The structure, dynamics and impact of the third sector in Essex
22nd November 2023
At our first Charity Symposium we shared our commissioned report by Professor Tony Chapman, from Durham University on The Structure, dynamics and impact of the Third Sector in Essex (November 2023).
To view Professor Chapman’s slide presentation click here.
To view Samuel Kasumu’s presentation highlighting his book ‘The Power of the Outsider’ and his inspiration to write it, click here.
The local voluntary and community sector is an amazing ‘home grown’ resource and the report provides a comprehensive picture of strengths and issues facing the sector.
Our latest community listening project reports, include our Cost-of-Living Report, based on 10 in depth interviews, our Cost -of-Living Survey Analysis Report and the all the full data from the Survey.
These reports, written by independent researcher, Hannah Fletcher, will continue to influence our grantmaking to ensure we are meeting the needs of the sector at this critical time and will also help shape our new 5-year strategy that we are currently developing.
Our New Annual Review and Grant Supplement has been published!
20th November 2023
We are excited to share our newly published Annual Review and Grants Supplement!
This is a round up of our work over the past 12 months and features stories about local groups we have supported, and the new funds set up with us.
The report also highlights some of the findings from our latest Community Listening Project.
If you would like a hard copy of the report, please e-mail hello@essexcf.org.uk with your address details.
Health Research Grant Programme
31st October 2023
Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and Suffolk Community Foundation are working with Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System (SNEE ICS), to fund voluntary and community organisations to be Community Research Champions.
There is £75,000 in grants available across Suffolk & North East Essex from the ‘Community Voices in Health Research Grant Programme’ to support core or project costs.
To be eligible to apply to ECF, charities and community groups must be working in Colchester or Tendring.
Grants of up to £5,000 per organisation are available to enable positive engagement with the communities you work with, and to support your staff and/or volunteers to become Community Research Champions. You can apply as a single organisation or as a partnership of several organisations. If you do apply as a partnership, you can request funding of more than £5,000 in total, but the application is subject to a maximum of £5,000 per organisation.
Things you might wish to include in your application are:
- Staff or volunteer time or expenses that will include participating in the mandatory ‘Be Part of Research’ training; contributing to the project evaluation being led by Suffolk and Essex Healthwatch; and joining a peer network to share learning
- Delivery of activities where conversations can be held with your communities to gather insight around the barriers and challenges to participating in research
- Communications activities to promote engagement
- Incentives to encourage individuals to engage
Funding can support new or existing activities and must be spent by 31 March 2024. Please note, training is likely to take place during January – March 2024. More information about the programme, including criteria and grant requirements can be found here.
The deadline for applications has now closed. If you need funding, please contact our grants team on 01245 355947, email grants@essexcf.org.uk or use our web chat.
Help the most vulnerable in Essex this Winter
27th October 2023
- As the UK population is living longer, the number of people suffering from loneliness is increasing. Nearly half of people aged over 80 live on their own and half of older people consider TV to be their main form of company.
- It has been proven that being lonely has a detrimental lasting effect on blood pressure with higher readings recorded amongst many people suffering from loneliness, as well as being a factor in cases of depression.
Getting to the centre of loneliness
A significant and growing proportion of the Rochford population are over 80 years of age and community support is becoming ever more important for people who are vulnerable, less mobile and isolated.
Hockley & Hawkwell Day Centre (HHDC) understands these problems only too well and has been providing a vital service to the older people in the local community from Hockley and the surrounding district for almost 35 years.
We were pleased to support them with a grant from our Surviving Winter Appeal to help them keep the Centre open during the Winter months.
The centre is open Monday to Thursday and is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who provide a warm friendly environment. Teas, coffees, scones and cakes are available in addition to delicious and nutritious home cooked lunches. This is followed by afternoon activities and entertainment, including bingo, cards, scrabble, knitting and singing.
Richard Jarrard, Trustee of the Centre said, “We see approximately 60 clients a day who are supported by a dedicated and caring group of volunteers.
“We offer a sociable environment where people can get hot nutritional meals, at a low cost and provide afternoon entertainment, all of which helps to keep their minds and bodies healthy.
“Support from within the community has never been more important than it is now, and helping people to keep well, active and connected is at the heart of everything we do.
“Thanks to support from ECF, we will be able to continue to keep our much loved and needed centre open throughout the winter months.”
Support our Surviving Winter Appeal
Our ‘Surviving Winter Appeal’ is one way of supporting vulnerable people in local communities and since the annual Appeal was first launched in 2011, we have given over £100,000 of support to local charities and voluntary groups.
