Essex Charities Supporting Mental Health Recovery
10th October 2025
- 4 to 10% of people in Essex will experience mental illness in their lifetime.
- Mixed anxiety and depression have been estimated to cause one fifth of days lost from work in the UK. One of the major causes of social isolation today.
- High rates of suicide exist currently in our local community and in some areas above the national average.
How Essex Charities are supporting recovery through employment
Mental wellbeing in the workplace is becoming an increasingly important concern for employers, as part of their responsibilities towards their staff.
Businesses are not only being asked to recognise the importance of mental health but are also being encouraged to actively support it.
Stress, anxiety and loneliness are among the top causes of long-term sick leave and the economic and human cost of untreated mental ill health is becoming ever more apparent.
In Essex local charities, with vital financial backing from the Coombewood Amenity Fund, are providing life-changing support to those facing mental health challenges, helping them to return to meaningful employment.
The independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF), has been responsible for overseeing the Coombewood Amenity Fund since 2003, giving grants to local charities working with people who are struggling with their mental health.
The grants help organisations to provide training, education and personal development programmes, equipping people with the confidence and skills they need to take positive steps toward employment.
The origins of the fund date back to 1971 when Essex County Council established the Coombewood Centre in response to the need for structured employment opportunities for those experiencing mental health difficulties.
At the time, the centre operated as a sheltered workshop where people could become involved by producing leather goods. A proportion of income from the sale of these goods went into the newly established Coombewood Amenity Fund. Its purpose was clear, to provide practical help to people with mental health problems and support them in finding sustainable employment.
Although changes in government policy in the early 2000s altered how employment support was delivered, the core mission of Coombewood lived on. In 2002, the centre became a broader Resource Centre to meet the diverse and evolving needs of its clients. Recognising the enduring importance of employment to recovery and wellbeing, former clients and staff expressed a strong desire to see the Coombewood Amenity Fund continue.
With Essex County Council’s endorsement, the Fund’s administration was transferred to ECF the following year, ensuring its long-term future.
Today, the Coombewood Amenity Fund stands as a beacon of community resilience and support and, with an invested value of nearly £210,000, it has awarded over £225,000 in grants to charities across Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford, Southend, and Thurrock. These grants have helped countless individuals regain confidence, build new skills, and ultimately, re-enter the workforce.
The charities supported by the Fund are not just offering courses or training, they are restoring lives. By focusing on personal development, emotional resilience, and employability, they help people move from isolation and despair to independence and hope.
Where Community Meets Mental Health
Essex-based charity, Trust Links, has received support from the Coombewood Amenity Fund. It offers therapeutic gardening, recovery classes, social activities, employability support, training, environmental workshops and more to around 4,000 people per year from sites in Southend, Castle Point, Rochford, Braintree and Basildon.
“Mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” says Matt King, CEO of Trust Links. “It’s tied to work, relationships, identity, and community. That’s why our approach is holistic, connecting people not just to services, but to purpose.”
Trust Links’ Growing Together projects are particularly impactful, blending environmental engagement with skill-building and mental
restoration. Participants often report increased confidence, improved wellbeing, and, in many cases, a route back into volunteering or employment.
Importantly, Trust Links is also working directly with employers, providing Mental Health First Aid and Suicide First Aid accredited training as well as wellbeing workshops and partnerships that help businesses support staff through mental health challenges.
“We want to help businesses move beyond awareness to action,” says Matt. “Because healthy employees aren’t just happier, they’re more productive, creative, and loyal.”
Mill Race Foundation is a small charity based in Chelmsford that helps people who suffer mental or physical health problems with their recovery and rehabilitation. They received £7,250 from the Coombewood Amenity Fund to help them deliver educational and work
-based activities in furniture repair, upcycling, restoration, and recognised qualifications in cabinet making, French polishing and upholstery, all in a therapeutic setting.
New Life Wood received £8,565 to deliver woodwork skills training, general wellbeing and support to vulnerable adults based in the Basildon area. By offering placement opportunities New Life Wood helps them to learn carpentry skills, gain confidence and have a pathway to a meaningful life.
To find out how your business can support local charities through Essex Community Foundation, contact Perry Norton, Head of Development on 01245 355947 or email perry@essexcf.org.uk
Empowering Essex’s Voluntary Sector
4th September 2025
Voluntary and community sector leaders across Essex have said the forthcoming reorganisation of local government is a rare opportunity to unlock the full potential of communities if the voluntary and community sector (VCS) is included as a strategic partner from the outset.
