This is Haslemere spoke with Carolyn Eley, who is a trustee of The Dan Eley Foundation (DEF) and someone whom we have known for several years. This foundation supports vulnerable young people in Waverley who live in disadvantaged circumstances. Its aim is to help their personal and/or educational development by funding opportunities that contribute to healthy self-development.

About Dan Eley

Dan worked as an outreach charity worker in the slums of Latin America for four years before a swimming accident in the Colombian Amazon in 2010 left him with a broken neck and permanently paralysed from the shoulders down.

So serious was Dan’s injury that his condition quickly deteriorated and in the weeks after his accident he was resuscitated from four cardiac arrests. On his fifth arrest he defied a “do not resuscitate” instruction and started breathing again after 17 seconds. Then his long road to recovery began.

Dan spent the next year in hospital, still fighting for his life and facing up to the enormous emotional and physical challenges of being so severely paralysed. During these difficult times he had the opportunity to meet other people with similar disabilities who had overcome extreme adversity to go on and achieve great things in life.

This inspired him to pursue his aspiration of starting a skills training charity – DEF - for youngsters living in poverty and precarious circumstances. Between 2012 and 2022, Dan raised funds for vocational training in accounting and marketing to 800 young people from slums in Cali, Colombia. With Dan’s help they enrolled into 9-month assisted accountancy courses, where they split their time between study and working with local businesses. For entry, they were required to do a Maths test and interestingly we learnt how over 60% are female, many of them single mothers.

In 2012, Dan was a torchbearer for The Olympics and he says that carrying the flame through his home town of Godalming counts as one his greatest and happiest memories.

In spite of huge adversity in his life, Dan firmly believes that "if you persevere through hardship, life may reward you in unexpected ways."

About The Dan Eley Foundation (DEF)

In the UK, DEF is working on several projects. They support Skillway and provide bursaries for students to undergo a two year ‘masterclass’ course in a chosen craft/trade. 

In 2016, the foundation launched its ‘Fresh Start’ programme in conjunction with Surrey Youth Support Services in order to help some of the most disadvantaged young people in the South West Surrey area. Together they identify youngsters most in need and provide them with the equipment and support they need to help them access education and/or training and ultimately employment.

Funds raised towards the programme are spent on items such as: suits and/or shoes for job interviews, refurbished laptops so they can work and learn at home, a basic mobile phone, a bicycle to get to training centres or job interviews, and, in some cases, they provide funds towards the Duke of Edinburgh award program. Carolyn explained, “This involves providing boots, sleeping bags, kit, transport, food and their registration fee. It’s giving youngsters an opportunity to be challenged. DoE can be life challenging and it is tough.”

Dan also works with social workers helping NEETs, often offering a stark choice between a DEF funded course or a criminal record.

In Haslemere, DEF has funded Chromebooks for pupils in receipt of pupil premium at Woolmer Hill. Carolyn explained that DEF has a great relationship with our local state secondary school and they collaborate well together. In addition if, for example, Woolmer Hill identifies an individual on track to fail GCSEs, DEF can fund one-to-one tuition in Maths, Science and English to get them through GCSEs. Carolyn proudly stated, “This is about picking teenagers up at a time in their life where they can change fortunes. We believe in providing life changes and opportunities for these youngsters.”

Over the last nine years, DEF has helped over 100 youngsters in the South West Surrey area obtain the equipment/services they most needed to help them get back into education, training and/or employment.

Spring Benefit Concert

Every year, DEF works with local sixth form Godalming College to raise funds for their charity. They put on a Spring Benefit Concert which is the college’s biggest concert of the year. This year’s will take place on 25th March 2026 at 7pm at United Church, Bridge Street, Godalming. It is the concert’s ten-year anniversary and all proceeds are donated to the Dan Eley Foundation. Their target is to raise £2,000 to provide new opportunities for young people in the catchment area of Godalming College.

The concert itself includes live performances from the Concert Orchestra, Jazz Band, Function Band, Choir and a range of other individual performances and ensembles, with approximately 20 percent of the musicians from Haslemere. This is Haslemere have attended in the past and the standard of music is very high, with many of these musicians preparing for music academies post A-Level. Carolyn shared, “We like to think that better off pupils who never have to consider the cost of music lessons/musical instrument purchases are giving help through this concert to pupils who are struggling. It’s a gift.”

Please do come along and support the students. Tickets are only £10 (£5 for students) and are available from Godalming College here.  If you are able to help on the night and/or offer more general support, please contact Carolyn on carolynmheley@gmail.com or call her on 07880552343. If you would like to make a donation kindly click here. 

Dan Eley Foundation Website

Dan Eley Foundation on Facebook