Saffron Building Society hands out funding to charities
21st May 2024
Eight charities across the east of England are sharing more than £25,000 from the Saffron Building Society Community Fund.
Among the recent charity grant recipients are Brightview Farm in Uttlesford, Dig It Community Allotment and Enterprise East Group CIC – both in Saffron Walden.
Saffron Building Society launched the Community Fund 12 years ago, to provide grants to charities, community groups and volunteer organisations, in partnership with Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
Claire Hunnable, community business partner at Saffron Building Society, said: “It’s a real privilege to be able to support our local communities with the Saffron Community Fund, and to see the impact this will make to each organisation brings us such joy.
“At Saffron Building Society, we do the right things for the right reasons and reaching out to worthy community causes across the East of England is paramount to us and our members.
Our Spring reception at Layer Marney Tower
Around 100 of our fundholders, donors and supporters joined us for our Spring reception at Layer Marney Tower, in Colchester, held in their beautifully renovated Essex Barn.
These events are a great opportunity for us to bring people together to raise the profile of our work, the local voluntary sector and the importance of giving locally, and we are so grateful to our Nick and Sheila Charrington for once again hosting us.
On arrival, guests could see the Castlemilk Mooritt Sheep and lambs grazing on the front lawns. As the sun was shining, they enjoyed reception drinks in the courtyard and could wander around the beautiful gardens.
Once seated in the Barn, our Chair of Trustees, Nick Alston CBE DL shared an update on our activities, including that we have already given away £2.8 million this financial year, and introduced our speakers.
This year, our guest speakers were Martin Hopkins and his daughter, Pollyanna who spoke about their involvement with the Christopher Holmes Charitable Fund, and Tina Hart, the regional manager of Ormiston Families, talked about the charity’s work supporting children affected by imprisonment of a parent or loved one.
The Christopher Holmes Charitable Fund was established with us in 2011 and named after an exceptional lawyer, who was widely admired for his tireless work supporting local charities.
Prior to Chris sadly passing away following a brain tumour, which became apparent almost immediately after his retirement from Birkett Long, he told his close friend and colleague Martin Hopkins that he wanted to set up a Fund with ECF in his name. He asked Martin and his family to be involved as advisers, working with ECF to agree which charities and voluntary groups should receive support in his memory.
We work with Martin Hopkins, his wife Rachel and their children, Pollyanna, Rowen and Alexander, to award grants annually.
Polly said, “I am so grateful for my involvement from a young age with charitable giving. Chris’s fund, and his legacy, is a lesson in generosity, kindness and philanthropy that I have carried into my adult life.
“The truth is our family could not have managed the scale of the Fund or given as much money to as many good causes, without the support and expertise of the Foundation. ECF have made such an effort to ensure that not only my parents, but also me and my brothers, have had opportunities to engage with the fund’s work, as well as wider ECF projects.
“Before Chris died, he explained where he wanted our family to direct the money from his fund. Every grant decision we take as a family is intended to reflect his wishes and his desire to help those that society pays less attention too.”
This year, the Fund has reached the amazing milestone of having given £536,000 to a wide range of voluntary organisations in Essex, and because the fund is invested for the long-term, it will continue awarding grants year on year.
Ormiston Families works across the East of England, offering services to help children and their families who are affected by the imprisonment or offending behaviour of a relative. They provide early support for people experiencing mental and emotional problems and run a wide range of family services in local communities.
We have been pleased to support their Breaking Barriers programme, which has also received funding from the Christopher Holmes Charitable Fund.
In the UK every year it is estimated that 312,000 children have a parent in prison, however there is currently no statutory framework to identify these children, so the number is likely to be higher. It falls upon charities and services like Ormiston Families to give support to children and families who find themselves in this situation.
The impact of familial imprisonment can be long lasting. It disrupts family life, can lead to poor mental health, involve negative school experiences and cause a lack of trust in others, resulting in unhealthy relationships and behaviours.
Studies have shown that 65% of boys with a convicted parent go onto offend themselves. Ormiston Families believes this number is not predetermined and with Breaking Barriers intervention this number can be reduced.
Breaking Barriers offers tailored one-to-one support to reduce anxiety around prison visits. It supports young people with their emotional wellbeing and school attendance and provides a safe space for them to talk, play and express themselves. This enables children and young people to explore their feelings and break down some of the barriers which may prevent them from maintaining positive ties with their imprisoned family member.
Ormiston Families has helped approximately 200 children across Essex through the Breaking Barriers programme.
