Our Foundation Hub a Gift that Keeps on Giving
26th May 2026
Some spaces are defined not by what they are, but by what happens within them.
In Chelmsford, 3 Hoffmanns Way has become one of those places, an office building where people come together with a shared purpose: to support local communities, collaborate, and create lasting impact.
It is here that Essex Community Foundation (ECF) is based, and where the Foundation Hub provides a shared working space for charities and voluntary organisations across Essex, Southend and Thurrock.
Since moving into the building in June 2022, it has evolved into something more than an office space. It has become an extension of ECF’s work, supporting both its own team and the wider voluntary sector over the past 4 years.
For 17 years, ECF was based at 121 New London Road in Chelmsford. Over time, as the organisation grew, it became clear that a move would be needed.
A conversation with one of our benefactors would go on to reshape ECF’s future.
Our benefactors are a couple that ECF had known for several years. When they approached us, they explained that while they supported a number of charitable causes, they had come to particularly value the Foundation’s work, and its ability to reach and support far more local organisations than they could individually.
What they said next astonished us:
“We want to do something for the Foundation, but also something that will help many other local charities. We would like to buy you a new office building.”
It was a moment that shifted everything, from simply finding a new office to rethinking what a building could offer the wider voluntary sector.
Upon agreement that ECF should remain in Chelmsford due to its central location in Essex, attention soon turned to 3 Hoffmanns Way.
It was a building that we knew, as it was owned by Essex Police and was latterly the home of the Essex Police Authority and then the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
The building was larger than we needed, but it felt right, and we were confident of its potential. The area in which the office is located has a rich history, with the old Hoffmanns Bearings Company originally having its factory just down the road where Anglia Ruskin University is now, hence the name of the road, and the long-established Marriage’s Millers family business just behind us.
Our benefactors, who have expertise in property, also liked the building and, due to its size, agreed to our suggestion that as well as it being home for the ECF team at a peppercorn rent, the gift could also extend to the wider voluntary sector, providing charities and organisations with free and flexible working space that would support the growth and development of different groups. From the outset, the intention was clear: this would be a resource for charities across Essex, not solely for ECF.
Caroline Taylor, Chief Executive of ECF, explains the thinking behind the gift:
“We suggested to our benefactors that this could be a way of paying their gift forward. By giving us this building, they were supporting organisations that might not otherwise have access to the space or resources they need to develop their work, bringing people together so they can do the amazing work that benefits communities across Essex.”
The building, however, needed significant investment. It had been vacant for some time, the electrics were out of date, and it was inefficient in terms of energy usage.
Our amazing benefactors generously contributed to the refurbishment costs, and we were also able to draw on an unrestricted legacy, which gave us the flexibility to complete the project to create a high-quality, accessible office space and a welcoming, inclusive environment for people to come together and collaborate to excellent standards.
It was important for ECF to use Essex-based companies to help transform the building into the space it is today. With the help of Cadman Construction, Barker Associates, and Mansfield Monk, the vision for 3 Hoffmanns Way was brought to life.
With refurbishment underway, the idea of the Foundation Hub began to take shape.
The Foundation Hub
At the heart of the building is the Foundation Hub.
Designed as a shared space for charities and voluntary organisations across Essex, Southend and Thurrock with access to meeting rooms, working areas and facilities free of charge. For many organisations, it offers something often difficult to find elsewhere: a professional environment where they can meet, plan and collaborate without cost becoming a barrier.
Since opening, the Foundation Hub has been used extensively by ECF’s grant partners, with demand continuing to grow. It has become a valuable resource for organisations needing accessible space to come together and work effectively, reflecting both its practical purpose and the value of shared working environments.
Since its opening, the Hub has recorded 1,944 bookings, totalling approximately 1,700 days of use, and over 100 registered users, underlining the level of engagement from across the sector. With an average cost of £25 per day for similar facilities across Essex, this represents a substantial in-kind saving to the voluntary sector, equating to approximately £42,500 in support.
Among those making use of the Foundation Hub is Citizens Advice Essex, one of ECF’s grant partners and a frequent user of the space. For organisations like this, access to a professional meeting environment can represent a significant cost elsewhere in the sector.
Martin Lord, Consortium Director at Citizens Advice Essex, reflects on the practical benefits of the space:
“It’s professional, and that’s what we’re trying to be, a professional organisation. We get looked after, and it’s free. It saves us money that we would otherwise have to spend in the commercial sector. It’s great for accessibility, parking and all the facilities here. It just helps us.”
Philip Wakeling, Chair of Trustees at Citizens Advice Essex, also highlights its convenience:
“I’ve simply attended and found it very, very convenient… We became aware of this building, maybe through one of those social media posts. We made contact with Maria [Kravchuk, Grants and Operations Administrator at ECF], and it was a super helpful online booking system. We book four meetings a year. It’s really appreciated. Thank you.”
Steve MacKenzie, Head of Operations at ECF, reflects on the journey of developing 3 Hoffmanns Way and seeing the transformation of the building first-hand:
“Seeing the building at the start and then what it’s become now is quite something. It needed a huge amount of work, but there was always a sense that it could be more than just an office space. There were a lot of decisions, a lot of detail, and a lot of effort that went into making it a great place to work.
To now see it being used in the way it is 4 years on, by so many different organisations, many of whom might not otherwise have access to this kind of space, it’s incredible to see that original purpose brought to life.”
More than a building, 3 Hoffmanns Way has become a shared resource shaped by collaboration and purpose. What began as a practical solution to ECF’s need for new office space has evolved into something wider: a space where charities and voluntary organisations can come together, work alongside one another, and strengthen the communities they serve.
For ECF, it stands as a reflection of its wider role, not only supporting the voluntary sector through funding, but helping to create the conditions in which it can grow, connect and thrive.
In doing so, it has become something greater than any single organisation: a place defined not by what it is, but by what it enables.
Get Involved
The Foundation Hub is open to charities and voluntary organisations across Essex, Southend and Thurrock seeking a professional and accessible space to meet and collaborate.