18 June 2025

Tel: 01245 355947

Saffron Community Fund opens for applications

12th May 2025

The Saffron Community Fund (SCF) is offering a lifeline to smaller local charities, announcing that applications open today to apply for a grant from the Saffron Building Society initiative.

We receive and manage all grant applications on behalf of Saffron Building Society and work in partnership with them to ensure funds are distributed fairly.

Since it was set up, the Saffron Community Fund has delivered over £250,000 in grants. Its mission is to bolster the crucial work of smaller charities, community groups, and volunteers across Essex, Hertfordshire, and Suffolk.

Grants are open to charities, not-for-profits, community, and volunteer groups who specifically support the elderly, children and young people, environmental and green causes. Each application for a grant is assessed individually to ensure all funding is fairly distributed to charities.

Applications close on Friday 20th June 2025.

Claire Hunnable, Saffron’s Community Business Partner, explains: “Our Fund is an essential source of funding for some of the smaller charities and community groups around our branches. We have developed a unique and important working relationship with Essex Community Foundation that ensure all grant decisions made by our panel are undertaken with expert guidance from them.

“Every year we are amazed by the diversity of the applications and are always delighted to be introduced to groups we may never normally have been aware of. I also have the pleasure of meeting the people behind the projects and to see the amazing work that is happening all around our communities.”

Charities who have recently benefitted from a grant from the Saffron Community Fund are Dig It Allotment project, also based in Saffron Walden, which hosts members of the community on a weekly basis at the allotment, to learn how to plant, tend, harvest and maintain their fruit and vegetable plots across the seasons.

Reach Group Community Projects also received funding from SCF, to support the costs of a boxing project for children at risk of permanent exclusion, for two schools based in Saffron Walden and Braintree.

Hourglass (Safer Ageing) are able to continue delivering a 24/7 helpline for older people at risk of abuse across Essex, thanks to funding from SCF. Their work also covers Suffolk and Hertfordshire, as demand for their services grow.

How to apply