is celebrating after being awarded £20k in National Lottery funding to support the work of its well-respected “Community Angel” befriending project.

Zoe Franklin MP said she was delighted to present a cheque to the GTCC team recently which they feel is a great start to the New Year.

The Community Angels project has been running since 2017 and is staffed by two part-time coordinators who support around 50 active volunteers.

The project delivers face-to-face befriending to adults of all ages in Guildford Borough who are lonely or socially isolated.

Referrals come from NHS Social Prescribers, GPs, Community mental health services, Adult Social Care, Surrey Police and GBC Well-being services.

Chris Britton, GTCC chair, says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has endorsed the value of our work with such a generous donation. We will be able to press on with greater confidence over the next two years to continue to walk alongside those facing a mix of very challenging issues, to help them make a positive step change to reconnect with others, and so help rebuild broken lives.

“We are so proud that our Community Angels are making a much-needed impact and that this has been recognized by recently receiving both the Lieutenancy Award for Excellence during the pandemic and the Mayor of Guildford’s Award for Service to the Community.”

The project supports some 60-70 clients a year who typically face a complex mix of issues, including mental ill-health, chronic physical conditions and disability, cost of living challenges, homelessness and bereavement.

Community Angels spend time with clients in their homes, and out and about in the community, offering time, a listening ear, companionship and encouragement, to face challenges and make changes as appropriate.

The new funding is from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK. The funds will contribute to the ongoing operating costs of delivering the project over the next two years, at a time when demand is constantly rising.

Anne Thornton, project coordinator says: “We are absolutely over the moon that we have been gifted this funding at a time of growing need for our services. We receive more referrals than we have the capacity to befriend and welcome enquiries from potential new volunteers to join our fabulous team of compassionate volunteers”

The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its strategy, “It starts with community”, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4 billion of National Lottery funding by 2030.