Grants available for Harlow charities keeping people active
23rd July 2025
Voluntary and community organisations in Harlow are being encouraged to apply for grants from the Harlow Recreation Trust.
Grants of between £500 and £7,500 are available for projects and activities that support recreational activities, knowledge and talent for the benefit of people living in Harlow.
The Trust has been managed by us since 2010 and has awarded grants totalling nearly £570,000 to support local charities and voluntary groups. We assess all applications to the Trust and work with a panel of local people who share their knowledge and expertise to help make decisions on which applications to support.
Andy Payne Worpole, Director of Policy and Programmes at ECF, said: “The grants available from this fund are helping to keep people active through sports and social projects.
“We know there are many charities and voluntary groups in Harlow that are providing a range of activities and we encourage them to get in touch with our grants team who are always happy to discuss ideas and funding needs. Grants are generally awarded for one year, but for exceptional projects the panel may consider projects over multiple years.”
Previous organisations that have received support include Plant Pots and Wellies, a Harlow based project providing safe opportunities for horticultural and outdoor therapy. They received £4,000 from the Trust to support the cost of employing a part-time member of staff to deliver a range of outdoor activity sessions for children, young adults and adults with additional needs.
The Griffin Bowls Club also received funding from the Trust and £4,786 helped to pay for equipment and the fees to maintain the greens of the community bowls club.
The deadline to submit an application is 1 September 2025.
Charities, voluntary and community groups in Harlow are also encouraged to join us online on Wednesday 6 August where they can learn about the fund in more detail and ask questions. To join, sign up using this link.
To apply for a grant or to read more about who we support, click here.
The Rob George Foundation secures its long-term future
2nd July 2025
After more than a decade of supporting young people across the UK, the Rob George Foundation (RGF) has announced a strategic step to secure its long-term future by transferring its operations to us.
RGF was founded in January 2014 in memory of Rob George, an accomplished sportsman and Colchester Royal Grammar School student who died aged just 21 following a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukaemia. Since then, the Foundation has provided over £1 million in grants and supported more than 1,700 young people facing life-threatening illnesses or pursuing excellence in sport and the performing arts.
Philip George, Rob’s dad and chair of the RGF Trustees, said, “We knew that the time had come for us to think about succession and sustainability. Partnering with ECF allows us to preserve the spirit and purpose of the Foundation, 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’ve been proud of everything we’ve achieved, and proud that we’ve found a way to ensure the work carries on.”
We bring almost 30 years of expertise in managing charitable funds and shares RGF’s commitment to maximising impact, while keeping overheads low. We 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 managed 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, the Foundation 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, and their families. 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”.
Applications will continue to be welcomed under the Foundation’s original aims – supporting young people with life-threatening conditions and helping those with exceptional talent in sport of the arts. Eligible applicants must be based in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire or any London Borough.
For more information about the Rob George Foundation and its new partnership with us, please visit www.therobgeorgefoundation.co.uk
Donations can be made at any time via our Enthuse page.
More Than a Store: How Chelmsford Star Co-op is investing in the heart of Essex.
27th June 2025
As Chelmsford Star Co-op celebrates nearly 160 years in the community, we reflect on this most recognised of retailers and its unshakeable charitable spirit.
The Co-op logo is a familiar and welcome sight in many Essex towns and villages. More than just places to pick up essentials, the shops are the cornerstone of communities across the county. Nowhere is this more evident than in the work of the Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society.
With roots stretching back 158 years, Chelmsford Star is not just a local branch of a national institution, it is a community-owned business that still operates on the values it was founded upon, honesty, openness, solidarity and caring for others.
These values came to the fore when the COVID pandemic struck in 2020. The Co-op’s response was swift, with a donation of £20,000 to the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF) to support their Essex Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund.
But the crisis revealed a deeper need for ongoing, strategic support and in 2021 the Co-op formalised its giving by establishing a charitable fund with ECF.
The fund is an enduring commitment, an endowed source of support that will grow year by year, helping charities and voluntary groups working in areas where the Chelmsford Star has stores in mid and South Essex.
Alongside this, money raised by staff and shoppers, from in-store raffles to carrier bag donations, ensures immediate help reaches those who need it most.
The impact the Co-op makes in Essex is tangible. For every £1 spent in a Co-op store in the county, an estimated 30p is reinvested into the local economy.
However, their commitment doesn’t stop at the tills. Chelmsford Star Co-op has a long history of supporting local charities, including giving food and drinks to support community events, running its Community Card Scheme where points gained from spending in stores can be turned into cash and having a Charity of the Year.
