School holiday fun for all

24th July 2024

School holidays are something that most youngsters look forward to, but many parents find that keeping their children happy, occupied and safe during those weeks is an ongoing challenge.

Balancing work commitments with childcare responsibilities can be a daunting task, particularly for low-income families and for those who have children with additional needs. Paying for childcare is an impossibility for many such families, but charity holiday clubs offer a lifeline, combining fun and learning in a safe and engaging environment for children at little or no cost.

Holiday clubs across Essex are offering structured activities that promote learning, physical activity and social interaction, which are all crucial for a child’s development.  Activities are varied, offering a combination of indoor creative work and outdoor learning in environments where children are safe and can make new friends.  This helps children return to school feeling refreshed and ready to learn.

Charity holiday clubs also foster a sense of community, as families connect and support each other through shared experiences. They create a supportive network, helping to combat social isolation and strengthen community bonds.

Three local organisations running holiday clubs are among the initiatives receiving much-needed support from Essex Community Foundation (ECF.)

Mistley Kids Club has been running for nearly 25 years and provides a vital service to many families. The after school and holiday club

is fully inclusive and offers childcare and respite care.

Manager Claire Moss said: “Our main objective is to keep our children safe, whilst having the freedom to have fun in a supervised setting.

“The funding we have had from ECF has a massive impact on our work at Mistley Kids Club. It helps keep our fees to a minimum, which means we can deliver high quality childcare without having to charge the world for the service.

“We currently have 55 different schools using us in the school holidays and we offer lots of fun things to do, including group games, outside play, sports, dancing, arts and crafts, cooking, role play and gaming.

“We try to get as many outside entertainers in as possible during the school holidays, as we are unable to offer our trips out anymore, due to the volume of children we have attending.

Our Saturday club is very special to us and the extra financial support we have had from ECF means we can have more staff to run the club.

“Many families are struggling, particularly families who are going to work. We have had more families join with us because all the adults need to go to work to pay the bills.

“We now offer an outreach service to our families needing support, whether it be attending meetings, giving advice, helping with form filling or being advocates for their children.

“Our club is used not only because we are fully inclusive for all the family, but also because we are able to keep our fees as low as possible, with the support of ECF’s grants. This means the parents can see something at the end of their pay packet.”

Firstsite in Colchester has been running its Holiday Fun club since the summer of 2017, helping to make the school holidays enjoyable for disadvantaged children and their families.

Sally Shaw, MBE, director of Firstsite said: “Living with economic challenges can lead to deprivation and inequalities which impact on the day to day lives of families. They are likely to have poor health, particularly mental health, which affects children’s education and increases feelings of isolation and loneliness.

“Firstsite’s activities during school holiday weekdays are enjoyed by 100 people each day. The programme is designed to alleviate the effects of deprivation and inequalities and aims to support families, helping to give children the best start in life. The day-long activity includes a free hot nutritious meal and creative activity for the whole family.

“This has now become part of Firstsite’s core activity and we are renowned for this initiative locally by the people who take part and by organisations who refer people to the programme. We have been recognised nationally for it by our main funder, Arts Council England and it was one of the reasons that Firstsite won the prestigious Museum of the Year award in 2021.”

SNAP Holiday Clubs have been supported by ECF with a grant towards the costs of running holiday clubs for children with additional needs and disability in Brentwood, Basildon and other parts of Essex.

The clubs give children and young people with any additional need or disability the chance to interact with their peers and make friends.

Karen Boath, CEO of SNAP said: “We are a parent-led organisation, with parents involved at every level of SNAP, including trustees, staff and volunteers. Their lived experience gives us a firm understanding of the needs of our families.

“The holiday periods pose numerous challenges for SNAP families. The absence of a school routine can be very stressful, as children with additional needs thrive on routine and predictability. This can lead to challenging behaviour.

“Also, families are unable to access many local mainstream services, due to a lack of understanding or specialist support and equipment. Our holiday clubs are vital to our families, as SNAP’s bespoke environment caters to each family’s needs and ensures that each child or young person can safely enjoy themselves and develop their skills, free from judgement, whilst their siblings and parents receive vital support.

“The sessions are unique, because there are few holidays activities that can support their individual needs and the wider family.

“The holiday clubs include Diddlies for pre-schoolers, Stay’n’ Play for ages six to 12, SNAP Plus for those over 12 and Sensorise/Mini-Sensorise for children with profound or complex needs.

“To meet the increasing demand for our holiday clubs, we also hold ad-hoc groups for families with specific needs who would benefit from smaller sessions, as well as individual sessions those unable to access group activities.

“Funding from ECF will enable SNAP’s holiday clubs to continue to provide a rare opportunity for children and young people with any additional need to make new friends in a safe and welcoming environment that is tailored to their needs. By meeting and interacting with peers, they improve their communication and social skills, reduce isolation and increase their sense of independence.

