About Us
SMEF
SMEF set up in 2009 to represent the needs and aspirations of a growing ethnic minority population in Surrey and became a charity in 2013.
Our vision is of a unified and diverse community with an active focus on improved wellbeing for all in Surrey.
Our mission is to engage and empower minoritized communities to work together to actively find solutions to the social and economic challenges they face.
We are an umbrella organisation, bringing together over 50 grassroots community groups and voicing the diverse views of black and minority ethnic people in Surrey, to strategic partners such as Surrey County Council, local and district councils, Surrey Police and the NHS.
We work in the community too, running a number of varied projects across the county to tackle social and economic inequality, to reduce isolation and stigma and to improve mental and physical health.
SMEF’s model is of a neutral space – where people of diverse cultures, faiths and ethnicities come together to find solutions to the inequities they face living in Britain today. A space where communities have the confidence to shape their destinies by a shared understanding of their values, rights and responsibilities.
Our Work
Our ambition is to be the front line advocacy organisation for Black and Minoritised Ethnic communities in Surrey.
Our membership groups are representive of Surrey’s 23.4% ethnic minority population. Togther we can reach over 112,000 households and 280,000 individuals across Surrey.
Our impact
young people empowered to take action against hate crime
people attended awareness raising and training sessions
member groups supported
Case Studies
Alekka
Alekka joined our Redhill Women’s Group in November 2020. The Women’s Groups is part of our Many Hands project which helps women to integrate by building stronger social bonds, gaining new skills for work through volunteering and improving their language and...
Kamilla
Kamilla’s husband is a drug addict. He is verbally and physical violent towards Kamilla – often forcing her to give him money so he can feed his addiction. Much of this violence is witnessed by their young children. Our Trust Project supports women and families from...
Zahra
Our Muslim Women and Girls’ Groups in Surrey Heath provide regular weekly drop in sessions that bring together South Asian women and girls of all nationalities, creeds and cultures, to socialise, learn new skills and improve their wellbeing through activities and...