Tony Price, President of Chelmsford Star Co-op, said: “We are owned by our members, the people using our shops and services, so we are the very definition of a community business. Our colleagues are all local people, we reinvest our profits back into local neighbourhoods and we are committed to supporting local charities and community groups.”
A Membership Commitee made up of independent members works with ECF to agree which charities and voluntary groups will benefit from support.
Pauline Dodd, Chair of the panel, said, “Working with ECF has helped us to have a greater understanding of issues that local charities are tackling in our communities. They share detailed assessments of applications they have received, and which might be eligible for support from the Co-op’s Fund. We review the requests, ensuring that a group’s work aligns with Co-op values and, together with ECF, we discuss which ones to support.
“We try to balance our giving in the areas where we have stores, supporting groups that are tackling a wide range of issues. We are also pleased to fund core costs of charities as we know that without this, many groups would cease to exist or would be unable to deliver their vital services.”
So far, the fund has given over £87,000 to around 40 organisations. The most recent recipient, Chelmsford Counselling Foundation, received nearly £4,000 to help expand its vital mental health services.
“We are incredibly grateful,” said Cathy Platt, one of the Foundation’s counsellors. “This grant will enable us to reach more people in need, offering them affordable, expert care to help them navigate life’s challenges.”
Chelmsford Star Co-op may be a place where you buy your bread and milk, but it’s also a place where community roots run deep and every purchase contributes to a greater purpose. In a world of faceless corporations, it’s refreshing to find a business that remembers what community truly means.
A Co-operative business is owned by and operated for the benefit of the people using it. It can sell any type of product or offer any type of service. These can include pubs, banks, schools and even football teams.
Charities and community groups that have received support from the Chelmsford Star Co-op Community Fund include:
Braintree Rethink was established in 2008 to support those living with mental illness. Bringing people together, where they can focus on writing, drawing and painting, can help them refocus and manage their anxieties is a safe environment. Funding of £700 is helping the group to keep operating and continue supporting those in need.
Hearing Help Essex received a grant of £2,000 helping them to deliver a pilot project that provides a safe environment for those living with hearing loss. In this space they can meet, socialise and receive further support, helping to alleviate social isolation and loneliness that hearing loss can bring.
The Country Trust is a leading education charity connecting children from areas of economic disadvantage with the land. A grant of £1,000 has ensured they can deliver their Food Discovery Programme, where primary school aged children can learn about where food comes from and how it is made, along with practical outdoor education which includes a farm visit and hands-on experience.
Rayleigh Vineyard (Growbaby) received £1,500 enabling them to support families experiencing financial hardship, providing them with essential items including, nappies, and milk, for their children.
SNAP (Special Needs and Parents) received £1,000 towards the costs of running holiday clubs for children with additional needs and disabilities in Brentwood, Basildon and other parts of Essex.
Support for Sight received £896 to expand the social and wellbeing activities on offer to individuals with sight loss or visual impairment at a base in Chelmsford.
Families in Focus received £1,500 to support a weekly activity club in Chelmsford for children with SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) and their families.
History of Chelmsford Star Co-operative
In 1866, Thomas Chapman met with friends at the London Road Iron Works in Chelmsford, where he was then employed, to discuss ways of improving the lives of their families.
Life was hard in this time, with severe economic issues affecting the whole country. Cost of goods and produce was at an all-time high, leaving families struggling to survive and feed their children.
Fed up with inflated prices and some businesses extorting prices even higher, a group of Chelmsford workers, including Thomas Chapman, decided to open their own ‘honest and reliable’ shop where prices would be lower and accessible for all.
A year later, ‘The Chelmsford Star Industrial Society’ was officially launched and started trading.
You can watch a short video about the history of the Co-op here.
Funding available for charities in Braintree District
A fund which has provided more than £1 million to support Braintree district residents and communities is now open for applications.
Established by Braintree District Council and Eastlight Community Homes, and managed by us, the Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund has supported dozens of good causes which have helped thousands of Braintree District residents.
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.
Eastlight resident and fund panel member, Craig Clackett, said: “We’re so proud that many fantastic local charities and organisations are changing lives through this fund, including Halstead Community Shed, Action for Family Carers and Rethink Mental Illness.
“Whether it’s a new or existing project, we want to hear from you if you need a grant to continue making such a difference to those in your community.”
Cllr Mary Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities at Braintree District Council, said: “It is always so inspiring to see the brilliant work done by local charities and community groups with this funding. I look forward to reviewing the latest round of applications and seeing the positive influence they bring to the district.”