“Through activities, they experience an increase in confidence and self-esteem and an improvement in their overall mental health and wellbeing.

“Parents also benefit by seeing their child interact with their peers, without any expectations or judgement, which is hugely powerful for them. They also have the chance to meet with others who are in a similar situation and help them to realise they are not the only one struggling, alleviating feelings of isolation. Parents also have enhanced access to tailored advice and information from Family Support Advisers.”

If you would like to discuss how you can support charities in Essex, please contact Perry Norton, Head of Development on 01245 355947 or e-mail perry@essexcf.org.uk.

Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund

A Fund which has provided more than £1 million to support Braintree district residents and communities is open for applications.

Community groups and charities can apply for a share of the £80,000 available this year from the Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund.

Managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF), and set up by Braintree District Council and Eastlight Community Homes, the Fund has awarded more than £1 million to local causes since 2015.

The fund supports causes which tackle the big issues affecting residents the most, including the cost-of-living, loneliness and isolation, emotional health and wellbeing and the lack of opportunities for young people.

Applications are welcomed from charities, residents’ groups, social enterprises and other non-profit organisations.

Grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available for smaller scale grassroots projects, alongside larger awards of up to £30,000 over three years.

Joanne Jackson, Resident Engagement Officer at Eastlight, said: “This fund is here to support the brilliant work done by local charities and organisations.

“Whether it’s a new or existing project, we want to hear from you if you need a grant to continue improving the lives of people in our communities.”

Mary Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities at Braintree District Council, said: “These grants have helped fund many exciting projects throughout the district, and I’d encourage any local community groups or organisations to apply for a grant to help them continue or expand their important and essential work.”

Zoe Brampton, Grants Manager at ECF said “It is a challenging time for local charities, and this fund is a great opportunity for groups in Braintree District to think about their priorities and what they may need financial help with over the coming months or years. We urge them to get in touch with us to discuss their ideas.”

Organisations supported by last year’s fund include Halstead Community Shed, which received £20,000 to support the creation of a health and wellbeing hub; Heads2Minds, which also received £20,000 to delivery emotional wellbeing workshops in primary schools, and Home-Start, which received £26,000 to help fund a family wellbeing group.

Apply

This programme has now closed.  If you are in need of funding please e-mail grants@essexcf.org.uk or call us on 01245 355947.

Legacy Fund helps turn lives around

Local charities in Harwich and Dovercourt have benefited from grants totalling nearly £10,000 from the Harwich Mayflower Legacy Fund and because the fund is invested for the long-term, funding will be available to give out support year after year.

The Fund was set up with us by Cllr Ivan Henderson in 2020 during his Mayoral year.  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, managed by ECF.

The latest voluntary organisation to receive a grant from the Fund is UTurn4Support, a charity that is dedicated to educating, supporting and advising young people in the community on knife awareness, county lines and other related youth violence.

They received £2,758, along with additional funding from two other charitable Funds managed by ECF, the Essex County Fire & Rescue Service Fund and the High Sheriffs’ Fund, making a total grant of £7,458.

Tania Swanson is Director of UTurn.  She said, “Young people who are vulnerable can quickly become victims of crime or be drawn into offending.  We encourage them to make wise life choices, to stay in education or employment, educate them on the dangers of gang culture and youth violence and work hard to realise their full potential.

“We are very grateful for this funding to support our work which has specifically enabled us to deliver a programme supporting young females aged 12-18 years from Clacton and Harwich who may be at risk of criminality, violence and exploitation.  It helped us create a safe and nurturing environment where they could learn, grow, and thrive.

“As result, we have seen incredible changes in the lives of the young individuals who took part in the programme.  They have grown in confidence, acquired new skills, and discovered new potential.”

Cllr Henderson said, “Harwich has been my home for 66 years and I am passionate about doing all I can to help others who live here.

“I am amazed and delighted that the value of the Harwich Mayflower Legacy Fund has grown to over £70,000 since 2020 and that it will provide a lasting source of funding to support charities and voluntary groups in Harwich and Dovercourt.

“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.”

Other charities that have benefited from support from the Fund, include The Ark Family Resource Centre, Teen Talk (Harwich), Home-Start Harwich, Tall Ships Youth Trust, and 4^th Dovercourt Sea Scouts.

Zoe Brampton, Grants Manager at ECF said: “People living in coastal communities can sometimes find it challenging to access resources, amenities and facilities.  Charities often fill this gap by delivering local services that can help to make life a little easier and more enjoyable.

“Having a fund which is dedicated to giving support in a specific area can be incredibly helpful, especially somewhere like Harwich and Dovercourt which is thriving with community support and activities.”