Sixteen infrastructure organisations, coordinated by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF), have come together to issue a renewed call for partnership with local and national government. Their joint statement outlines how the VCS can play a central role in delivering better outcomes, reducing long-term demand, and strengthening democratic participation.
Andy Payne Worpole, Director of Policy and Programmes at ECF said, “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a system that truly works for communities.
By embedding the voluntary and community sector in the foundations of reorganisation, we can create a future where services are shaped by real insight, investment reaches the frontline, and local people have a genuine voice in decisions that affect their lives.”
The statement proposes five practical principles to guide reorganisation. These include:
- Local governance that reflects real communities
- A formal role for the VCS in governance and transition
- Long-term investment in place-based support
- Simplified, collaborative commissioning
- Integration with health, care and public service reform
For an overview of the Key Statement Principles watch the short video below.
This statement builds on national policy commitments, including the Civil Society Covenant and NHS 10-Year Plan and reflects the strengths of Essex’s diverse civil society ecosystem, which contributes nearly £1 billion in annual value.
From talking with the infrastructure leaders, Andy said, “It is clear that the sector already brings local knowledge, trusted relationships, and frontline delivery. With the right partnership, we can help deliver a fairer, more resilient Essex.”
The group is inviting system leaders to co-design the way forward and ensure the reorganisation becomes a turning point for empowering local places, not just restructuring institutions.
Want to know more?
To read the full statement Click here.
To collaborate with us on this email: policy@essexcf.org.uk
Grants Available in Harwich and Tendring
27th August 2025
Voluntary and community organisations in Harwich are being encouraged to apply for grants from the Harwich Haven Authority Fund (HHA).
Grants of up to £7,500 are available for community, environmental or educational initiatives.
The Fund, which has been managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF) since 2018, has given grants totalling nearly £200,000 to support local charities and voluntary groups working in Harwich and Tendring, and is part of the company’s wider programme of community support.
Melissa Wellings, ESG Director at Harwich Haven Authority said, “As a trust port, Harwich Haven Authority enjoys the advantage of being able to invest our profits back into the community that we live and operate within for the benefit of local people and future generations.
“Working with ECF has enabled us to support a wide range of local charities and initiatives to date that are helping to improve people’s lives, provide opportunities to help young people achieve their potential and enhance the areas where they live.
“If there are local groups working in Harwich and Tendring that need support, we would urge them to contact ECF to discuss their funding needs.”
Projects that have previously received support include:
- Sailing Barge May, The Bread and Roses Barge CIC – £1,409 towards the cost of a specialist oven for a Community Café on board a historic vessel, which provides a range wellbeing activity days for women across Harwich and beyond.
- Mistley kids Club – £7,735 to help deliver a children’s after school and holiday club across Manningtree as well as the wider North Essex area.
- Jaywick Sands Revival CIC – £5,000 to buy food parcels supplies for foodbank based in Jaywick.
- Home-Start Harwich – £5,500 towards the running costs of a weekly support group for new parents and babies that are not yet independently mobile.
Zoe Brampton, Grants Manager at ECF, said: “Applications can be completed through our website, but our grants team are always pleased to talk through ideas and give guidance prior to making an application.
“They can be contacted on 01245 355947 or you can book a call at a time that is convenient.”
Harwich Haven Authority was created by an act of Parliament in 1863 to safeguard the estuary and preserve 150 square miles of the Haven.
For more iformation on how to apply for a grant or contact the team,
The deadline for submitting applications is Monday 29 September.
Ensuring a Trust lives on
ECF can work with trustees of local trusts, taking on administration and governance responsibilities, while safeguarding the original aims.
The Rob George Foundation
After more than a decade, the Rob George Foundation (RGF) celebrated reaching the milestone of giving £1 million worth of grants to young people with life-threatening conditions and helping those with exceptional talent in sport or the arts.their achievement. The trustees recently decided it was time to secure the long-term future of RGF by transferring its operations to us.
Founded in January 2014 in loving memory of Rob George, who died aged just 21 following a long battle with leukaemia, the RGF has already supported more than 1,700 young people who are facing life-threatening illnesses or pursuing excellence in sport and the performing arts.
Rob, a former student at Colchester Royal Grammar School and Loughborough University, was a talented sportsman and excelled at cricket, golf and hockey.
At the time of his last illness, he had just broken into the Colchester and East Essex County Cricket 1st X1 and had been elected a full playing member of the MCC.
