Wonersh Village Foundation CIO

Wonersh Village Foundation CIO, established in December 2020 as a charitable incorporated organisation succeeding the original Wonersh Village Foundation, exists to advance the general benefit of Wonersh, Surrey inhabitants through grants to individuals and organisations in the civil parish and, at trustees' discretion, adjoining parishes. Overseen by five voluntary trustees, its mission centres on fostering community cohesion, wellbeing, and opportunities amid local evolution, with a pragmatic, generalist ethos rooted in sustaining essential amenities, preserving infrastructure, and addressing unmet needs not covered by public or commercial sources.

The Foundation funds a broad spectrum of hyper-local initiatives, including village shops, strategic land purchases like Barnett Hill Field, community assets, amenities, support for vulnerable residents, educational and recreational projects, capital improvements, core costs, and emergency aid. Beneficiaries encompass grassroots charities, volunteer-led community groups, parish initiatives, and individuals, prioritising demonstrable social good through responsive, flexible grants that safeguard valued facilities against loss.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups based strictly in Wonersh (with rare extensions nearby), favouring small, locally embedded entities without fixed income limits. Typical grants range from £1,000 to £20,000, occasionally higher for major projects. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; start with a phone enquiry or contact via Wonersh Parish Council clerk for informal discussion, as trustees review requests on a rolling basis tied to periodic meetings, with no deadlines or formal forms.

Distinctively, it excludes non-local projects, regional/national efforts, or anything beyond its geographic remit, standing out as a nimble community guardian for Wonersh's vital resources through discretionary, stakeholder-informed decisions.