Dan Haylett: Is it good advice to give money away?

27th July 2022

Dan Haylett, Director of TFP Financial Planning, describes his job as “human-focused retirement planning to help couples aged 50+ solve the emotional, behavioural, and financial problems of life after work.”

He actively encourages his clients, where appropriate, to align their capital (financial, human, social and time) with what’s most important to them now and create a lasting legacy.

Dan recently introduced us to his client, Atul Manek, who was interested in exploring the different ways that he could give money away and support causes that matter most to him and his family.

We asked Dan to explain what it was about working with us that appealed to Atul and why encouraging people to give their money away actually can be good advice.

Like most financial advisers, I need to get to know my clients well.  This is so I can give them the best advice to help them achieve their specific goals – from budgeting in the present to retirement savings for the long-term. We then work together to stay on track to achieve those goals.

When I start working with a new client, we spend a lot of time talking about how they want to spend their money, which often centres around treating themselves to holidays, buying or upgrading personal items or taking care of their loved ones.

But another aspect, that they often don’t consider, is giving money away to help people who are in a less fortunate position than themselves.

Traditional financial advice is not typically set up to help our clients give back, but it is a conversation I like to have.  It means we can ensure their financial planning is aligned with what’s important to them.

Once a client knows they are going to be financially secure, it allows them to broaden their thinking and support causes that have a deeper meaning for them and their family. They tend to want to do something more personal where they can be involved, rather than simply making donations to support the larger, well-known charities.

One of my go-to phrases I use with clients is, “Wouldn’t you prefer to give your money away with a warm heart rather than a cold hand?”.  This often inspires them to think about what is important to them and how they want to make a difference and what legacy they want to leave.   Typically, these causes are close to home, either geographically or based on personal experience.

This is why I feel very comfortable introducing my clients to ECF.  They listen to what people want to achieve and help them to work out what is important to them.”

When Atul and I talked about giving money away, it was clear that although he and his family lived in Essex where he wanted to give support, he also wanted to consider giving money to international causes, recognising his family’s heritage in Uganda.

However, he knew that he did not have the time or expertise to check the viability of charities, especially those working overseas.  He also wanted his children to be involved in the decision-making around which charities to support, but he did not want them to have the burden of potentially managing a charity in the future.

It was clear to me that Atul needed some expert advice.  I had been introduced to ECF in 2020, when I connected with Perry Norton on LinkedIn.  After a number of really positive meetings about the work ECF does I knew enough about them to feel confident they could help so I arranged a meeting for Atul and me with Perry and Caroline Taylor, ECF’s chief executive.

They listened to what was important to Atul and what he wanted to achieve.  Then they created a framework for him to be able to give, ensuring that the money he gives will be used efficiently and effectively.

I am delighted that Atul has established a Fund in his family’s name to help them give back to communities in the UK and abroad.  I have no doubt that they are in very good hands with ECF and that they will enjoy their giving journey for many years to come.

To find out how we can help you, or work with you to help your clients, contact Perry Norton on 01245 355947 or email perry@essexcf.org.uk.

£100,000 available to tackle the biggest issues facing Braintree district

8th July 2022

Community groups and charities tackling the biggest issues affecting residents in Braintree District can apply for a slice of a £100,000 fund.

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

This year, the fund is looking for bids, big or small, to support residents facing the major social issues that residents say are affecting them the most: the cost-of-living crisis, loneliness and social isolation, emotional health and wellbeing issues or a lack of opportunities for young people.

These issues are further being tackled through Eastlight’s All In programme, where four teams of local residents are spending a year creating a solution to each of these social issues, before making it happen.

James Green, Eastlight’s Community Investment Director, said: “Local groups and charities do brilliant work for residents in Braintree District, and these grants are here to enable them to do even more for our communities.

“I look forward to seeing the amazing ideas proposed by grassroots community groups and voluntary sector organisations.”

Organisations that can apply include charities, residents’ groups, social enterprises and other non-profit organisations.

Grants of between £500 and £5,000 are available for smaller scale grassroots projects, alongside larger awards of up to £40,000 over three years.

Last year, grants ranged from £600 so Incredible Edible could create a community garden in Earls Colne to £38,400 to allow the Wilderness Foundation to provide nature-based therapy to people who have experienced grief, trauma, addiction, isolation and other issues affecting their mental health.

Cllr Frankie Ricci, Cabinet Member for Communities at Braintree District Council, said: “As a council we are proud to be part of this fund which is making a real difference in the district. I encourage local voluntary organisations to make the most of this opportunity and apply for financial support.”

The deadline for this funding programme was Monday 22 August. If you were unable to get your application in advance of this and you require a grant, please do phone us on 01345 356018 as we may be able to help.

Essex Community Foundation welcomes new Trustees

29th June 2022

Three professionals have joined the Board of Trustees at Essex Community Foundation (ECF), one of the leading community foundations in the UK.