If you would like to support local charities and make a donation to the Harwich Mayflower Legacy Fund, you can donate via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/harwichmayflower400legacyfund or by calling ECF on 01245 355947.

Interested in supporting rural communities in Essex?

Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) is a registered charity that has been at the heart of rural Essex for more than 90 years. It works to help local communities build a thriving and sustainable future focussing on issues such as social isolation, access to services and the shortage of affordable housing that impact on the life chances of people who live and work in the villages and rural towns of Essex today.

RCCE is looking to recruit some new Trustees to join its governing body in readiness for its 2025 AGM. It would be interested in hearing from anyone who shares its passion for rural communities, can offer relevant skills and experience and has some time to give.

RCCE has published some ‘Guidance for Applicants’ which explain more about what it is looking for, what is involved in serving as a Trustee, which is a voluntary, unpaid position, and how you can register your interest. Please click here to find out more.

Grants Programme for Ukrainian Support

20th July 2024

We are excited to announce the launch of the Homes for Ukraine Community Grants Programme. This initiative, supported by Essex County Council, aims to enhance the wellbeing of Ukrainian nationals who have settled in Essex under the Homes for Ukraine (HfU) visa scheme. 

It is heartwarming to know that, since March 2022, over 2,100 Ukrainians have found refuge with approximately 1,000 hosts in Essex. As these families and individuals transition to independent living, there is a growing need for support in housing, employment, education, and community integration. 

The fund is open to voluntary groups, community organisations, and social enterprises that are actively supporting Ukrainian families and individuals. Grants ranging from £5,000 to £50,000 per year are available for projects that address increased demand, meet identified needs, or adapt existing services to better support the Ukrainian community. 

Priority will be given to projects that work with disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, support those disproportionately affected by the war, and help individuals overcome barriers to accessing support. Examples of eligible projects include community events, employment support, mental health services, and housing assistance. 

Deadline for applications

This programme is currently closed.  If you are in need of funding, please contact the grants team using one of the options below.

Guidance on applying to this programme

Please read this guidance before applying, as it provides further background about the grants programme, aims and criteria, what can and cannot be funded and project examples.

The guidance is also available in Ukrainian and Russian translations.

More information

If you need help or have questions about this funding programme, please contact us in one of the following ways:

• Chat with us instantly using the button in the bottom right hand corner (9am-4pm)
• Call us on 01245 355947
• Click here to book a time slot to speak with a grants officer
• E-mail grants@essexcf.org.uk

Apply for support

To apply for support, click here.

Scout Hut gets a helping hand

19th July 2024

A well-used community hub in Brentwood is being given a new lease of life, thanks to a grant from the Beresford Foundation.

The grant of £1,219 means that the 1^st Ingrave Scout Group’s hut will have a much-needed revamp, making it a safer and more attractive environment for all the groups who use it.

The Beresford Foundation was set up by the award-winning estate agents in 2015 and is managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF) who aim to inspire local giving and manage many other charitable funds on behalf of individuals, companies, families and public bodies.  Grants are awarded annually to support local charities, voluntary groups and individuals in the county.

Since it was established, the Beresford Foundation has so far awarded £4,000 in grants to help charities and voluntary groups working at the heart of their communities in Essex.

Welcoming the latest allocation from the fund, John Jolly, Chair of the 1^st Ingrave Scout Group said: “This funding will enable us to do some essential repairs.  Our hut was modified and extended around six years ago, but it is under fairly heavy wear and tear, with children’s games, rainbows, guides, beavers, cubs, scouts and the WI, along with parties in the community all using it regularly.

“The hut has needed interior renovating and repainting for some time, along with the skirting boards, panelling, and holes in the walls which needed repairing.  Floorboards were also coming loose which would become dangerous if not repaired.

“Although the hut has wide community usage, it could be more attractive for other groups to use if the interior looked more appealing. The main hall doesn’t have any windows, so redecorating will make it a lighter, brighter environment for people to enjoy.

“If more groups are interested in using the building, revenue will be increased, enabling us to pay to keep the building looking good. “

Paul Beresford said: “At Beresfords we believe in supporting our local communities and we know that a small amount can make a huge difference, especially when costs are rising.  We set our Foundation up with ECF to give support to grassroots charities who may not have the all the resources they need for the very valuable work that they do.”

Zoe Brampton, grants manager at ECF said: “Venues like the Scout Hut are a valuable resource for local communities, especially if they are in rural areas.  Raising the necessary funds to keep them in good condition so they are safe and appealing to use is a constant struggle.

“Beresford recognises this as an issue and was pleased to give support to the Scout Hut from their charitable Foundation with us.”

For information about how your businesses could give locally through us, contact Perry Norton, Head of Development.