Hidden Need In Surrey
What is the need?
The Community Foundation for Surrey launched its report ‘Hidden Surrey’ by Dr Helen Bowcock at Loseley House in March 2009. The report is based on extensive research and consultation with voluntary and community groups. It summarises the social disadvantage in Surrey and highlights examples of how communities are currently helping those in need. The report provides a strong basis of local knowledge and expertise for the Community Foundation to focus its grant awards and to inspire more giving for Surrey’s communities. Statistics in Surrey are revealing:
- Child poverty is well over 30% and as high as 44% in some areas of the county, with this figure worryingly increasing since 2001 reports.
- 35.8% of children in some areas of Surrey live in a household headed by a lone parent.
- Many areas of Surrey significantly exceed the national average score of 21.57 in the 'Index of Multiple Deprivation'.
- The South East has the highest rates of sickness absence in the country with mental and stress related illnesses the greatest factors.
In addition:
- Almost all voluntary and charitable groups in Surrey have had a reduction in their statutory funding, whilst in some cases seeing an increase in those they need to support.
- There is an acute shortage of affordable housing making it much harder for schools and other public services to recruit and retain good staff, ultimately impacting on our communities.
- Demand for social care for our aging population far exceeds supply.
If you would like to find out more about social disadvantage in Surrey and some of the transformational projects that our voluntary and community groups are doing around the county download our report 'Hidden Surrey' by Dr Helen Bowcock.
To find out more about how to give click here