Professional Masterclass Opportunity For Young Trumpeters

21st October 2025

Ongar Music Club has announced an exciting opportunity for Essex’s young brass players. On Sunday 23 November 2025, internationally acclaimed trumpeter Matilda Lloyd will lead a Masterclass for Young Trumpeters at The Ballroom, Budworth Hall, Ongar. 

The Masterclass is organised by Ongar Music Club, with support from the Essex Young Musicians Trust (EYMT) and the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund held by ECF.

The event will begin with Matilda coaching selected trumpet and cornet players, accompanied by pianist Joanna Smith. The day will conclude with a public recital, followed by an award ceremony where two bursaries of £1,000 each will be presented: the EYMT Norman Harper Bursary for the 12–18 age group showing the most promise, and the Belinda Starling Award for the 19–26 age group deemed most outstanding by Matilda. 

About Matilda Lloyd 

Described by BBC Music Magazine as a “trumpet extraordinaire,” Matilda has captivated audiences across the globe with her radiant tone, expressive phrasing, and dazzling virtuosity.

Find out more about Matilda here. 

Applicants Must: 

• Be aged 12–26 and of at least Grade 6 standard 

• Have lived or studied in Essex, including any town or village that was part of Essex prior to 1965, or that straddles the Essex border with an Essex-based postcode 

How to Apply: 

• In the first instance, applicants should email Jane Webster, Chair of Ongar Music Club at chairman@ongarmusicclub.org.uk 

• If selected to apply, applicants will need to submit a CV and a short video recording of no more than five minutes by 31 October 2025. 

• Successful applicants will be asked to pay an entry fee of £30. 

The Masterclass is open to the public, and audience members are invited to enjoy an afternoon of music-making, followed by an evening recital. A limited number of tickets will be available on the door.

Tickets can also be purchased in advance here or by visiting ticketsource.co.uk and searching ‘Ongar Music Club’.

If you wish to reserve a ticket at the door, please call the box office.

 Box Office: 07970 791945

• Prices: £15 (all day), £8 (evening recital only), Under 18/Student all-day ticket, including recital: £5 

• Doors open: 1:30pm, 2:00pm Masterclass, 7:00pm Evening Recital 

• Location: The Ballroom, Budworth Hall, Ongar, CM5 9JG 

High Sheriff Encourages Applications – 2025

13th October 2025

To Apply

The deadline for applications is 1st of December 2025, and the panel will meet to review submissions in February 2025.

The Fund is open to any project or group across Essex with focuses linked to community safety. 

To apply,  Click here  and select High Sheriff’s Fund from the dropdown menu.

You can also call the Grants Team on 01245 355947 for more information. We always recommend getting in touch first to ensure you have the right guidance before submitting your application

Building a Family Legacy with Fundbuilder: Gail’s Story

22nd September 2025

Gail Cunningham, ECF Trustee, and her family are passionate advocates for local philanthropy. Two years ago, Gail and her husband Manish Nandha  began building their Nandha Family Fund through our Fundbuilder programme. We sat down with Gail to explore what drew them to this approach to giving.

For Gail, Fundbuilder offered a more strategic approach to giving. “You can be a bit scattergun in your giving… but we wanted to be a little bit more strategic. We know ECF as an organisation really well and ECF are great at keeping you updated, so we really understand where our money is going.”

The scheme has also helped foster a deeper family connection to philanthropy. “It’s a great way to let the kids know about the local community needs… beyond volunteering and litter picking. It’s great for them to understand that we as a family think that’s important.”

Fundbuilder’s flexibility and long-term vision were also key factors in Gail’s decision to start with fundbuilder. “It gives you a chance to say, well I’ll just get started now… and then build that into your own fund at whatever point you want to” Gail adds, “It’s a really innovative solution, super easy in terms of the admin, but you know you’re building something bigger.”

The family was thrilled to see their contributions already making a difference. “The first grant went to 3food4u  and my husband got the chance to meet them at the summer party event. That was brilliant.”

Looking ahead, Gail sees Fundbuilder as a way to create a lasting legacy. “It’s nice to have that kind of living legacy… hopefully in the future our children can be making donations as well as building on the family fund.”

Her advice to others interested in philanthropy but waiting till they have the resources “Check out Fundbuilder and just get started.”

Want to find more out about Fundbuilder click here to learn more about the programme.

Still want to know more? Contact Perry Norton, Head of Fund Development, on 07495 548383 to discuss Fundbuilder further.

Rainbow Services Helping Charities Thrive In Harlow

For more than two decades, Rainbow Services has been a lifeline in Harlow – championing people, supporting charities, and driving change to tackle disadvantage, deprivation, and social exclusion.

Since 1999, the charity has delivered imaginative projects that bring people together, create opportunities, and strengthen the town’s sense of community. Along the way, Rainbow Services has received nearly £400,000 in grants from Essex Community Foundation (ECF), funding that has played a vital role in helping the charity thrive and grow.

