Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead

A strong voluntary sector supporting a healthy community for all

Our aims are

  • to improve the effectiveness of the voluntary, community and faith sector, serving Reigate & Banstead

  • to enable residents and employees to contribute to their community, through volunteering and social action

Our values are

  • Put volunteers and the voluntary, community and faith sector (VCFS) in Reigate and Banstead at the heart of what we do.

  • Approach every transaction with openness, fairness, and inclusivity.

  • Promote equality, diversity and cohesion through our activities.

  • Support the most vulnerable people in our communities including volunteers with extra support needs.

  • Seek solutions, not problems, seek to listen and learn.

  • Act as an independent voice and advocate of volunteering and the sector (VCFS) and its strategic development.

  • Operate ethically, independently, honestly and with the highest standards of integrity.

Supporting the voluntary sector
VARB provides advice and information to voluntary, community and faith organisations in Reigate & Banstead. We also bring organisations together to share experience and build partnerships.
Supporting and Promoting Volunteering
VARB promotes volunteering and helps individuals and teams find the right volunteer activities with local organisations. We also support good practice in volunteer management and are proud to celebrate the contribution made by volunteers,
Connecting people and resources
VARB connects people, organisations and resources to maximise the benefits for everyone. We also shamelessly signpost to the best sources of advice and information that we can find.
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Good Connections
Local Knowledge
Dedicated Team
Individual response

Meet the Team

Suzanne Morris
Trustee
Suzanne joined the VARB team in March 2025.  Suzanne is a highly
Yvonne Adnyana
Trustee Yvonne has over 15 years of experience in education and previously
Anne Sumner
Trustee
Anne joined the VARB team in October 2024.  Anne brings corporate governance,
Mia Ferreira
Admin Support
Having worked in education for a number of years, Mia brings technical
Serena Jester
Trustee
Serena joined the VARB team in May 2024.  Serena has over 25
Trish Kiy
Volunteer Centre Manager
Having worked and volunteered in the charity sector for a number of
Lisa McRobbie
VARB Support Officer
New to the charity sector, Lisa brings her expertise in education and
Photo of Melissa from www.TheLittleWorkbookOfLife.com
Melissa Hull
Consultant
New to the charity world, loving the challenge.
Stuart Matthew
Chair of Trustees
Stuart is the Chair of Trustees for Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead. 
Lisa Faisca
Chief Officer
Lisa is the Chief Officer at Voluntary Action Reigate & Banstead.

VARB is part of a national network of Councils for Voluntary Service and we work to guidelines set down by National Association of Voluntary and Community Associations (NAVCA).

VARB is a member of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

VARB receives funding from Surrey County Council, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and the Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group.   This covers around 70% of our costs.

We continually seek additional funding to deliver projects that meet our core aims.  In 2022/23 we delivered the following projects:

  • Volunteer Wellbeing Project – to encourage and support people to volunteer to reduce their risk of social isolation.  Funded by the Community Foundation for Surrey and Surrey County Council Public Health.

  • Banstead Volunteer Drive – to recruit more volunteer befrienders and drivers to support older people in the north of the borough.  Funded by the Better Care Fund via Surrey County Council.

  • East Surrey Hospital Volunteer Pilot – a development project to identify and test new ways that volunteers can support patients and staff in our local hospital.  Funded by Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group.

Thank you to our Funders - We couldn't do it without you!

Surrey County Council
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