Tommy’s Story, by Tina Hart, Regional Manager at Ormiston Families:
Tommy was 13 years old when his brother was arrested, charged, and imprisoned for a serious offence and it was at this point everything changed for Tommy.
Prior to this event Tommy was a happy teenage boy. He loved playing football and sports with his friends, he enjoyed a game of chess with his brother and was a good student.
Tommy had lived in Essex all his life, his wider family to whom he was very close, all lived nearby. Following the arrest and imprisonment of his brother, Tommy’s life imploded at an age when an adolescent is establishing their identity and autonomy. Tommy was having to question everything he thought he knew.
Due to the nature of the crime, the story was reported in the media and widely shared on social media platforms. The local community and even their own family turned against Tommy and his mum, leaving them isolated and carrying the stigma of a crime they themselves had not committed.
It was for this reason Mum took the decision to relocate to where no one would know who they were, and they would not need to tell anyone about what had happened to them. As you can imagine this is a huge burden to carry.
We often talk about loss, the hidden harm to children affected by the imprisonment of a loved one, and how the feelings are not dissimilar to a bereavement, minus the care and empathy.
Tommy had suffered a great deal of loss. The loss of his beloved brother, his family, his home and the place he grew up, school and friendships and even the loss of the financial security due to Mum having to close her business.
When we met Tommy, he was struggling to engage with education due to a deterioration in his mental health, he was reluctant to accept support. Eventually he did agree to meet with a breaking barriers practitioner, on the understanding that they played chess with him and didn’t ask questions.
On his own terms Tommy shared that he found it difficult to talk about his feelings and he felt angry with his brother saying, ‘he’s ripped the family apart’.
Following the initial session Tommy began to refuse to see the practitioner, but she would show up every week as planned and sometimes she would speak with Mum offering a listening ear and advise on what she could do to help Tommy.
Like most parents she was desperate for Tommy to make friends, go to school and be happy again.
Tommy came to realise that at Ormiston,we don’t give up easily and he began to engage again. It was then that he explained how much he wanted to go to school, but each time he tried it felt like an invisible barrier was there that he just couldn’t get past. Tommy asked if this was something that we could help him with.
Tommy’s goal was to understand his feelings of anxiety, recognise the triggers, the physical signs and symptoms and learn some strategies to help him manage these feelings.
Tommy told us he was feeling under pressure to return to school before he was ready, and this was causing him more anxiety. He asked the practitioner if she could advocate for him at a school attendance meeting. The practitioner helped Tommy to write down what he wanted to say, and she would be his voice.
This was a huge turning point for Tommy, he was able to tell someone what he was feeling and have his voice heard and listened to.
By the end of our intervention Tommy told us he was ready to return to school in the new term. He went to an attendance meeting and with the support of Mum and his breaking barriers practitioner was able to talk to school about a manageable return to school plan.
He was given access to the school gym at times when it was quiet so he could get out and engage in an activity that he enjoyed and which was good for his mental health. Tommy also began to reach out to friends old and new.
Tommy asked Mum if she would reach out to their family as he missed his cousins. Mum agreed to find a way to make this happen.
Tommy now goes out regularly. He takes his dog for walks and he plans to go to college.
At the end of the intervention, Tommy told us that he enjoyed his sessions, and it has made him want to do more things. He said, ‘I’ve gone from sad to happy’.
Kayaking group “kept afloat” with funding boost
16th May 2024
A popular kayaking and canoe club in Burnham-on-Crouch has received a funding boost of £5,450 to expand its work.
Crouch Kayak Club was awarded the grant from the Turncole Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, which is managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
The Club has evolved significantly over the years, progressing from a just small group of local enthusiasts to become a vibrant club, welcoming newcomers and seasoned kayakers alike.
This funding boost has enabled the Club to buy Day Boats which are particularly useful for inexperienced paddlers, and to replace existing ageing accessories, including wet suits, paddles and safety equipment. They hope this will encourage people of all ages to visit the club and try out the sport to see if they like it, without the need to spend any money.
Andy Coppin, Equipment Officer at the Club, said: “For inexperienced paddlers, navigating the exposed River Crouch, especially with offshore winds in the Winter, can pose a challenge. These Day Boats offer an alternative for our members to stay active and for new people to have a go, as they are much more stable.
“They are also easier to transport at just 9 feet long, compared to sea kayaks which typically range from 16 to 18 feet. Our membership continues to grow, so these will really help us to meet demand.”
A small group took the new kayaks out for their maiden voyage on the River Stour from Bures to Nayland. Andy said: “We had a mix of beginners and ‘old hands’. After some of us spent the first few minutes gracefully spinning around in a circle, we soon all got the hang of it!
