From sensory gardens to boxing clubs: London Gatwick celebrates 20 years of the Gatwick Airport Community Trust as it launches new charitable fund
- New London Gatwick Community Fund will take over the airport’s charitable giving and will replace the Gatwick Airport Community Trust (GACT)
- GACT’s partnership work is celebrated as it marks 20 years of supporting community projects across Kent, Sussex and Surrey
- New community fund introduces an updated grant allocation approach which will provide ringfenced resources for each neighbouring county
- Eligible community groups urged to apply for grants with funding now open
For more than two decades the Gatwick Airport Community Trust (GACT) has supported hundreds of community-based projects with grants worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Now, after a period of review, the Trust is being wound up and the great work pioneered by GACT will continue through the new London Gatwick Community Fund.
While the name has changed, the commitment to support local causes remains the same.
The new fund will implement an updated resource allocation approach which will provide dedicated funding for the counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
Sam Fulton, Director of Communications & External Affairs, London Gatwick said: “The Gatwick Airport Community Trust has supported an exceptional range of local initiatives over the past two decades.
“With the introduction of the new London Gatwick Community Fund, this important work will continue through a refreshed approach that reflects current community priorities and ensures funding remains accessible and impactful.
“We are excited to see this work continue and although the name may be changing, the ethos and commitment to supporting good causes throughout Kent, Surrey and Sussex is very much intact.”
Jo Rettie, GACT Chair, said: “I am so proud of the amazing things we at GACT, working with our local communities, have been able to achieve.
“It has a been a pleasure and a privilege to have been able to lead the trust. I know we have built the strongest foundations for the exciting next phase as the London Gatwick Community Fund takes up the mantle.
“My thanks and unending gratitude to everyone who has given their time and energy to GACT, and to those unsung heroes in the communities of Surrey, Sussex and Kent who are the ones out there making these life-changing projects a reality.
“GACT may be ending but its legacy and the important work goes on.
“And I urge anyone who thinks their community organisation or project might be eligible to check the work of the Fund and submit an application when the next window opens.
“I am so excited to see what the next phase brings and how we continue this crucial work for our communities.”
Under the refreshed approach, community funding will be delivered through three county-based Foundation Funds covering:
- Surrey: focusing on Tandridge, Reigate and Banstead and Mole Valley
- Sussex: focusing on Crawley, Horsham, Mid Sussex and Wealden
- Kent: focusing on Tonbridge and Malling, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks
Each Fund will support organisations operating within these defined local areas, with a focus on:
- Skills, employment and pathways to opportunity
- Community wellbeing and inclusion
- Environmental improvement and resilience
- Young people and education
- Health, social connection and community-led solutions
- Support for vulnerable groups
- Volunteering and community cohesion
Funding will be available to voluntary, charitable and community organisations whose work delivers clear local benefit and aligns with the Funds’ focus areas.
For more information, visit our website .
Background
For more than two decades, the Gatwick Airport Community Trust (GACT) has supported local groups and projects that bring communities together, create opportunities and enhance local life across Surrey, Sussex and Kent.
Since its establishment, the Trust has helped a wide range of initiatives take shape – from community facilities and skills programmes to youth projects, arts groups, heritage work and support for people in vulnerable circumstances.
In recent years alone, GACT has awarded more than £590,000 across over 320 individual grants, contributing to projects that provide social, educational, cultural and environmental benefit across the region. These recent awards build on a much wider legacy of support delivered by the Trust over more than 20 years.
Some examples of the projects that have received grants are:
- A £5,000 contribution to Crawley Youth Centre, enabling the purchase of new boxing equipment for its long-running boxing club. The award was made in memory of former GACT Trustee Raj Sharma, who devoted many years to supporting the club and strengthening community life in Crawley
- A £20,000 grant to Crawley Open House to help transform a disused building into a dedicated life-skills and personal development centre for people who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity. The new facility offers structured learning and practical support
- A £20,000 contribution to the redevelopment of the Capel Sports Pavilion, helping to turn a dilapidated building into a vibrant community hub for local sports clubs and groups
Other projects include sensory gardens, accessible play spaces, creative arts programmes, dementia engagement tools, inclusive community events, heritage initiatives and activities supporting young people, families and vulnerable groups. Together these projects reflect the breadth and depth of GACT’s contribution to communities across the region.
With around 43m annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5bn GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). More than 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 160 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared maximum capacity of 57 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15m people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail. A six-year, £2bn sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%.
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