Guildford Lions Club (cio)

Charity Number: 1175962

Annual Expenditure: £0.2M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £57,243 (2023); £168,672 expenditure (2023-24)
  • Grant Range: £60 - £7,500
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Guildford area, Surrey
  • Application Method: No public application process
  • Total Income (2023-24): £154,280
  • Volunteers: 40
  • Trustees: 7

Contact Details

Website: www.guildfordlions.com

Email: guildfordlions@btinternet.com

Phone: 0345 833 2884

Registered Address: 4 Cheviot Drive, Fleet, Hampshire GU51 2TF

Meeting Location: Waterside Centre Riverside, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1LW

Registered Charity Number: 1175962

Social Media: Facebook - Guildford Lions Club

Overview

Guildford Lions Club (CIO) was established in 1967 and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organization on 28 November 2017. The club serves the Guildford community through volunteer-led fundraising and grant making. Their mission is to help create a better environment in which their community can flourish by serving the community in whatever way they can, with a focus on supporting those who “fall through the cracks” - including single parents, elderly people experiencing loneliness, and others needing support in everyday life.

The club operates entirely through volunteers with no trustees receiving remuneration, ensuring all funds raised support charitable work. In 2023, they distributed £57,243 including £13,090 to local food banks. For the financial year ending June 2024, they had income of £154,280 and expenditure of £168,672. The majority of funds raised are used locally in the Guildford area, though they also contribute to global disaster relief through the Lions Clubs International network. The club has completed significant fundraising achievements including raising £250,000 for Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Guildford Lions Club does not operate formal grant programs with fixed deadlines or set funding tiers. Instead, they make grants on a rolling basis as funds are raised and needs are identified through their community partnerships.

Grant Amounts: Grants typically range from £60 to £7,500 based on recent donation records. Notable recent grants include:

  • £7,500 to Oakleaf Enterprise (mental health support)
  • £6,000 to Sight for Surrey
  • £2,142 to Guildford Shakespeare Company (knife crime awareness campaign)
  • £1,000 to various local charities and schools
  • £500 to Basketball4all, Prostate Project, and other community organizations

Application Method: Rolling basis through trustee identification and community partnerships - no formal public application process.

Priority Areas

Core Focus Areas:

  • Food Security: Consistent monthly support for Guildford and Godalming Food Banks (£13,090 in 2023; ongoing monthly donations of £397-£900)
  • Youth Development: Schools, young carers, educational programs, sports initiatives (Basketball4all, Pirbright School Nurture Farm)
  • Health and Disability: Mental health services (Oakleaf Enterprise), visual impairment support (Sight for Surrey), autism services (Jigsaw School), medical ID jewelry through MedicAlert
  • Social Welfare: Support for homeless individuals, families in need, elderly people, white goods and essential items for vulnerable households
  • Community Safety: Knife crime awareness campaigns, Remembrance Day marshal support
  • Arts and Culture: Guildford Shakespeare Company programs

Beneficiary Groups:

  • Children and young people
  • Elderly people
  • People with disabilities
  • People experiencing homelessness
  • Single parents
  • Families in crisis
  • Individuals with mental health needs
  • General public in Guildford area

Geographic Scope: Primarily serves the Guildford area in Surrey, with occasional national (UK-wide disaster relief) and international support through Lions Clubs International network.

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, the club's charitable objectives state they focus on supporting charitable purposes primarily in the Guildford area. Their grant making appears focused on:

  • Direct community benefit rather than endowments or capital appeals
  • Immediate needs and local causes rather than national organizations
  • Organizations and individuals in or serving the Guildford area
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Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

  • President (2025): Geoff Sheldon
  • Previous President (2023-24): Brian Watts
  • Trustees: 7 trustees as of June 2024

The club is governed by a board of 7 trustees supported by 40 volunteers. All trustees serve on a voluntary basis without remuneration. The club meets monthly at the Waterside Centre in Guildford.

Governance Policies: The organization maintains formal policies for complaints handling, conflict of interest, risk management, safeguarding, and volunteer management.

Charitable Objectives: The club is registered to advance citizenship, promote the voluntary sector, support youth development, provide humanitarian aid, improve community welfare, support health and disability initiatives, and promote environmental conservation.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

Guildford Lions Club makes grants through trustee discretion and community partnerships rather than a formal public application process. The club works directly with Guildford agencies and charities to identify beneficiaries and needs. They proactively seek out suitable causes to support in the Guildford area after organizing fundraising events.