When Rob lost his battle with leukaemia in 2013 his parents, Philip and Lorraine George (pictured below), who now live in Wivenhoe, were determined to carry out his wishes to help other young people.
Philip said: “Rob’s life was cruelly cut short by acute myeloid leukaemia. He was diagnosed in June 2011 and treated at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. Rob achieved full remission, but we were all devastated when, two years after his initial diagnosis, the leukaemia returned.
“Further chemotherapy followed, and a stem cell transplant was planned, but Rob died in December 2013. He was brave and dignified, caring not for himself, but for his family and friends.
“Rob supported the idea that a Foundation should be set up in his memory, and its aims – to support young people who faced similar difficulties to those he had encountered, including the intolerable strain and obstacles involved in obtaining financial support when diagnosed with a life-threatening illness – came from Rob himself.
Lorraine added, “Rob also wanted the Foundation to help young people making their way in the world of sport or the performing arts. We think Rob would have been absolutely thrilled at what has been achieved in his name and very pleased that his Dad and Mum and the other RGF trustees can now relax in the knowledge that the future of the fund is secure, with the transfer of his legacy to the management of ECF.
So much has been achieved in the decade since setting up the RGF in memory of Rob. Our supporters have made some incredible fundraising efforts, and the trustees have worked tirelessly, giving their time generously and for no financial reward.
But we are not getting any younger and the time had come to think seriously about the future. We could have appointed a professional fundraiser as our CEO to take over responsibility for income generation and governance issues. However, this solution would not have been consistent with the culture of the RGF.
We have always prided ourselves on keeping our overheads at very low levels, so that our supporters could be confident that almost all the monies raised by them would go towards grants for deserving young people, rather than being swallowed up in expensive overheads.
Partnering with ECF allows us to preserve the spirit and purpose of the RGF, while placing it in experienced and trusted hands. We’re excited about the future and comforted by the knowledge that the fund created in Rob’s name is now safeguarded for generations to come. Rob would have been proud of everything we’ve achieved and proud that we’ve found a way to ensure the work carries on.”
ECF brings nearly 30 years of expertise in managing charitable funds and shares the RGF’s commitment to maximising impact, while keeping overheads low. The two organisations have previously collaborated on several jointly funded awards, building a relationship founded on shared values and transparency.
For supporters, the transition will feel largely seamless. Donations and fundraising efforts will continue as before, with all contributions going directly to the RGF endowment fund held by us. Grants will be awarded monthly within a framework that ensures sustainability.
Caroline Taylor, CEO of Essex Community Foundation said: “It is a real privilege for us to take on the management of the Rob George Foundation and help carry forward the incredible legacy that Philip and Lorraine have built in their son’s memory.
Since 2014, RGF has made a profound difference to the lives of young people with life-threatening illnesses, or who are pursuing excellence in sport and the performing arts.
We are proud to continue this important work and ensure Rob’s memory lives on through every grant made in his name. The partnership reflects our shared ethos of creating lasting change and supporting people in need”.
Grants will be awarded under the Rob George Foundation’s original aims, supporting young people with life-threatening conditions and helping those with exceptional talent in sport or the arts.
Applications can be made by young people in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and any London Borough.
For more information about the Rob George Foundation and its new partnership with ECF visit https://therobgeorgefoundation.co.uk.
Young people who have received support from RGF include:
- Max – is 4 years old and has a Glioneuronal brain tumour which was 85% removed in March 2023, only for it to start
growing again in June 2024. To help Max get through the numerous hospital appointments needed to monitor his progress, the RGF gave him an iPad to use during his treatments to keep him stimulated; an effective distraction through watching his favourite tv programmes and videos and playing games. - Eve – a talented and dedicated young cricketer playing for England’s Emerging Players Program and Essex Women’s Elite Eagles Program (WEEP). RGF enabled Eve to buy equipment to support her ongoing development, including a new helmet, thigh pads, batting gloves, indoor cricket shoes, cricket bag, bat care kit, practice balls and bat grips.
- Seraphina – started cycling during lockdown aged 12 and instantly fell in love with the sport. She has already won the General Classification at the Isle of Man Youth Tour and The North West Youth Tour, along with many other regional wins. Support from RGF helped her with travelling expenses to e
- vents. This year, she moved up to the under 14s and is competing in the British Cycling Youth National Circuit Series on open roads, closed circuits and town centres.