“The weather was perfect, the river was stunning, there was no road noise and we saw plenty of wildlife and birds, including kingfishers, ducks, geese and swans.
“We are so grateful to ECF and Turncole Wind Farm or helping us to acquire the new equipment. It will help people to have many happy days together, keeping fit, being outdoors and enjoying time on the water which is so peaceful and relaxing.”
The Turncole Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund was set up with ECF in 2016 to support charitable projects within the parishes of Southminster and Burnham on Crouch that are close to the Wind Farm development, and which enhance the quality of life for local residents and contribute to vibrant communities. A panel of residents work with ECF to make decisions on the applications for support. Since it was set up, the Fund has given 74 grants totalling over £340,000 to a wide range of local projects.
These include:
- £5,000 to Home-Start Essex to run a support group for families with pre-school children in Southminster.
- £3,000 to Dengie Dementia Cafe for their outreach work helping people with dementia and their families in the Dengie Peninsula.
- £2,040 to Burnham Allotment so they can organise art and craft sessions for local people, helping to tackle isolation and loneliness in the community of Burnham-on-Crouch.
Sandra Hollis is a trustee of ECF and Chair of the resident panel. She said, “It is important for us to work with the resident-led panel. We really value their knowledge and expertise to understand local issues and priorities and direct funding to where it is needed most.”
If you’re interested in joining the Crouch Kayak Club, Wednesdays are the perfect opportunity for you to drop by the Sailing Club for a chat and to try it out or you can contact them via www.crouchkayakclub.co.uk
For information about applying for an ECF grant, click here.
Welcoming fundholders and supporters to Ingatestone Hall
26th April 2024
We welcomed our Patron, Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, David Hurst, the High Sheriff of Essex, and around 90 of our fundholders, donors and supporters to Ingatestone Hall, an impressive venue built in the 16th century, for the first of our two Spring Receptions of 2024. The second reception will be held in the beautiful Layer Marney Tower in their Essex Barn on 8 May.
We have been holding these events at Ingatestone Hall for over 25 years and we are so grateful to our President Lord Petre for hosting us in his home. The evenings never lose their appeal, partly because the venue is so special, and because they are a great opportunity for us to bring people together to share the important work of the local voluntary sector in Essex.
Our Chair of Trustees, Nick Alston CBE DL updated guests on our activities, including that we have already given away £2.3 million this financial year and the planned programme of engagement events that we have been holding with our partners and supporters to help inform our next strategy that we are currently finalising, and which will take us through to 2030.
Hearing first-hand from our fundholders and grant partners is always one of the highlights of these events and this year guests heard from Jill Elms who explained how she was involved in setting up the Maypole House Charitable Fund with us. Also speaking on the night was Sue Fishpool from Accuro, a charity based in Bishop’s Stortford. Sue gave a heartwarming presentation about their work and explained how the support and respite they provide is a lifeline for children and adults with learning disabilities, and their families.
Maypole House Charitable Fund
Maypole House Charitable Fund was established with us in 2014 after a group of parents who all had children with disabilities, and after years of fundraising, could not fully realise their dream of building a respite centre.
Jill Elms was one of the parents involved. She spoke from the heart about her son Tim who was born with Hydrocephalus (water on the brain) in 1984 and some the challenges that she and her husband Bob and other son, Andrew, had to manage.
Jill said, “We enjoyed many happy times with Tim, but family outings could be quite difficult, and we had two sons with very different needs. We wanted to find somewhere that Tim could be himself and enjoy activities that suited him, and also give Bob and I some respite and space to work, spend time together and with Andrew.”.
Jill was introduced to local Charity called ResCU (Respite Care in Uttlesford), which had been set up by a group of parents who were all seeking a safe space for their children who had disabilities and to give themselves respite breaks. She joined their management committee, later moving onto being Chair and a Trustee.
ResCU became Maypole House, which was to be the name of the new Centre they wanted to build and the charity set about the task of serious fundraising. However, following the 2008 financial crisis, and other challenges they were unable to move ahead with the building and the Trustees took the decision to close the charity.
Jill said, “It was very sad to make this decision, but looking back it was the right one. We also recognised that we could have built the centre, but we would not have had the money to run it. Not long afterwards we were introduced to ECF, and we felt it was the perfect home for the charity.
“We may not have been able to realise our dream as we intended, but we are still doing what we set out to do which is to give much needed respite and support to children, young people and adults with disabilities, and their families.”
