ECF - Surviving Winter Appeal

	Click here for their press release
Warm-hearted people in Essex are being urged to support the Surviving Winter Appeal, with the aim of helping the most vulnerable people in the county get through the worst of the winter months. Money raised will be passed on to local charities and organisations who give direct help to elderly and vulnerable people. Text COLD00£10 to 70070

Thanks to the generosity of the people of Essex we have been able to make our first grant from the Surviving Winter Appeal.

The Jaywick Community Resource Centre have received £1000 to help them run additional lunch days for their elderly clients throughout the Winter months. The Resource Centre is a lifeline to local people and they have a policy that no-one leaves the centre unless they can give them a telephone number of an agency or group that can help them if they cannot. We are delighted that they are the recipient of our first grant.

We are now looking forward to making more grants over the coming weeks.

We are absolutely delighted by the support we are receiving from the public and the local press and we will be working with them to keep the community updated on the success of the appeal and the organisations that will benefit from your generosity.

Anyone can support the appeal which was inspired by people who wished to recycle their Winter Fuel Payment to help local charities.

It is estimated that nearly 700 people die each year in Essex from causes directly attributable to the cold and poor living conditions. 90% of winter deaths are of people aged over 65 and this age group, of which there are some 250,000 in Essex, are particularly vulnerable during the winter months.

Three voluntary organisations benefited from the Surviving Winter Appeal in 2010:

Age Concern Chelmsford –A £1000 donation helped Age Concern Chelmsford to keep its day centre running during one of the harshest winters on record. This meant that every weekday elderly people had a warm and welcoming place to go to enjoy companionship, support and wholesome hot meals cooked on the premises.
Read More
Family Support Clacton – A £1000 donation supported two centres that each provides hot meals to 24 people from Monday to Friday. Flasks of hot homemade soup were also provided to clients when they left the centre to go home. The organisation supports residents in Clacton and surrounding rural areas. Read More
Wyvern Community Transport – A £1000 donation funded additional minibus services on Saturdays throughout the winter, to residents that were unable to use public transport. The door to door service is available to residents of Rochford and Castle Point. Read More

"It would be great if everyone who is in a position to forego part or all of their Winter fuel Payment could join this great scheme and spread a little warmth"

Sir David Jason

John Spence, chairman of ECF said: “The appeal is all about reaching into the heart of the community to make sure that local charities and organisations have the money they need to help people who struggle in the winter months.

“The money raised by the Surviving Winter Appeal will give a much-needed boost to local charities and community organisations who carry out absolutely vital work, reaching people who are most in need during the worst of the winter months.

ECF’s Surviving Winter Appeal has been welcomed by the Bishop of Chelmsford, the Right Revd Stephen Cottrell and the Bishop of Brentwood, the Right Revd Thomas McMahon. In a joint statement of support they said: “We know that the people of Essex are willing to show great generosity to those in need and at this time of year that spirit of giving is needed more than ever.

“Elderly and vulnerable people in our community need support from all of us and we urge everyone in Essex to give their backing to Essex Community Foundation’s Surviving Winter Appeal.”

Questions?......Read our Q & A here

To make a pledge now and donate your Winter Fuel Payment when you have received it, please e-mail Steve Mackenzie : steve@essexcf.org.uk or send a cheque directly to Steve at Essex Community Foundation, 121 New London Road, Chelmsford, CM2 0QT. Or you can donate on-line by clicking here.