Surrey Projects

Over the past 5 years, Surrey Spoon has made available nearly £220,000 for projects to help disadvantaged children in Surrey. We are very proud of this achievement and want to continue to raise funds so that we can do more.

The Surrey region have been responsible for:

A physiotherapy unit at Woodlands School in Leatherhead (a special needs school for severely handicapped children) - £40,000

Playground equipment and outdoor adventure units at Dovers Green School in Reigate (£13,100), Step by Step School for Autistic Children in Sharpethorne (£10,200), The Old Pheasantry in Mogador (£15,500 for the respite home), White Lodge in Chertsey (£15,000), The Ridgeway Community School in Farnham (£13,900) and The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy in Lingfield (£25,400).

A sensory room at Strathmore School in Petersham (£10,000).

A Family Centre Room at the Leatherhead Trinity Family Centre (£22,200).

A refurbishment to the Utility Room at the Rainbow House in Bookham (£3,400).

A contribution towards the refurbishment of an old school building in Farnham for Disability Challengers (£200,000) and we previously helped their project in Guildford too (£18,800).

Our latest project is yet to be completed, and is to help building new classrooms at Rutherford School in Croydon. We have on the table at the moment a number of projects which we are investigating and will hopefully come to fruition during the course of the next 12 months. Not only do we need to study all these proposals carefully, we need to be sure that we have the resources necessary to help them achieve their objectives.

Spoon Surrey Committee

David Jackson has been Chairman of the Surrey Committee since April 2005 in succession to Ron Young. David retired as Senior Partner of Callingham Crane, a Leatherhead based firm of Chartered Accountants, in 2001 following which he undertook some consultancy work. He has been a member of Wooden Spoon for very many years and enjoyed participating in many of the events organised in Surrey - becoming a member of the committee was a good way of giving something back to the Charity. Paul Taylor took over the position of Honorary Treasurer from David Jackson when he became Chairman. He too is a Chartered Accountant and Senior Partner of the Kingsmill Partnership in Croydon. Wayne Anderson has occupied the position of Honorary Secretary for the same length of time and both he and Paul are very committed to helping with all aspects on the Surrey calendar. The remainder of the committee consists of Ron Young, Brian Hodges (the National Project Co-ordinator) Mark Quinn, Frank Tett, John Hampton and Alan Jenkins. The photograph above shows some of us supporting a Mini Rugby Festival at Dorking Rugby Club

ACTIVITIES

The Surrey committee are embarking on some new and exciting fund raising events in 2010. We will be holding our Sportsman's Dinner in January (albeit at a different venue at the Duchess's Stand at Epsom Downs racecourse) and our Regional Golf Day (at the RAC in Epsom as usual). Between these two regulars, we are hiring the Festival Hall in Croydon and will host the Treorchy Male Voice Choir to perform what we are sure will be a magnificent concert - not to mention their presence in the Arnhem Gallery for some informal entertainment afterwards. We are close to finalising arrangements for some very special hospitality at the Derby on Saturday June 5th. Do look out for more news about this very special opportunity.

TNT SUPPORT

As a way of saying thank you to TNT, one of the largest sponsors of Spoon, we host meetings for the staff of local TNT offices at some of the projects where funds have been utilised. Recently we have visited Woodlands School in Leatherhead, Dovers Green School in Reigate, The Ridgeway Community School in Farnham, and Strathmore School in Petersham. The TNT staff were shown round the School and particularly what Spoon has provided there, and are without exception amazed at what they see is being provided for the children to whom these schools are such a very important part of their lives. They return back to their depots with a renewed and determined vigour to raise even more money individually for this wonderful charity called Wooden Spoon!

Spoon Surrey Project opening

All of this, of course, is ultimately about the support we are able to give to disadvantaged children in Surrey. Since the region was formed in the very early years of Spoon's existence, we have funded projects across the county to the tune of some £550,000, helping children are physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged. If you would like to see the organisations we have helped click here. We have been honoured on two occasions by HRH The Princess Royal, Patron of Wooden Spoon, graciously opening two of these projects. The children at Gosden House School were overcome by HRH arriving by helicopter and spending so much time with them before opening their new outdoor "Harry's Playground". For a full list of supported projects, click here.

YOU CAN HELP

We would welcome anyone who would be prepared to assist us in organising events, or undertaking some of the administrative matters that need to be done. Even if you are not able to find the time to do that, if you are not already a member, do join Spoon - click here - and help to stir smiles and make a difference.