Sharon Summerfield, CEO at Rainbow Services, said: “The support we have received from Essex Community Foundation has enabled us to keep expanding our mission to alleviate poverty, disadvantage, and social exclusion, ensuring that no one in Harlow is left behind. Their funding has helped us adapt to new challenges while continuing to deliver projects that bring real and lasting change to our community.”

ECF’s partnership with Rainbow Services has enabled the charity to deliver life-changing projects, including:

• £5,360 to extend a recycling workshop for young people at risk of exclusion from school.
• £4,158 to purchase new machinery and equipment for a recycling workshop
• £9,580 to continue running the Rainbow Family Contact Centre, which helps separated families maintain positive relationships with their children.

Rainbow Services’ reach is wide and varied, touching the lives of residents of all ages. Their projects include:

The Community Builder Project – reducing isolation by supporting older residents to create social clubs, enjoy day trips, and access health and wellbeing services.

The Community Hub – a partnership with Citizens Advice Harlow and Harlow Foodbank, offering practical support for those in crisis alongside volunteering opportunities, energy advice, and health checks.

Support for Local Groups – free advice and guidance for not-for-profit organisations, helping small grassroots groups grow and established charities thrive.

Youth Project – re-engaging young people through hands-on carpentry training, accredited qualifications, and mentoring to inspire brighter futures

Our Health Matters – connecting residents to essential healthcare and empowering them to make positive changes to their lives.

Place Partnership Expansion – an exciting programme launched by Sport England to revitalise local communities through physical activity, movement and sport.

Frankie Webb-Huseyin ECF Grants Officer after a recent visit to Rainbow Services said “Rainbow Services is a clear example of good hyper-local support and service provision. They work collaboratively with other local organisations within Harlow and across West Essex to provide the services most needed by their community.”

As Rainbow Services looks to the future, its vision remains clear: to keep working for change in Harlow by building stronger connections, sharing resources, and finding better ways to support local people and organisations.

Could You Contribute to Our Finance & Investment Committee?

16th September 2025

Essex Community Foundation is inviting applications for a  Co-opted Member to join our Finance & Investment Committee. This is a unique opportunity to share your professional expertise in how charitable funds are invested to benefit communities across Essex. 

Co-opted Members provide independent insight to help review investment performance, contribute fresh thinking to discussions, and support long-term financial planning. It’s a meaningful way to use your skills for good, without the formal responsibilities of trusteeship. 

The committee meets quarterly, either in our Chelmsford office or online. The role is flexible, voluntary, and expenses are covered. 

Learn more about this role and how to apply  in our Co-opted Member Finance & Investment Pack linked below:

Co-opted Member Finance and Investment Pack  

If you are interested in giving back and helping shape how our charitable funds are managed, please email your CV and a short personal statement to recruitment@essexcf.org.uk. 

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, you can also email recruitment@essexcf.org.uk. to arrange a call with our Director of Finance, Catherine Burton. 

Become a Trustee – Make a Difference in Essex.

12th September 2025

Applications closed on October 3rd. We are no longer recruiting for new Trustees.

Next year will mark 30 years of ECF working passionately to develop and strengthen the charitable sector in Essex, Southend and Thurrock. 

Our mission is to create a culture of generosity and support inspiring charitable giving that provides vital funding to voluntary and community organisations working at the heart of our communities in Essex. 

Each year, we award grants to over 500 local organisations, supported by over 200 donors, fundholders and national schemes. These groups are meeting the real needs of their communities and making a lasting difference to local people. 

Why become a Trustee? 

Becoming a Trustee with ECF is an opportunity to use your skills and experience to make a meaningful impact across Essex. Our Trustees tell us they find the role deeply rewarding knowing they are utilising their expertise to help shape our work supporting hundreds of local causes that change lives. 

You’ll gain insight into the charity sector and work alongside like-minded people who are passionate about strengthening communities. 

Who we’re looking for 

We are currently recruiting for several voluntary Trustee positions.  

We’re looking to strengthen our Board by welcoming individuals with expertise in the following key areas: 

• Grant Making 

• Charity and the Voluntary Sector 

• Finance 

• Marketing & Communications 

If you have experience in any of these areas and are looking for a meaningful way to give back, we’d love to hear from you. 

Your contribution could help us grow our impact and continue making a positive difference in our community, both now and in the future. 

We want our Board to reflect the diversity of the communities we support and particularly welcome interest and applications from Black, Asian and ethnic minorities, people under 40 years of age, people with disabilities, neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ people.    

This could be your first Trustee role, or you may already have experience. We offer a full induction, ongoing training, and a mentor scheme to support you during your first years. You’ll also have the opportunity to grow your skills and knowledge of the charity sector by contributing to our Board committees. 

Our Board meets four times a year, either in person or virtually. Trustee positions are unpaid, but reasonable expenses are covered. 

To Apply

For more information on the trustee recruitment process and how to apply click the link below:

Trustee Recruitment Information