Zoe Brampton, Grants Manager at Essex Community Foundation said, “This is a great opportunity for eligible groups in and around the Braintree District. Whether it’s support towards running costs or to develop specific projects, we encourage people to reach out to us and discuss their ideas.”
Organisations supported by last year’s fund include CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse), who received £20,000 to continue to provide specialist sexual violence counselling, Dance Network Association, who received £10,000 to continue holding dance classes for those with dementia, and Popcorn, who received £2,500 to help continue to support young people to build their confidence and connect with their peers.
The deadline to apply is Monday, 18 August 2025. Apply here.
If you would like to discuss your funding needs or ideas with us before submitting an application, we would be happy to have a conversation. Please contact the Grants team on 01245 355947 or book a time slot to talk to one of our Grants Officers.
For more detailed guidelines about available funding and who is eligible, click here.
‘Fundbuilding’ the future
Our Trustee, Sandra Hollis, who is also chair of our Fund Development Committee, welcomed over 70 local professionals to our 12th Private Client Advisers event, held at Rivenhall Oaks Golf Centre on 13 June.
The event was generously sponsored by Chartered Accountant & Business Advisory firm, Larking Gowen. Their Tax Director, Gillian McGill, spoke about the importance of charity and community to their business to the attentive audience.
Dawn Lay-Flurrie, Partner at Larking Gowen said, “We were proud to sponsor the Essex Community Foundation’s Private Client event as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the local community and charitable initiatives.
“These events offer a valuable opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, share insights, and strengthen relationships across the region. It was a pleasure to engage in meaningful conversations and showcase how our firm’s values align with the Foundation’s mission. The relaxed networking format, combined with the chance to highlight our charitable activities, made it a truly rewarding experience.”
Sandra gave an overview of our work supporting voluntary and community groups in Essex and establishing charitable funds on behalf of individuals, families, businesses and public agencies. Each year we give away around £3.5 million in grants, but with over £7 million in funding requests, the need continues to outpace resources with the majority of supported organisations being small, local charities. She stressed the long-term impact of endowment-based giving, a key benefit of our model and the goal to secure £30 million in new donations by 2030, which we outlined in our strategic plan.
Sandra then introduced Gail Cunningham, also a Trustee, and a consultant who works with foundations and charities on investment practice and governance as well as impact investing. Gail talked about trends in philanthropic engagement and her family’s experience of joining our “Fundbuilder” initiative, a flexible model allowing donors to build charitable funds over time. Gail highlighted its relevance for next generation giving and intergenerational wealth transfer, with some family funds now being managed by younger generations.
After listening to our speakers, attendees had time to network with like-minded business professionals, exchanging ideas and experiences, whilst enjoying delicious canapes and catering provided by Rivenhall.
Perry Norton, head of development at ECF, said, “These events provide an opportunity for private client professionals to ask questions and gain insights from within the charitable and voluntary sector, so they can talk to their clients when appropriate about local giving. The Fundbuilder initiative is a simple way to start growing a charitable fund whilst also benefitting our amazing local charities.”
Nurturing local talent through Bee’s legacy
Gifted musician and author Belinda Starling-Trim was using her creative talents to the full, when a tragedy cut her life short at the age of 34.
Her creative skills inspired her family to set up a fund in her memory, so that other talented young people could be given vital support to reach their full potential.
Belinda, affectionately known as Bee, lived in Wivenhoe and was a successful singer, songwriter and author. In 2006 she went into hospital for a routine operation to remove a cyst on her bile duct. Following the operation she tragically died, leaving behind her husband, musician and producer Mike Trim and two small children.
To honour her memory and the talent she embodied, the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund was established in 2007. The fund is run by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and gives grants to other gifted and inspirational young people to help them fulfil their dreams.
The fund is a fitting legacy and tribute for Belinda, who was best known for her critically acclaimed novel The Journal of Dora Damage. She died knowing that her book would be published by Bloomsbury, but did not know how successful it would be.
Belinda’s father David said, “When Bee died it was a tragedy for the whole family, but we knew that she would not have wanted us to sit around moping.
“We decided to establish the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund with Essex Community Foundation to help young people in Essex whose ambitions and talents, particularly in literature, drama or music, just cannot take root without help, encouragement and money.
“We flagged up our intention to launch a memorial fund at Bee’s funeral in August 2006 and it was heartwarming the way people kept on saying, “You will let us know when it is up and running, won’t you?”
