In recent years, events like the pandemic and cost of living crisis, coupled with an increasingly digital world, have contributed to a decline in mental health and emotional wellbeing across the UK. For the residents of East Surrey, there is a lifeline in the form of Waythrough Community Connections, running peer support groups and wellbeing workshops for those aged 16 and over.
Having joined us in May of 2025 and already amassing more than £600 in free donations, we spoke with cause admin Chon, who has been a part of the Waythrough East Surrey team for more than 13 years.
What services do Waythrough offer?
Waythrough East Surrey runs peer support groups, free mental health courses and workshops as part of our Community Connections service. Our team of advisors also offer one-to-one support and can signpost members of the community to additional services. People can be referred to Waythrough by a GP or mental health professional or self-refer.
We have a therapeutic community approach and we’re very friendly and welcoming. Anyone over 16 in our area who is suffering with their mental health or feels isolated can come to us for support. We can help them in their journey towards more stable mental health.
Nick and Hayley’s story
Two of our local residents who have been supported by our service are Nick and Hayley. Nick suffered with extreme anxiety to the point he felt unable to leave his home. And Hayley was suffering with depression and feeling unable to speak to anyone. I’ll let them tell their own story:
Nick: “I just couldn’t get out of my house, my front room, I couldn’t even go into the back garden, I was very isolated.
“When I was referred to Waythrough, I was very anxious. It is all a bit of a fog for me because my brain was pretty much closed, but Waythrough and all the courses have gradually developed my confidence to get out and about. Waythrough has made a huge difference to my life.”
Hayley: “My mental health was in a really bad place, and I wouldn’t talk to anyone about how I felt, I’d just keep it all closed in and bottled up, thinking I could do it all on my own.
“I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it to tomorrow, so I went to the doctors, explained how my mental health was and how bad I was feeling, and he referred me to Waythrough, and I’ve been here for almost a year now.
“I joined a lot of groups, I don’t think there’s many groups I’m not in, I’ve always got something to say to somebody so I’m talking a lot more and expressing how I feel. I’m not sure how I’d feel if I didn’t have Waythrough because it’s a big support to my life.”
What do Waythrough need funding for?
We are lucky to receive funding through our local authority and commissioners, but it doesn’t cover the day-to-day running costs we have, which are increasing all the time. Utility bills for example are constantly rising, but we aren’t given an uplift to cover this. So we need to do additional fundraising for this, so we can continue to open our doors to those who need us. The kind of things it isn’t easy to ask donors to get behind.
Why did you join easyfundraising?
We chose easyfundraising because we loved the concept of not having to apply for funding or pressuring anyone to donate if they can’t afford. The donations are free when they shop. It’s a total no brainer.
They have some brilliant incentives and last October we were lucky enough to be one of the winners in their eBay Big Giveaway competition. We had some supporters who shopped with eBay during the month and that got us in the draw – we ended up winning a £500 bonus that went towards a new TV for our waiting area and materials for our creative workshops.
Ultimately, the money from easyfundraising helps us make our space and environment more welcoming for those who, when they visit, are feeling very vulnerable. Every donation helps us improve and maintain our spaces where people can connect and feel supported.
So far we have raised more than £600 thanks to our supportive shoppers on easyfundraising and we couldn’t be more grateful.
How you can support Waythrough
Waythrough Easy Surrey Community Connections continue to transform the lives of residents. There are so many more people out there feeling the way Nick and Hayley did and with funding, Waythrough can carry on being there for them. If you’d like to raise free donations for them every time you shop online, sign up here.
Are you connected to a cause that could use some extra free funding? Register your cause here.