- Bailey – applied to the RGF for a grant to help with the cost extra associate training programmes and extra dance school classes. She said, “I am proud of my training, work ethic and my progression in dance and performing arts. I hope to continue to learn and thrive all round to then go on to audition for dance college when I leave school. I will be eternally grateful to the RGF for their support and inte
rest in my development.” - Tabitha – received a grant from RGF to help fund a pre-professional circus training course which includes a mix of acrobatics, aerial, equilibristics, trampolining, handstands and strengthening. The ‘aerial hammock’, ‘trampolining’ and ‘rola bola’ are her chosen specialities but she is also learning stage management, equipment set up and rigging.
The Sentinel Gallery
Rob’s parents, Lorraine and Philip George now enjoy living in Wivenhoe, where they own The Sentinel Gallery in Chapel Road. Lorraine is a keen artist herself and enjoys running the gallery on a “not for profit” basis. Artists can hire the gallery by the week and run their own exhibitions with the rent supporting the RGF. Lorraine also sells her artwork from her studio at the gallery, with proceeds also supporting the charity’s work.
The Sentinel Gallery is based in a landmark building in the small artistic town of Wivenhoe. Nestling on the banks of the River Colne alongside the Wivenhoe Trail and close to the mainline railway link – it’s a great place to visit! Please check the website before you set out, as the gallery opening is dependent upon individual exhibitions. www.thesentinelgallery.co.uk/ Artists can also hire the gallery by the week and run their own exhibitions with the rent supporting the RGF
More information:
If you are a trustee of a trust and finding that the governance, administration, grantmaking and trustee recruitment is becoming challenging, contact Perry Norton, Head of Development on 01245 355947 or email perry@essexcf.org.uk to have a conversation and find out of ECF can help.
Rickard Luckin celebrates
Rickard Luckin celebrates its 10-year merger anniversary with a “10k Your Way” fundraising challenge to support local communities
This year, Rickard Luckin is celebrating a major milestone – 10 years since the merger that brought the firm together in 2015. To mark the occasion, the team is embracing the spirit of giving back with a bold and inclusive fundraising initiative: “10k Your Way”.
The goal is ambitious but achievable: to raise £10,000 to support local charities through the Rickard Luckin Community Fund – a target that the company has generously pledged to match, potentially doubling the impact to £20,000. With over 45 individual and group challenges already pledged and more than £2,800 raised so far, the campaign is off to a strong start.
Since the Fund was set up in 2009, prior to the merger, grants totalling nearly £32,000 have been given to support local charities and voluntary groups offering a wide range of support to local people and communities. Alongside this, through donations, payroll giving and fundraising, the team at Rickard Luckin have grown an invested fund of nearly £60,000 that provides an annual amount of funding to give away. We work with a panel made up of members of the Rickard Luckin team, who consider applications and make decisions about which groups to support.
Recent grants include:
· Dial South Essex – £2,178 to help the charity offering confidential information, advice and advocacy to disabled people, carers or anybody with a disability related issue in South Essex.
· Kool Carers South East – £2,508 to support young carers in Basildon, and Brentwood
· Changing Pathways – £1,050 – to support survivors of domestic abuse who are struggling financially across South and West Essex.
What is “10k Your Way”?
“10k Your Way” is a flexible and creative challenge that invites Rickard Luckin team members to take on a personal or group goal themed around the number 10,000. Whether it’s walking 10,000 steps a day, reading 10,000 pages, dancing for 10,000 minutes, or even stacking 10,000 crates – the possibilities are as varied as the people taking part.
The initiative is designed to be inclusive, allowing everyone to participate in a way that suits their interests, abilities, and schedules. Some of the standout pledges include:
· A 10,000-step-a-day challenge for both humans and their four-legged friends.
· 10,000 metres of open water swimming.
· A 10,000-word encouragement campaign shared on LinkedIn.
· 10,000 feet of elevation gain through mountain hikes.
· A 10,000-piece jigsaw puzzle challenge.
· A 10,000-minute yoga and mindfulness journey.
The creativity and commitment from the team have been inspiring, with many pledges combining fitness, fun, and community spirit.
Why do it?
At the heart of this campaign is a desire to give back to the communities that Rickard Luckin serves. Every pound raised through “10k Your Way” will directly benefit the local community – a cause that aligns perfectly with the firm’s values and long-standing commitment to social responsibility.