The fund grew and has already distributed almost £180,000 in grants. The first was to the London Bus Theatre Company (LBTC), based in Hockley, that works with marginalised young people to reduce crime, improve community safety, tackle inequality and instigate social change through the arts. A grant of £3,188 from Bee’s Fund helped LBTC to develop a drama project working with talented young men from Southend and Castlepoint who were at risk of offending and train them in the art of acting, helping to build their confidence and skills and increase their employment opportunities.
Other grants from Bee’s Fund have been given to support around 64 individual young people in Essex who have a wide range of talents.
“Deciding to set up a fund in Bee’s memory was a no-brainer, but who to set it up with had been a more difficult decision. We did not want to run the fund ourselves, because of the complexities of dealing with a charity.
“I knew of Essex Community Foundation through a friend, and it was reassuring to find that the money from the fund would get to where it was intended and the administration was first rate, and the costs involved were reasonable.
“Essex Community Foundation’s real strength is that they can identify young people who need support and they can help us spend the money with precision and maximum effect.
“It would have made Bee very happy to know that a fund in her name was giving young people opportunities to realise their full potential.”
By the age of 19, Belinda was already proving that she had immense talent. English literature, drama and music were her great loves. She taught Romeo and Juliet to teenagers in Kwazulu, one of South Africa’s rougher areas, a place where, as Belinda said, “they all know what tear gas smells like.”
Belinda regularly sent letters home that summer and made it clear how much she enjoyed sharing her intellectual gifts with others less fortunate and that she had discovered a truth that for some, remains hidden all their lives.
“I can’t explain how much I love them,” she wrote. “They can be obnoxious or stroppy and I may tell them off strictly, but they have my love and trust, I have theirs and I just love them.
“Why does everyone go round as if love is a scarce commodity that must be rationed? There’s a huge reserve of love waiting to be tapped into and it will never run dry.”
Belinda’s talents, her love for life and passion to help others was inspirational and her legacy will inspire and foster new generations of creative young people.
One of the first young people to benefit from support was an outstanding law student, who lived in Braintree and was one of the first members of her family to attend University. Having achieved her degree, Laura set her sights on very specialised areas of law. A grant from Belinda’s Fund meant that she could go to the University of Melbourne, Australia, to undertake coursework for her Masters degree in law.
After she graduated and started work for a London based law firm, she said, “Without the support of the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund and ECF, I would not have the future ahead of me that I had always dreamed about. It has propelled me into a career that I love and with which I can help so many other people.”
Belinda’s father, David said: “If in years to come people can look back and ask: “Who was this Belinda Starling who helped me get to where I am today?” and also realise that there are still young people being given help because of her death, then we will have done OK.”
Supporting Local Talent
Other grants from Bee’s Fund are supporting young people who are pursuing careers in music and dance.
Having achieved his Grade 8 clarinet at just 16, Nathan Quilter from Canvey Island is currently studying at the Royal Collect of Music (RCM), furthering his skills and after which he intends to pursue a career as a musician. He has been a regular member of the Essex Youth Orchestra, Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra, Aldeburgh Young Musicians and a volunteer with the Essex Marching Corps.
Nathan received £1,500 from the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund to help pay accommodation and equipment costs while studying at RCM.
At just six years old, Elijah Jones was already part of the National Ballroom Competition Squad and following his dream of being a professional dancer. Elijah, now aged eight, lives with his family in Great Wakering and received £1,500 from Belinda’s Fund to enable him to compete in the Ballroom and Latin juvenile national and international competitions in the UK and Europe. The Principal of Essex Academy of Dance said, “Elijah shows huge potential and is placing in all regional competitions. He is a future ‘Strictly” star!
Ameile Gruar is 13 years old and a talented Ballroom and Latin dancer. Her dream is to become a professional dancer, and she trains four times a week with her dance partner, River. They have competed in many competitions, including at the Blackpool Tower in 2024. To help with the cost of dance lessons, workshops and dresses to enable her to compete at national level, Ameile has received £3,000 from Belinda’s Fund.
Anna Nesvitii is 19 and studying a level 3 music performance and production course at Colchester Institute. Prior to this she was studying music in Ukraine before she was forced to flee because of the War. Anna lives in Dovercourt near Harwich, and Belinda’s Fund has given her £2,000 to help with travel and associated costs to complete her
course and follow her dream of becoming a professional musician.
Laurie Rothwell is 22 and a talented young musician from Manningtree. His passion is Classical and Jazz and his principal instrument is the clarinet, although he also plays the saxophone and flute. He successfully completed a degree at the Guildhall School of Music, and a grant of £2,990 from Belinda’s Fund, along with £1,200 from the Essex Young Musician’s Trust is helping with the cost of undertaking a two-year post graduate Masters course in Jazz in Berlin