Atul Manek, Emma Goode and Soumya Krishna Kumar have become Trustees of the independent charitable trust, which is based in Chelmsford and works with individuals, families, businesses, trusts and public agencies to give financial support to charities and voluntary groups in Essex.

ECF was set up in 1996 and since then has awarded £48 million and currently manages 180 charitable funds on behalf of its donors.

Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF said: “We are always looking to engage with people who share our passion for local communities and want to work with us to shape the strategic direction of the Foundation.  Becoming a trustee is just one way that we can do this, and we look forward to working with Atul, Emma and Soumya, who all bring valuable skills and experience that will help to further advance our work.”

Atul joins ECF following a 30-year career in financial services, mainly in investment management. He is also a qualified chartered accountant. In addition to becoming a Trustee, Atul has also set up a charitable fund to start his family’s giving journey to support charities in Essex and internationally.

Atul said: “I was introduced to ECF by my financial adviser, and I quickly realised that they could help me to achieve my charitable aims.  I was so inspired by their work that when I saw they were advertising for Trustees, I applied.

“I was delighted to be invited to join the Board of Trustees and I am really looking forward to learning about the non-profit sector and using my skills and experience to help the Foundation build on what it has already achieved.”

Emma Goode, a social media consultant and owner of the digital marketing agency 24 fingers, is bringing her communications expertise to the Board.

“When I first learnt about ECF and its role in supporting local charities and community groups, I was really impressed.” said Emma.

“I was born in Essex, started my business here and the most of my clients are Essex-based.  I have huge sense of pride for the county and look forward to helping ECF broaden its reach so that more people can know about them and the great work of local charities.”

Soumya Krishnakumar is involved in the Young Trustee Movement.  During the COVID-19 pandemic she launched The Crisis Project after, an innovative project that enabled people to volunteer and send letters of thanks to NHS workers, while not leaving their homes.

Soumya said: “Having had my own experience of running a not-for-profit organisation, I really wanted to take that next step and become a charity Trustee.

“I saw the advert for ECF and it felt like a perfect fit as they support such a wide range of causes, but with a focus of helping to improve the lives of people in Essex. I can’t wait to get started.”

Outdoor kitchen teaching kids about food

20th June 2022

An outdoor learning kitchen has opened in Southend, as a teacher aims to create a community space for children to learn about the journey from the farm to the table.

Thanks to a grant from the Douglas Allen Foundation, the team at Raw Learning Community has opened their outdoor kitchen and eating space on an allotment in Eastern Avenue, helping to improve children’s learning by letting them get close to nature.

They hold sessions every Tuesday for children with learning differences or mental health struggles to develop their understanding of the natural environment.

Tilly Hogrebe, one of the volunteers who takes the Raw Kitchen sessions, said: “We are looking at the entire food chain, from seed to plate.

“Last week we planted seed potatoes and used fresh potatoes to make our own crisps, then later in the season we will re-visit this session when we harvest our own home-grown potatoes and use them in our kitchen here.

“This way, the children are not only learning about growing, cooking and self-sufficiency, they also explore the relation between some of the products we know.”

Raw Learning Community was set up by Rachel King, who was a primary school teacher for 21 years. After injuring herself in a freak netball accident, she decided to study for a masters degree that would enable her to focus on teaching and supporting children who live with things like autism and dsylexia.

She has since opened a forest school based in Rochford for young people with learning differences and social or emotional health needs.

Fiona D’Silva, deputy manager of Raw Learning, said: “Raw Learning gives opportunities to children with a learning difference. Our activities and environment encourage exploration, flexibility, creativity, innovation and the chance for the children or young people to engage in self-directed learning.

“Our highly skilled teachers are on hand to support, listen and build trust to help our learners.”

To find out more and to book a session, visit: www.rawlearning.co.uk

Perry Norton: Supporting charities is good for business

13th June 2022

Increasingly, Essex businesses are discovering the benefits of giving back locally and engaging their staff in the decision making of where their donations go.  Perry Norton, Head of Development at Essex Community Foundation (ECF), explains why companies choose to give through them:

“ECF was set up in 1996 by local businessman Ian Marks CBE DL and his wife Angela. When their family sweet making business, Trebor, was sold to Cadbury’s in 1989, Ian and Angela decided to give back to the County where their family had lived and worked for generations.

“For those new to the concept, at the community foundation we help people, companies and public agencies to give back to their local community in an effective and efficient way. You can set up your own charitable fund in the name of your business or family and we take care of all the administration, receive and assess applications from the voluntary sector, and present those to you that match your objectives.

“We currently manage 180 charitable funds on behalf of our donors and award around £5 million in grants each year to charities and voluntary groups in Essex.

“Working with us and choosing to think local when it comes to giving back has lots of advantages for businesses. You may receive letters from charities asking for a donation, but how do you know which ones to support or if the money you give will be used effectively?

“Involving your team in discussing the funding requests and in making the decisions of which ones to support, is a great way to engage them in your corporate approach. It also creates a collective understanding of local issues.

