What is the vision of your organisation?
Our purpose as a council is to tackle inequality and make sure that no one is left behind.
This purpose flows from the Community Vision for Surrey in 2030. Created with residents, communities and partners, it sets out how we all want Surrey to be by 2030. The Council plays a big part in the joint effort to realise this vision through the delivery of services and through partnerships such as the Health and Wellbeing Board.
Why has your organisation signed the ‘End Poverty Pledge’?
In signing the pledge, SCC has committed to supporting, not just those already struggling to put food on the table and pay their heating bills, but also those who are at risk of financial hardship too. We know the impact of poverty on people’s health and wellbeing can be devastating and lead to even greater demand on services.
SCC needs to target our welfare support offer towards those who need it most, use our influence as a large organisation to ‘buy local’ and improve job opportunities, and advocate for changes to the benefit system to ensure everyone can cover the cost of essentials. We need to work harder and smarter within the financial constraints we face to prevent and mitigate the effects of poverty in Surrey, so no one is left behind.
What examples can you give of your organisation putting the ‘End Poverty Pledge’ into practice?
Before Surrey transitions into two unitary authorities, we have committed to continue the services and activities we currently deliver across our directorates for those in or at risk of financial hardship, including:
Our website and resources – Health and welfare support – Surrey County Council
Community Helpline – dealing with cost of living/welfare enquiries; dealt with 3,727 calls from January – November in 2025.
Fuel Poverty Programme – has distributed Southern Gas Network (SGN) funding of £2,104,475 over 4 years; Warm Welcomes – 83 venues in the scheme in 2024/25, hosting around 65,000 residents; 4,919 fuel vouchers, 24,705 winter essential items & 833 energy efficient appliances provided November 2022 – March 2025.
Crisis Fund (now Crisis Payments) – has supported 28,000 residents over last 7 years, distributing £4.5 million.
Household Support Fund (HSF) – £5,083,629.39 HSF (HM Government) funding distributed for 6 months between October 2024 – March 2025; over 80,000 households supported April 2024 – March 2025 in HSF phase 6 – an increase of 24% over HSF phase 5. SCC is now in a design phase for local delivery of the new HM Government Crisis and Resilience Fund.
Lived Experience – our Changing Futures programme involved its Lived Experience Recovery Organisation (LERO) in the planning and delivery of the programme and its research on Multiple Disadvantage. SCC is supporting the LERO to evolve into an active and independent organisation called VOICES -Support Community Interest Company – learning from lived experience.
Adult Social Care – No Recourse to Public Funds Champions – a network supporting Sanctuary Seekers, including Human Rights Assessments.
Community research – a report on the impact of financial hardship on priority populations and their insights on related support has been delivered. Conducted by Surrey Health Determinants Research Collaborative which continues to be involved in gathering lived experience insights on financial hardship.
Public Health – co-ordinating the development of a whole system approach to poverty with the HWB Board and measuring progress via the Health and Well-being Strategy Index and Scorecard.
Active Surrey – focus on disadvantaged groups; place-based working in Stanwell/6 other targeted places; co-ordinating Department for Education £2 million Holiday Activity and Food programme (Club4) for around 7,500 children on free school meals.
Local Area Co-ordinators – positioning these relational workers in our Key Neighbourhoods – where deprivation levels are highest (based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation)
Care leavers – Surrey’s Local Offer includes council tax is paid for by SCC, plus first tenancy setup payments, a rent guarantor scheme and tailored access to employability skills.
Social care – poverty-aware practice – recognising material deprivation, avoiding stigmatising language and using empathetic communication.
Healthy placemaking – ensuring planning approaches recognise the needs of the Key Neighbourhoods.
Energy efficiency – managing the Warm Homes Local Grant Scheme for low-income families and our Home Energy Advice Team visits.
Jobs and skills – delivering our Workforce and Skills Strategic Framework and services, including our apprenticeship scheme, especially for those furthest from the jobs market.
Community Protection – Safe and Well Home Checks, including heating/cooking facilities inspections and supporting residents to complete application forms for crisis payments
Our staff – rewards, discounts, and access to cheaper borrowing schemes.
What would you hope to be able to do more of in the longer term?
SCC will ensure the Government’s intended implementation of Section 1 of the Equality Act, 2010 (the socio-economic duty), its Child Poverty Strategy and Local Outcomes Framework indicators relating to poverty are considered during planning for Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey approach.