Southend-on-Sea charities receive wave of support
20th September 2022
Southend Mencap, Southend In Sight, Send the Right Message and Shoeburyness Residents Association are among 12 voluntary and community organisations to receive a much-needed funding boost from the Southend Community Fund.
Grants totalling £40,000 were awarded from the Fund, which was set up in 2001 with the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF). A panel, made up of local people, works with ECF to consider applications and agree the grants to be awarded each year.
Southend Mencap will use their grant of £3,500 to run a drama-based project called ‘Showstoppers’ that helps students to build confidence and addresses a wide range of issues that adults with learning disabilities may experience.
Southend In Sight received a grant of £4,048, to support the well-being of people with sight loss or visual impairment who have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Catherine Hodgson, the organisation’s community fundraiser said: “We are so grateful to receive this funding boost. Over the past two years we have seen a steep rise in our utility bills, insurance premiums and other costs. On top of that we have a leaking roof that needs repairing and our boiler has been condemned.
“Knowing we have this grant towards our running costs means we can focus on getting the repairs done and supporting our clients.”
Send the Right Message received £3,500 to enhance the well-being of children, young people, and adults with special educational needs and learning difficulties. They hope to expand their services in the coming year.
This year, the panel were pleased to award £2,800 to Shoeburyness Residents Association for an innovative solar powered “talking bench” on Shoebury East beach.
Other local charities benefiting from grants awarded from the Fund this year were:
- Southend Rugby Football Club (1870) Limited received £1,000 towards a rugby project for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
- Get The Kids Out received £2,000 towards weekly sports sessions for children.
- South Essex Advocacy Services received £2,000 towards the costs of advocacy training and qualifications for three volunteers.
- Welcome to the UK received £2,000 towards the costs of developing a new community space and increasing the number of English as a Second Language lessons on offer to migrants.
- Wellbeing at Garon Park CIO received £2,000 for a community event celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee and showcasing the facilities at Garon Park.
- Shoeburyness & Thorpe Bay Baptist Church received £2,600 towards activity sessions including general fitness classes and afternoon tea for those with dementia.
- The One Love Project received £4,711 for the salary of a new part-time admin and bookkeeping post at an organisation supporting homeless people.
- Vincent De Paul Society received £7,590 to set up a database and pay for three year’s subscription costs.
Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Programmes at ECF, said: “These latest grants reflect the diversity of Southend and the needs of local people. They are helping to improve wellbeing and are supporting one-off projects, but there is also a recognition of the importance of contributing to an organisation’s core running costs.
“As well as awarding grants annually, the Fund offers an opportunity to people who want to give back to their local community. Donations can be made as a one-off or regular gift, but gifts of shares can be accepted, or you can speak to your professional adviser about leaving a legacy in your will.
“Dormant or inactive trusts can also be transferred into the Fund. While the trust is reinvigorated for the benefit of future generations, the trustees can remain involved as advisers, but without the legal and financial responsibility and the original intentions of the trust can continue.”
If you would like to talk about giving to the Southend Community Fund, please contact Perry Norton, Head of Development, at ECF on 01245 355947 or perry@essexcf.org.uk.