Trustmatters The Surrey Care Trust Newsletter Winter 2020/Spring 2021 DIMINISHING OPPORTUNITIES During the summer, we surveyed our clients to find out the effect of the pandemic and lockdown. Our respondents, which included young people (12 years+), vulnerable families and disadvantaged adults told us overwhelmingly (97%) that they had been affected by either mental health issues, family breakdown or financial worries or a combination of these. Five months later, we carried out a follow-up survey to see how the pandemic had affected the life opportunities of the troubled young people and disadvantaged families we support. We found that the pandemic has significantly reduced opportunities for the most vulnerable members of our community. Almost 90% feel that there are fewer education or employment opportunities available to them now. continued on page 4 4 ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS ON THE FIND OUT MORE... PEOPLE WE SUPPORT INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF TRUST MATTERS REGISTERED CHARITY 285543 surreycaretrust.org.uk The pandemic is continuing to restrict our ability to fundraise so we are hugely grateful for all the donations and support we have received. THANK We also extend our thanks to all our Trustees, volunteers and loyal supporters, as well as the following organisations YOU! for recent donations and support. 4All Marine The Ingram Trust A2 Dominion Ironmongers Livery Company The Alchemy Trust The National Lottery Community Fund BBC Children in Need Mask Enchanted Brewers & Sons PPL Broanmain Plastics Pyrford Marina Cartbridge Basin Red Hill Charitable Trust Chobham Community Centre Redhill & Reigate Round Table Community Foundation for Surrey Reigate & Banstead Borough Council Connick Tree Care Reigate Grammar School – Bird House Cormis Partnership The Rest Harrow Trust The CP Charitable Trust Restore Records Management Greenoak Community Focus SES Water Growing Redhill Treasury Wine Estates GSK Weybridge Waitrose Dorking Guildford Fire Station West Byfleet Golf Club FDD International Ltd The Wisley Foundation The High Sheriff Youth Awards Woking Borough Council The Working Together for Work and Local Learning Perspectives projects are funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund. TRUST MATTERS page 2 BLOOMING MARVELLOUS! As well as fruits and vegetables, our allotments seem to have sown the seeds of success with both winning awards in competitions over the summer. The hard work contributed by everyone who comes along to tend to our Gateway Community Allotment project in Reigate, was recognised by the judges of the South & South East in the European Social Fund and the for well-deserved recognition Bloom Awards. The Allotment was National Lottery Community Fund. of the effort that has gone into awarded a Level 3 Community The Local Conversation in Stanwell transforming two overgrown Gardening Award which is a level project scooped ‘Best Kept Public and neglected plots into a fun, higher than last year, reflecting Building/Community Garden’, invigorating and interactive space the continuing improvements ‘Best Environmental Planting for people of all ages to enjoy. and development of the site. Project’ and ‘Best in Show’ for the The Local Conversation in Stanwell The project helps anyone at risk Stanwell Community Allotment in project is managed by the Surrey of isolation and the long-term this year’s Spelthorne in Bloom Care Trust and aims to bring the unemployed to make positive competition. community together and take changes by developing practical Congratulations to all the action on local issues. skills and to benefit from the volunteers and project team therapeutic benefits of gardening. The Gateway Community Allotment project is funded by STEPS TO SUCCESS Despite very challenging Maths and Level 1 English this circumstances, we’re delighted summer. With hard work and that all of our Year 11 students support from our trained tutors, attending our STEPS to 16 our students have achieved this year which will enable them alternative education programme excellent attendance records and to continue to college or an achieved a minimum of Level 3 another set of impressive results apprenticeship. STEPS to 16 gives a second chance to 14 to 16 year-olds who have been struggling in mainstream school. Find out more www.surreycaretrust.co.uk/our-programmes-home/steps-to-16 TRUST MATTERS page 3 9 continued from front page DIMINISHING OPPORTUNITIES The restrictions and uncertainties The economic trauma of opportunities for some, as family of Covid are affecting the lives the pandemic has seen the or financial circumstances or and the livelihoods of many disappearance of jobs in anxiety mean that plans have people, but they are dispropor- hospitality, retail, leisure and been put on hold. tionately harmful for people catering that many on low Our latest survey shows how in crisis and those already incomes rely on, while ap- the ripples of the pandemic’s