The Appeal invites donations to raise vital funds that can be used to support older and vulnerable people, keeping them healthy and well during the colder months.
Andy Payne Worpole, head of programmes at ECF, said: “The Winter can be a difficult and dangerous time for older people, but also for those who are vulnerable due to issues including homelessness, disability or illness.
Local charities and voluntary groups can provide a lifeline of support, but the rising cost of living, increased food prices and energy bills is making it difficult for them to continue providing their vital services.
“But, you can help! All donations to our Surviving Winter Appeal will enable us to support local voluntary organisations and activities to help reduce loneliness and isolation, contribute to fuel and food costs, and assist those in need to get access to specialist services and community groups.
“If you receive the Winter Fuel Allowance or the Energy Rebate and don’t need it to pay your own bills, please consider donating some or all of this to our Appeal.
How you can help
- Donate your winter fuel payment if you don’t need it
- Give a one-off donation
- Set up a regular monthly gift
- Give online here
Cheques can be sent to the Essex Community Foundation offices: 3 Hoffmanns Way, Chelmsford, CM1 1GU. To ask questions about the Appeal and other ways to make a donation, please call us on 01245 355947.
Does your charity need funding this Winter?
If you are a local charity or community group that needs funding to support your work during the colder months, including core costs (such as rent and salaries), please call our grants team on 01245 355947.
Charlie Watkins Foundation – Christmas Concert
26th October 2023
“Our young people need support with their mental health. We have always said that if we could help just one person, it was all worth it, and I know we have exceeded that.” Tim Watkins
Charlie Watkins was just 22 when he took his own life in 2017. Outwardly, he was a confident and happy young man who studied criminology at the University of York. However, the loss of his mother to cancer when Charlie was nine years old had a huge impact and from then on, he struggled with his mental health.
Following Charlie’s tragic death, his father Tim and twin brother, Harry, were determined to keep Charlie’s memory alive and make a real difference to the increasing number of young people across the country facing mental health challenges.
They decided to set up the Charlie Watkins Foundation (CWF) and started working with us 2017.
Since then, Tim and Harry have worked tirelessly to raise money for CWF. Thanks to the generous support they have already received they have been able to support projects for pupils and students in schools and universities, as well as developing informative video guides for parents seeking support for their children.
Their latest fundraising event is a Christmas Concert being held at St Peter & St Paul’s Church, Lavenham, Suffolk, on 7 December at 7pm.
The event features John Rutter CBE, The National Youth Chamber Choir, Grace Davidson, Ben Perry, Toby Coles and Paul Bateman.
Book tickets or make a donation here
A fond farewell and a lasting legacy
It is with great sadness that we recently learned of the death of Major Iain Grahame, Founder of the Daws Hall Trust.
The Trust manages the Daws Hall Nature Reserve, a 25-acre site, together with a field study centre established by Major Grahame in 1985 and supported by local people with a common interest in the environment.
Located in the village of Lamarsh, the Reserve offers environmental education to school children from Essex and Suffolk and is open to the public on selected days in the Summer. Conservation on the land and waters around Daws Hall in the Stour Valley is also undertaken and the site welcomes some 3,000 visitors each year.
Daws Hall was Major Grahame’s passion and over the years, its conservation and educational work has received support from some of the funds we manage.
Our most recent grants were:
- £1,325 from the Stour Valley Environment Fund to launch a series of projects for young people, aged under 18, looking to start careers in conservation.
- £2,500 jointly given from the Stour Valley Environment Fund and the Essex Fund. This helped to buy materials to renew the existing wooden access platforms to the River Stour, as they had deteriorated.
Will Dover, General Manager at Daws Hall said, “Visiting school groups, colleges, conservation volunteers and the local fishing group all need access to the river and the existing wooden platforms were beyond repair.
“For greater sustainability and structural strength, we replaced the wooden components with recycled plastic beams which are more environmentally friendly and will not be as susceptible to damage or weathering.”
Jo Macaulay, Head of Communications at ECF said, “Major Grahame was always looking for the next project that would enhance the nature reserve and make it more accessible, so that everyone could benefit from what it had to offer.
“Education was so important to him and seeing children visit the site and get involved in learning about conversation and nature, pond dipping or helping with general maintenance and repairs, gave him the greatest joy and was what motivated him.
“Major Grahame was an inspirational man. He will be missed by all who knew him, but his legacy is an amazing natural space which will continue to grow and flourish, bringing joy and happiness to people of all ages in the future.”
You can read the Major Grahame’s tribute here https://www.dawshallnature.co.uk/iain-grahame