Surrey leader’s £10 million funding announcement

Surrey County Council is investing £10 million to help people stay longer in their own homes and communities.

The money will be used to work with Surrey’s districts and boroughs on projects to give the elderly, disabled and those with mental health problems more choice and independence.

Surrey’s leader David Hodge used the county council’s annual meeting yesterday to announce the £2m-a-year investment.

Initiatives the money could be used for include:
• Providing telecare round the clock to keep people safe at home and facilities at leisure centres for disabled people.
• Establishing eight more advice centres run for and by disabled people, taking the total to 11
• Combining day care services to help people continue living in their communities
• Developing more support for people with mental health problems.

Mr Hodge said: “This substantial investment will provide real benefits to our most vulnerable residents, and will enable many more people to live with greater independence and with dignity.

“By working as one team and by setting aside boundaries that cross the public sector we will achieve the best outcomes for the residents of Surrey.”

Leader of Runnymede Borough Council Patrick Roberts said: “These initiatives are all designed to help the most needy in our community and we appreciate the support from David Hodge and his colleagues.

“Runnymede has led the way, with both the library service and Surrey Police being an integral part of our Civic Centre. The county council already operates its adult social care from our offices in Addlestone and we provide a joint wellbeing centre from our community centre in Egham as well as dementia services from our newly transformed Orchard Day Centre.”

Joan Spiers, Leader of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: “I am really delighted that the county council is providing this funding to ensure better support for our residents. We already work very closely with the county council and will soon be sharing office space so we can work together even more closely to achieve a better quality of life for our residents.”

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