“We get around 60 applications every month from charities and community groups. We assess them and provide donors with details of the applicants needs and how much money they are requesting.  If they cannot fund the full amount, we can often top-up from other funds we manage.  This means that the organisation receives the money it needs to cover their running costs, deliver a project or buy a piece of equipment.  When they have spent the money, they tell us how it has helped them and we share this feedback with our donors.

“Businesses may simply want to raise funds during the year and then donate it to a local charity, but for those that wish to have a long-term approach to their giving, we can help them embed this value into their ethos, ensuring it is part of the company’s future.”

Rickard Luckin, the Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisers, is one Essex company working with ECF and taking this long-term approach.

Gayner Smith, Director at Rickard Luckin, said: “It just made perfect sense for us to set up the Rickard Luckin Community Fund with ECF.  We liked the idea of having our own corporate named charity through which we could give support to some of the lesser-known local voluntary groups working in areas where our offices are based, and that we didn’t even know existed.

“We wanted colleagues to be involved in deciding who we should support, but we didn’t necessarily know which local organisations would benefit most and we also needed some assistance in assessing requests.”

Since setting up the Fund, Rickard Luckin, which has offices in Basildon, Chelmsford and Southend, has given away over £21,000 in grants and raised over £53,000 in an endowed fund which is securing their support for the local community forever.

Chelmsford Star Co-op has also taken this route, having supported local charities and communities for over 150 years.  In 2021, the company decided to set up the Chelmsford Star Co-op Community Fund with ECF.

Judy Saunders, Society President said, “We are working with ECF because we want to have a deeper understanding of local charities and their needs and ensure that the money we raise and give will have the greatest impact. To help us achieve this and show our commitment to the local communities we serve, we have set up a fund which will grow over time and enable us to give support every year”.

Other businesses that have set up funds with ECF include Birketts, RSM, Teledyne e2v, Essex & Suffolk Water, Douglas Allen Estates, Mersea Homes and Objective IT.

Did you know?

It is often the larger, national charities that receive donations, but local charities make up a big proportion of the charity sector and often operate on tiny budgets; 85% of registered charities in the UK have an annual income of less than £100,000 and hundreds more community groups operate informally.

Donations made through Payroll Giving schemes and corporate donations can also benefit from tax relief.

How to give locally

To discuss how ECF can help your company to support local charities, call Perry Norton on 01245 355947 or e-mail perry@essexcf.org.uk

Read more about charitable giving through ECF here.

Pre-schoolers to enjoy outdoor learning and play

9th June 2022

A pilot project to welcome pre-school children into St Osyth Priory Estate will launch in the Autumn, thanks to a grant from the Essex Fund.

The Fund, which is administered by Essex Community Foundation, has awarded £3,428 to St Osyth Priory and Parish Trust (SOPPT) to develop a new ‘Outdoor Explorers’ programme for pre-school aged children to experience nature-based learning on the site.

This will fund six sessions for little ones and their parents or carers while also covering staffing and set up costs across the 12-week development phase. This will create a scheme that can then be delivered annually as part of the core Education Centre offering and, it is hoped, benefitting hundreds of children and families.

Up to 20 pre-schoolers will roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty in the mud kitchen overlooking the Estate’s deer park before setting out on a walk to discover the grounds of the historic Estate. Under-fives and their mums, dads and carers will then stop for a snack and story time inside the St Osyth Priory Education Centre.

This will support early years literacy and give parents a chance to meet and chat. Sessions will end with a creative activity outdoors in which children will get stuck into a nature-based make and do task linked to a different fun theme each week.

A series of six sessions will cost £30 and individual classes can be booked at a drop-in rate of £7 per class for one adult and child. There will be no additional charge for twins and sessions will be open to children aged between 18 months and five. There will be 10 free places per session for families in receipt of universal credit.

Outdoor Explorers will be delivered by the Education Centre’s trained teachers and has been carefully designed to provide opportunities for a cohort of children who have been significantly impacted by isolation during the pandemic.

Education Centre Manager Laura Chesover said: “We know that the early years are crucial for social and emotional development and these children have missed out on so many experiences during their formative years because of the pandemic. We wanted to address that by creating a programme which is packed with new adventures and physical activity so that families can make up for lost time and make memories together.

“We also recognise the strain the pandemic has put on parents and carers of young children, so we’re creating opportunities for families to bond during these sessions so they can form support networks within their local community.”

Owner Tim Sargeant said: “We’re pleased to be able to build on the successful school trip programme with this new opportunity for younger children and their families and we’re confident they will benefit enormously from exploring the Estate.”

SOPPT Chair Conrad Payne said: “We are very grateful to the Essex Fund for awarding this grant and are excited to see the impact it will make on children and families. It is wonderful to extend the Education Centre’s work within the community.”

If you are in need of funding to help support a project idea or running costs, please contact our grants team on 01245 356018 or email grants@essexcf.org.uk.