Leatherhead United Charities

Leatherhead United Charities, established by trust deed in 1971 with roots tracing to 1608 bequests, is a longstanding almshouse provider and grantmaker dedicated to alleviating hardship among over-55s in Leatherhead and neighbouring Surrey communities. Its mission centres on enabling older people on low incomes to age with dignity, security, and independence in their home areas through sheltered housing across 30 units at sites like Stenning Court and Skeet House, alongside targeted financial aid. With governance blending local parish, council, and trustee representation, it emphasises practical, place-based poverty relief via partnerships with frontline agencies.

The charity funds one-off emergency grants for individuals facing crisis (e.g., urgent necessities), modest monthly pensions (£20-£50), and support for small community groups delivering local welfare initiatives aligned with hardship alleviation. Priorities focus sharply on poverty relief for vulnerable older residents, including property refurbishments for accessibility, rather than broad programmes.

Eligibility is tightly restricted to residents or groups in Leatherhead, Bookham, Fetcham, or Ashtead (with 2+ years residency preferred for housing); it supports small, grassroots community groups without strict income limits, but excludes medium/large organisations. Unsolicited applications are not accepted—individuals require endorsement from agencies like Citizens Advice, while groups need local referrals. Grants range £100-£500 for individuals and £250-£2,000 for groups annually, decided rolling at quarterly trustee meetings (4-8 week turnaround). Distinctively, it shuns open calls, capital projects, or unrestricted core costs, prioritising verified need through agency vetting for hyper-local, responsive impact.