Are you a community champion?
13th July 2018
Bill Davidson is, and he has realised his dream of transforming Parkeston.
When he first took on responsibility for opening and closing the area’s park gates, Bill, 73, a parish councillor and chairman of Parkeston Residents and Welfare Park Association, started to think about how the park could be improved.
“It was in quite a bad state and first of all I set about picking up any litter,” he said.
“Then I took it a bit further and thought about other ways of making the park better. Parkeston was a small, forgotten village and there was a lot to do to make people feel more motivated and bring back community spirit.”
With the help of dedicated volunteers, local fundraising and grants from the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF) Bill’s dream has become a reality. The local community now has a park to be proud of and the jewel in the crown is a newly-opened Parkeston hub.
The hub, which will be used for a wide range of community activities, has been developed in Parkeston’s former bowls club building in Hamilton Street.
Bill said: “The refurbishment is going really well, a lot of work has been carried out and we have lots of new equipment. The new fences are up, accessibility ramps are down, we have a store room, changing rooms and facilities for groups such as a dining club for elderly people.
“It really has been a fantastic community effort and I estimate we have had the help of around 500 volunteers, including people on the community payback scheme.”
Lifeline for parents awarded vital funding
19th February 2018
A funding boost of £8,200 has been given to an “amazing” organisation which offers a lifeline to parents who have children with additional needs.
The MAZE Group CIC has been awarded the grant by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF) to provide more training courses for parents in Colchester and Tendring.
The courses give vital help and guidance to parents, or carers, of children with additional needs, including those with a learning difficulty, physical disability, autism, ADHD or cerebral palsy.
Thanks to the training, called ‘the MAZE Approach’, families are able to build more positive relationships, develop communication strategies and improve behaviour.
Debbie White, from Colchester, is among the many parents who have found the 12-week long course to be life-changing.
She said: “MAZE is amazing, helping families to understand and manage their additional needs. My son Tom is now 22, but didn’t receive his diagnosis of ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) until he was nearly 20.
“Having received this diagnosis, we assumed we would be signposted to other organisations that could provide advice, but nothing happened.
“In 2016, we moved to Colchester and by chance were told about MAZE. I attended their course last January and it really has made a big impact on how we manage the challenges that Tom and our family face day-to-day.
“During my time with MAZE, they helped me to understand my son’s needs and how I can be more supportive to him. The skills that I learnt have not only made me a better mum, but it made me realise how lucky I am to have such a special, amazing son in my life.”
Debbie is now a mentor to other parents and enjoys volunteering with MAZE to give something back to help other families who find themselves in the position she was.
Sue Anderton, director of MAZE, welcomed the funding from ECF which will help the organisation to meet the demand for the services it provides.
She said: “When parents have a strong understanding of the additional needs their child has, they are better equipped to raise them. This understanding and the tools they learn on the programme creates happier parents, happier children and happier siblings, who enjoy a calmer more stable home life.
“MAZE continues to grow, and we are making plans for further development. We hope to increase what we can offer parents, and carers, later this year.”
As well as the training programmes, MAZE also holds social coffee mornings for parents once a month, meeting in Harwich, Clacton and Colchester. To find out more, visit themazegroup.co.uk.
ECF pooled money from two of the endowed charitable funds it manages, the Blanc Family Fund and the Diana Tinson Fund to award this vital grant to MAZE.
For more information about ECF and to find out how to make an application for funding call ECF on 01245 356018.
Changing lives one friendship at a time
22nd January 2018
A befriending scheme which matches people who feel lonely and isolated, with a volunteer companion, has been awarded a major grant.
Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services (CAVS) is receiving a £60,000 funding boost, distributed over two years, from The Henry Smith Charity which is working in partnership with the local grantmaking trust Essex Community Foundation.
The befriending scheme helps many elderly and vulnerable people. The grant means that the organisation can expand their work and train extra volunteers to support more people living in Castle Point and Rochford.
Most clients are referred by their local GP or other health agencies and the service adapts to the individual. People are matched based on common interests, location and need.
Alan, a 71-year-old man, is among those who have thrived thanks to the scheme. He has Parkinson’s disease and in the past suffered a debilitating heart attack, leaving him less active.
His GP felt that extra companionship would benefit his health and referred him to CAVS. Through the scheme, Alan was matched with a male volunteer who has helped him to build his confidence and become more physically and mentally active. He now enjoys short walks and is seeking a chess partner.
Vicky Pilton, Senior Befriending Co-ordinator at CAVS, said: “We are thrilled to have received this grant. Providing people with friendship and interesting conversation on a regular basis is something so simple, but it can have a huge impact on the overall wellbeing of individuals.”
If you, or someone you know in the Castle Point or Rochford area, could benefit from the befriending scheme, or if you would like to volunteer, call 01268 638416 or visit castlepointavs.org.uk.
For more information about Essex Community Foundation and how to apply for funding, call 01245 356018.
Tackling food poverty in Clacton
An innovative charity making meals for vulnerable people from surplus food, has been given a boost of £8,000, thanks to staff at Colne Housing.
Clacton-on-Sea FoodCycle has been awarded £8,234 from the Essex-based housing association’s grant making scheme – Colne Community Builders, which is administered by Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
The money will be used to feed more people in the Tendring area, expand their outreach programme and raise awareness of food poverty.
Roger Green, Team Co-ordinator of Clacton-on-Sea FoodCycle, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant from the Colne Community Builders. It’s going to make a huge difference to the 40 guests we serve each week. This money will help us to keep providing this important service and to reach more people who could benefit from a hot meal and some friendly faces”.
Sarah Cawley, of Colne Housing, said: “Colne is all about enabling people to live independently and encouraging communities to thrive. Our teams use their knowledge and expertise when considering applications so the money can make a real difference.”
She added, “We are really impressed by the work Foodcycle does for people in Tendring and believe this grant will have a great impact on people who live in that area.”
Colne Community Builders was launched five years ago and since 2015 has been administered by ECF. In the last three years, Colne has awarded more than £40,000 to Essex charities and voluntary projects that enable independent living.
FoodCycle Clacton-on-Sea has served the community since 2011. Last year, it provided more than 2,000 three-course meals using nearly three tonnes of surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste.
The fruit and vegetables, donated from local businesses and supermarkets, is used by a team of volunteers to create a three-course meal every Monday lunchtime at Trinity Methodist Church.
Guests who attend the weekly meal are elderly, have a low income or are without a home and facing mental health issues. Sitting down for a meal, which is prepared by local people, helps them to feel involved in the community.
Neil is 53-years-old and attends every week. He said: “You are able to talk to other people who might have gone through the same as you. I had a bad breakdown just over a year ago, and it’s only in the past few weeks that I’ve come out of my shell. When you’re able to start speaking to people like yourself, it makes you feel better”.
Colne Community Builders is now inviting more Essex charities to apply for grants through ECF. Staff at Colne give a lot of consideration to the applications and vote to support the ones that will have the greatest impact in communities where Colne has residents.
For more information, please call the grants team on 01245 356018.