How Grants Are Awarded:

  • Through partnerships with local agencies who refer individuals and families in need
  • Direct identification of community needs by club members and trustees
  • Responses to specific community crises or urgent needs
  • Through the club's community connections and monthly meetings

Organizations or individuals seeking support can:

  • Contact the club via their website contact form at www.guildfordlions.com/contact-us/
  • Email: guildfordlions@btinternet.com
  • Phone: 0345 833 2884
  • Connect via Facebook: Guildford Lions Club

According to their website, someone from the club will contact inquirers within a few days to provide further information.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - the club makes funding decisions on a rolling basis through trustee meetings held monthly. Decisions are made as needs are identified and funds are available rather than following fixed deadlines.

Success Rates

Not publicly available - no formal application process means no traditional success rate data.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to absence of formal application process. The club maintains ongoing relationships with supported organizations and may provide repeat funding based on continued community need.

Application Success Factors

Given the absence of a formal application process, securing support from Guildford Lions Club depends on different factors than traditional grant applications:

Community Connection and Visibility:

  • The club works closely with local Guildford agencies, charities, and community organizations to identify needs
  • Being known within the local Guildford voluntary sector increases the likelihood of being identified as a potential beneficiary
  • Organizations already supported include food banks, schools, mental health charities, youth programs, and community welfare organizations

Alignment with Funding Patterns:

Analysis of their donation records shows strong preference for:

  • Immediate practical support: Food vouchers, white goods, bedding, essential items for families in crisis
  • Consistent community services: Regular monthly support for food banks demonstrates commitment to ongoing community infrastructure
  • Youth and education: Schools, young carers programs, sports and arts initiatives for children
  • Health and social care: Mental health services, disability support, medical assistance programs
  • Community safety and wellbeing: Knife crime awareness, elderly support, homelessness services

Local Guildford Focus:

  • Virtually all grants support organizations or individuals in the Guildford area
  • The club's charitable objectives explicitly prioritize “primarily in the Guildford area”
  • Even when supporting national causes, they typically do so through local branches or Guildford-based initiatives

Clear Community Impact:

Recent funding recipients demonstrate the club values:

  • Direct benefit to vulnerable populations (families in need receiving supermarket vouchers and white goods)
  • Prevention and awareness programs (knife crime campaigns, healthy living programs)
  • Services addressing gaps in public provision (“those who fall through the cracks”)
  • Organizations delivering tangible outcomes rather than advocacy or research

Relationship Building Opportunities:

  • The club organizes major fundraising events including the annual Guildford Lions Charity Raft Race
  • They welcome sponsorship partnerships for their events (financial or services)
  • Monthly meetings at Waterside Centre provide potential networking opportunities

Size and Scope of Grants:

  • The club makes both small grants (£60-£500 for specific items or programs) and larger strategic grants (£6,000-£7,500 for major initiatives)
  • They appear comfortable funding both individual emergency needs and established charity programs
  • Monthly food bank donations show commitment to sustained regular support alongside one-off grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No formal application process: This is not a funder you can apply to through traditional grant applications. Instead, focus on building relationships within the Guildford voluntary sector where the club identifies funding opportunities.
  • Hyperlocal focus: Guildford Lions Club overwhelmingly supports Guildford-area causes. If your organization doesn't serve the Guildford community directly, this is not an appropriate funder.
  • Community referral pathway: The club works with local agencies and charities to identify needs. Being known to organizations they already support (food banks, social services, community charities) may create referral pathways.
  • Strong commitment to essential services: Monthly food bank support and crisis assistance for families shows the club values fundamental community infrastructure rather than “nice to have” projects.
  • Flexible grant sizes: Don't assume they only make small grants - recent donations range from £60 for specific items to £7,500 for major charity programs.
  • Multiple funding opportunities: The club makes grants year-round on a rolling basis as funds are raised, providing multiple potential funding moments throughout the year rather than annual deadlines.
  • Event sponsorship alternative: If grant funding isn't accessible, the club welcomes sponsorship partnerships for their fundraising events, which could provide visibility and relationship-building opportunities.

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