ECF announced as Birkett Long’s charity of the year

Birkett Long has announced Essex Community Foundation (ECF) as its new charity of the year.

For the past two years, the firm’s charity of the year has been Essex & Herts Air Ambulance. Despite being in lockdown for over half this time, meaning fundraising opportunities were more limited, the firm is proud to have raised over £5,000.

Birkett Long staff have continued to take part in events such as a Christmas floristry workshop, monthly dress down days, buying items from the office tuckshops and taking time to complete surveys.

This year the firm will raise funds and work with ECF, the independent charitable trust, to identify charities in Basildon, Chelmsford and Colchester to give direct donations to. Each year the Foundation awards around £5 million in grants to charities and community organisations working in the county. These groups provide support at the grassroots of their communities helping people of all ages.

Victoria Fenner, from Birkett Long’s Events and Fundraising Committee, said: “We are delighted to announce our new charity of the year. We care for our clients, our communities and each other and we feel that Essex Community Foundation reflects our own values.”

The firm’s late Senior Partner, Christopher J Holmes, OBE DL, was involved with ECF as a Trustee between 2000 and 2009, and ECF also manages his charitable fund.

Perry Norton, Head of Development at ECF, said: “We are excited to work with the team at Birkett Long, introducing them to the smaller, local charities and voluntary organisations who carry out vital work in the communities near to their offices.

“We look forward to engaging their staff in this process and increasing their knowledge and awareness of the needs in these different areas.”