We continue to work with Jill and two of the other original Trustees of the Maypole House charity, Debbie and Maureen, to award grants annually. This year, the Fund has reached the amazing milestone of having given £250,000 to voluntary organisations in Essex and the Fund will continue awarding grants annually.
Accuro
Accuro is a small charity making a big difference in West Essex which has received support from the Maypole House Charitable Fund. They support around 200 children, young people and adults with disabilities by providing activities that are fun, safe and inclusive, giving much-needed respite to families and carers.
Activities include day trips to the Zoo, bowling and the cinema, as well as regular youth, holiday schemes and adult social clubs throughout the year. All of this is achieved by three full-time members of staff, 64 club staff and a further 11 volunteers.
Sue Fishpool, fundraising manager at Accuro said, “Our services help to reduce social isolation and empower our members to feel more independent, confident, happier and healthier. We provide a wide range of social and leisure opportunities that enables them to develop life skills, build self-esteem and make friends.”.
2024 marks Accuro’s 40th anniversary and what initially started as a local support group in Saffron Walden for parents and children with disabilities has grown into a charity that provides vital support and changes lives for the better.
Our funding, including grants from the Maypole House Charitable Fund, is helping them to continue offering their services across Uttlesford, Harlow and Epping Forest.
To view all of the photos taken at the event, click here.
Essex welcomes new High Sheriff
Taking on a role that is steeped in history and making it relevant and a force for good in modern times is a challenge being met with enthusiasm and determination by David Hurst.
He is joining the ranks of men and a few women who, over the past 982 years, have been appointed as High Sheriff of Essex.
Armed with an impressive amount of experience in the business and voluntary sectors, David is aiming to make the most of his year of office and will travel the county, helping to highlight its attributes and its needs.
He said: “I am very honoured to become High Sheriff of Essex. I know my own area, around Southend, very well and I am going to be learning a lot about other parts of the county. It is a great opportunity to see things I haven’t come across before in many different communities.
“I am very keen to support the police, the judiciary and the emergency services, I will certainly be doing that. I also want to encourage people to take up volunteering, the sooner they get into it the better for their community. People sometimes just need some encouragement to realise that there are no barriers, anybody can become a volunteer.”
David has been involved in his own community as a volunteer for decades and has been chairman and trustee with several charities. He is currently president of Southend Round Table 106 and his charitable fundraising efforts over the years led to him becoming chairman of the Southend Community Fund, which is managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
As High Sheriff of Essex, David, who was born and bred in the county, will be raising money for the High Sheriffs’ Fund, also run by ECF, with the aim of promoting crime prevention and community safety in Essex.
His involvement with ECF comes naturally, as he shares the organisation’s aims of supporting local charities and voluntary groups whose work improves the lives of people in Essex.
Putting these ideals into practice, David founded Rochford Rivercare in 2004, to keep the River Roach litter free.
“Quite a few of us now meet in a local farmyard and set out to collect huge hauls of rubbish. It is a challenge, but keeping rivers clean has become something that more and more people are concerned about.”
David also uses his business background, in publishing, recruitment and advertising, to bring a professional slant to the voluntary sector and is keen to see other professionals become involved in local charities, particularly as trustees.
He said: “I have a great deal of empathy for people running charities and understand the challenges they face. I hope that encouraging links and contacts between various organisations and signposting people towards the help they need will be part of my role as High Sheriff.
“It is an unusual role, as it only lasts 12 months and I have some marvellous predecessors. I am not landed gentry, as many have been, but I am determined to do my best. I am aiming to attend around 300 events and will enjoy the opportunity of getting out and about in the county.
“I am also planning a sponsored walk to help celebrate the 200th anniversary of the RNLI. It will be a fairly modest distance of 12 miles and will go via Benfleet, Hadleigh Castle, Leigh, Southend via the pier and will finish at Shoebury station.”
During his year of office David will be supported, as always, by his wife Jane. The couple have been married for 40 years and have two daughters and three grandchildren.
When he attends events, David will be wearing the traditional velvet outfit associated with High Sheriffs.
“It really is a privilege to wear such a splendid outfit, tailor made by a master in the field,” he said.
“When describing the role of High Sheriff, I can do no better than quote Nick Alston DL, a former High Sheriff of Essex. He said the role has been a constant since before the Domesday era but has adapted to modern times and is held in great affection.
“In times of uncertainty- and these are uncertain times – it helps provide continuity and stability.”
Support David
On the 11th May 2024 David invites friends to join him on a walk from Hadleigh Castle to Shoebury Garrison. All proceeds will go to the High Sheriffs’ Fund.