Jo Macaulay, Head of Stewardship at ECF, said, “It has been great working with the team at Rickard Luckin over the past 10 years, helping them to grow their endowed fund and support local charities that fit with their corporate values.
“The 10k Your Way’ campaign is a brilliant example of how businesses can creatively engage their teams while giving back to the communities they’re part of.”
How can you support?
While the Rickard Luckin team are taking on the challenges, clients, local businesses, friends, and family are invited to support them by making a donation. You can sponsor an individual or group taking part in a challenge, or contribute to the firm’s overall fundraising goal.
Every donation – no matter the size – helps move the team closer to their £10,000 target. And with Rickard Luckin matching the total raised, your support can have double the impact.
Visit the fundraising page to donate or sponsor a challenge here.
Follow Rickard Luckin on LinkedIn and Facebook to stay up to date with the team’s progress, stories, and weekly updates throughout the campaign.
To find out how we can help your business to support local charities and voluntary groups, contact Perry Norton on 01245 355947 or by email.
Hawich Boxing Club gets a helping hand
Harwich Boxing Club has received a welcome funding boost from the Harwich Mayflower Legacy Fund with a grant of £1,500 to support its growing success at local, national, and international competitions.
The volunteer-run club, founded in 1997, provides affordable training for children and adults, keeping costs low to ensure everyone in the community can take part. Over the past year, its boxers have competed across the UK and Europe, including in Paris, Spain, London and Newcastle and have had many successes.
The Mayflower Legacy Fund was set up by Cllr Ivan Henderson in 2020 during his Mayoral year and is managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
Since it was established, the fund has awarded over £12,700 in grants including The Ark Family Resource Centre, Teen Talk (Harwich), Home-Start Harwich, Tall Ships Youth Trust, and 4th Dovercourt Sea Scouts.
Cllr Ivan Henderson visited the club. He said: “I am delighted that the Harwich Mayflower Legacy Fund is supporting Harwich Boxing Club. I know first-hand the difference it makes, giving young people opportunities, discipline, and pride.
The club has a strong track record of success, but this involves costs for travel, accommodation, entry fees, and subsistence, in addition to the essential day-to-day expenses of running the club such as rent, insurance, and utilities.
This grant will help ensure the club can continue to thrive and compete at the highest levels while staying open to everyone in the community.”
Martin Webb who runs the Harwich Boxing Club said: “We are so grateful to receive this funding which allow our boxers to compete at the highest levels and provide a safe and welcoming space for young people to learn discipline, build respect, stay physically active, and receive guidance on health and wellbeing.”
Among the club’s success stories is Rio Gordon, now aged 24, who joined Harwich Boxing Club in 2014. He has since won multiple national titles and represented England on seven occasions. His achievements are an inspiration to younger members and highlight the impact the club continues to have on young people in Harwich and beyond.
Rio said: “I’ve been training at Harwich Boxing Club since I was a kid. It’s given me so much, from fitness and discipline to the chance to compete for my country. Funding like this means the younger boxers coming through will also have the same opportunities I did.”
The Harwich Mayflower Legacy Fund was set up in 2021 is now valued at over £73,000 providing an annual source of funding to support local charities and voluntary groups.
Along with donations from local people and businesses, Cllr Henderson has been able to boost the value of the Fund by adding monies available under the Essex County Council Locality funding scheme which provides County Councillors with £5,000 that they can award to local charities in their area. In addition, the funds have been matched by 50% with money available from the Essex Police Proceeds of Crime Scheme, also managed by ECF.
On visiting the club, Cllr Henderson said, “When we set up the Legacy Fund, it was about creating something that local people and businesses could make donations to, knowing they would be supporting local projects that make a lasting difference. Harwich Boxing Club is a perfect example of this. It is run by volunteers, embedded in the community, and has helped countless young people over the years.”
He added, “I really would encourage local people and businesses to think about supporting the fund with a donation or consider leaving a gift in their will. It is a great way to know that your gift or legacy will support your local community and continue giving year after year.”
Zoe Brampton, Grants Manager at ECF said: “Coastal communities often face unique challenges when it comes to accessing services and facilities, and this is where local charities step in to make a real difference. Harwich and Dovercourt has so much energy and commitment from the community and having a fund dedicated to supporting projects in one area is hugely valuable.”
For more information about the Harwich Mayflower Legacy Fund or to make a donation, please contact Perry Norton on 01245 355947 or by email.
APPLY
For charities and voluntary groups working in the Tendring and Harwich area with a deadline for applications of 29 September.