struggling to cope – like the prenticeships are few and far aftershocks are proving ruinous families, individuals and young between. The pandemic has also for those on the margins of our people we support. reduced or removed educational communities. THE PANDEMIC HAS HAD A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON OUR BENEFICIARIES’ EXISTING EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION SITUATIONS Almost 80% of our beneficiaries made unemployed and a fifth “With everything are worried they may lose their have been furloughed. shut down there job (or have their hours/salary Over three quarters of all our aren’t many reduced). Of those who were in adult beneficiaries are now on a avenues for employment at the start of the reduced salary. activities that pandemic, 87% have already More than half have had to are conducive to seen their employment status access additional support such progression” change, with 40% of these now as using a foodbank or mental on reduced hours or shifts, 40% health support. THE PANDEMIC HAS DISRUPTED PLANS AND ASPIRATIONS, WITH A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON CAREERS, EDUCATION AND INCOME 58% of our beneficiaries (rising move onto their next step, such as to 70% of those in employment) going to college or getting a job. have had to abandon plans In a crowded and stagnant job or ambitions because of the market, almost 1 in 4 of our “100+ jobs applied pandemic. Of those who were in beneficiaries have had to apply for. Directly & with education, 39% have struggled to for a new job since March. agencies. Full time, “I wanted to look into education but temp and perm. I have been unable to, as nothing has I’ve found it very been [available] on the websites” disappointing” TRUST MATTERS page 4 THE PANDEMIC’S IMPACT ON EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT HAS HAD A KNOCK-ON EFFECT ON MENTAL HEALTH – AND VICE VERSA 72% of our beneficiaries say Additionally, 30% of adults say the pandemic has impacted their employment/education their mental health, and a situation, worsened by the third of adults say this has, in pandemic, has had a negative turn, affected their education/ effect on their mental health. employment. “I’m unsure if I have the courage to attend [college] now” OVERALL, THE PANDEMIC HAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY Almost 90% of our respondents say there are fewer opportunities “Stressful, uncertain, disheartening. available to them now. Nearly All efforts have gone to waste and two thirds identify education opportunities ripped from under us.” opportunities as diminished, and 1 in 4 highlight reduced “[This is] very hard to deal with.” employment opportunities. We interviewed 63 clients aged 14 and up. On some occasions, different respondents answered different questions. Sample sizes for each question therefore vary from 61 to 15, with an average of 37 respondents per question. Support our appeal see back page for details TRUST MATTERS page 5 NEW SUPPORT FOR COVID SUFFERERS IN REIGATE AND BANSTEAD As the borough of Reigate and Our free online sessions last for to cope with on-going symptoms Banstead saw the highest rates one hour during the evening or with grief after losing a loved of Covid-19 infection in the and people can take part for as one. We have a very successful county earlier in the pandemic, long they need. Guided by our track record of enabling the Surrey Care Trust is piloting therapist, each group will be people to navigate challenging two new support groups in the encouraged to provide informal times through our mentoring area thanks to funding from the support to one another and programme and we’ll be using Community Foundation in Surrey. use talking therapy to explore that expertise to help people to The Trust’s Covid-19 Support emotions, problems and solutions. deal with feelings of anxiety, Groups bring together people Surrey Care Trust’s Mentoring depression and isolation. Just who have had the virus (or Manager, Cathy Leamon says: knowing you are not alone can be family members whose loved “It’s still unclear as to why the a real comfort too.” ones have had the virus), and incidence of Covid-19 infections people who have lost a loved has been so much higher in the one because of the Covid-19 virus borough, but with this funding or complications, with a trained we can provide some much therapist. needed support to help people For more information about the groups contact Cathy Leamon on 07730 570305 or email [email protected] TAKE ON A VIRTUAL CHALLENGE Beat the10k winter Familyblues and takeBike part Ride in one of our virtual events to help us to continue to provide vital support for troubled young people and families across the county. Choose from a variety of walking, running and cycling challenges. For more information visit www.surreycaretrust.co.uk/events/virtual-events TRUST MATTERS page 6 SURREY 5 PEAKS 2020 Our Surrey 5 Peaks hikathon the Surrey Hills in September.