The idea is to meet at Shoebury Station at 8am catch the train at 8.30am to Benfleet and walk back via Hadleigh Castle, Southend Pier and finish at Shoebury Garrison. The walk is approx. 12 miles anyone wishing to shorten the walk can hop on the train at Chalkwell Station at half way point. Coffee and prawn rolls in Old Leigh. Rossi’s ice cream along seafront, quick donut by pier and if we’re lucky a glass of something at the new cafes on East Beach at finish!
If you would like to join David on the walk, please register for free here. You can also choose to give a donation if you wish to. If you are joining David and would also like to raise money in support of the High Sheriffs’ Fund, please ask your friends to visit this page.
Get social with us
We actively share our work and that of many local charities and voluntary groups we fund through our website and on social media.
Our website hosts a wide range of information for individuals, families and businesses who might wish to give to their local community, now or as part of legacy, as well as funding opportunities available for local charities and voluntary groups.
We also publish findings from our independent research and community listening projects, news stories and much more.
The Community Spotlight page on our website currently features 240 groups that we have supported, and we regularly add new entries each week. These can be sorted by group name, location or issue area. We also highlight a large number of our Funds in the About Us section, including a story of how they came to be set up with us, and the people behind them.
As part of our work to champion the needs of the local voluntary sector and help showcase their important work, we regularly post on social media. You can find and follow us on our current social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
We regularly profile charities and groups we support through social media posts. These come in the form of our #CommunitySpotlights, where each week we feature a charity or group we support. #FundholderFridays are another weekly feature of ours, where we focus on one of our Fundholders, highlighting their work and why they established Funds with us. This is to raise awareness of the variety of Funds we manage and showcase the ways you can give back to your community. Our hashtags (#) are used in each post so you can easily search and identify them online.
There are a number of other posts that we publish on our social media, from our recent #GetToKnowUs series, to Awareness Days, to Funding Application openings, to more lighter content. Posting regularly supports our mission of connecting with our communities, driving positive change, and making a lasting impact in Essex.
Google Reviews
We are always looking at how we can improve or enhance how we work with our donors, fundholders and grant partners. If you have experience or working with us that you would like to share, please add it here. Your feedback will help others who want to give to their local community, and charities and voluntary groups that need funding, to find us.
E-Newsletter
Each month we send our subscribers a brief e-newsletter highlighting various aspects of our work. If you would like to sign-up to receive this, please click here.
What are the benefits of using Social Media?
Emma Goode is a former Trustee of ECF and runs 24Fingers an award-winning social media agency based in Brentwood. We greatly appreciate her support and continued guidance to help us enhance our digital presence.
She said, “ECF is such a great organisation that offers individuals and businesses a unique way of giving to their local community and charities. They support so many charities and voluntary groups and I am pleased to use my skills and expertise to help them share the amazing work they do and increase their awareness.
“There are lots of benefits to using Social media, but it can be time-consuming so choose a platform that will work best for you and start building your presence and messaging from there. It is important that you keep active in both posting and commenting.”.
Increased Visibility and Reach: Social media platforms provide you access to a vast audience, enabling reach and engagement with individuals, organisations, and businesses within their local community and beyond. Through sharing relevant content, strategic use of hashtags, and possibly targeted advertising, charities can amplify their message and attract a wider audience.
Community Engagement and Feedback: Social media facilitates direct communication between a charity and their stakeholders. It serves as a platform for fostering meaningful conversations, a way to gather feedback, and better understanding the needs and priorities of the community. By actively listening and responding to comments, messages, and mentions, charities can build stronger relationships and demonstrate their commitment to serving the community.
Storytelling and Impact Sharing: Social media offers a powerful medium for storytelling. Charities can share success stories, highlight impactful projects, and showcase the difference they are making in people’s lives. Visual content such as photos and videos can bring these stories to life and inspiring action among followers, including vital donations.
Promotion of Events and Initiatives: Social media provides a cost-effective way to promote and raise awareness about upcoming activities, including those for fundraising. Through event pages or live streaming, charities can generate excitement, drive attendance, and maximise participation.
Networking and Collaboration: Social media fosters networking and collaboration among community stakeholders, including nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, and individuals. By actively engaging with other organisations and influencers, charities can leverage partnerships, share resources, and amplify their impact through collective action.
Educational Resource: Social media serves as an educational resource, providing valuable information, resources, and tools to the community. Charities can share insights on pressing issues, and offer guidance on accessing services and support.