Making life better by reusing and recycling

18th March 2021

Being without basic household necessities such as a bed and a cooker is something most people would find unimaginable. 

But for some this is a harsh reality and the need for help and support in situations like these is on the increase. 

In the last three months 112 deliveries of essential furniture and household appliances have been made by Epping Forest ReUse (EFRU) to people in need referred through the Essential Living Fund. 

EFRU’s shop opened in 2013 to enable people on low incomes to access affordable, good quality furniture and home appliances. 

The charity has recently been given vital funding by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF) to continue its work, which is needed more than ever. 

Although Epping Forest is seen as an affluent area, many people are in financial difficulty and lack the essentials to make their daily life easier or more comfortable. 

EFRU provides furniture and household appliances for those who find themselves in need of help, including women who have experienced domestic violence, then move on from a refuge to a flat, but have nothing to furnish it with, for homeless people in a similar situation and to enable patients to come home from hospital. 

Donated furniture and household appliances are collected without cost to the owner and the charity sells the goods at low or discounted prices.   Some Items are provided free to people referred by approved agencies and to customers identified by staff as being in exceptional need. 

The Coronavirus pandemic has meant that EFRU has had to close its shop, but the charity is continuing its work and has been designated as an essential service. 

Referrals are still being made through the Essential Living Fund to help those in crisis, including the provision of starter packs of basic items needed to set up a home. 

One family helped by EFRU described the charity as “a light in dark times” and a volunteer with EFRU said: “I was surprised to learn that there are children in our district who do not have their own bed to sleep on. I took two calls in one morning about such a problem and thankfully we were able to provide beds for those children.” 

Janet Whitehouse, a trustee for EFRU said: “It has been a difficult year and there is more demand than ever before for our services.  An increasing number of people need help with basic equipment for their homes.  The Coronavirus pandemic has affected the amount of goods donated to us and currently there is a great need for donations of white goods.” 

Caring for the environment is another aspect of EFRU’s work and each year it saves nearly 100 tonnes of goods from going to landfill. Upcycling furniture is something that the charity is keen to resume doing in the future. 

The charity has two full time and four part time staff and, when lockdown restrictions are eased, will be able to resume another of its aims, to promote volunteering.   

Despite the difficulties of current times, the charity is determined to continue its work and is embracing the future with an enthusiastic and forward–thinking new manager, Esther Herel, who is passionate about the charity sector.   

Ester said: “Since I started at Epping Forest ReUse in January the staff have continued deliveries of essential furniture and household appliances to people in need and I’ve started a Click and Collect service.  I’m looking forward to our showroom re-opening on 12 April so we can welcome customers back again”.    

EFRU’s showroom near Epping station is open to all.  To donate items to Epping Forest ReUse please call 01992 578222 or email info@eppingreuse.org.uk 

SUPPORT ECF’S ACORN FUND CHALLENGE and help more local charities like EFRU.

ECF is running the ‘Acorn Fund Challenge’, appealing for donations and matching them on a 2 to 1 basis.  This means that for every £2 received, ECF will add £1, and if Gift Aid can be claimed, it nearly doubles the value of donations.   

Donate online now: https://justgiving.com/campaign/ECFAcorn 

More support for voluntary sector to deal with COVID-19 impacts

9th March 2021

Grants of up to £20,000 are now available from the Essex Covid Response Fund managed by us. 

Grants awarded must be spent within 12 months of receipt and can support core and essential operating costs as well as projects or capital items.  We are interested to hear about projects that ensure communities stay safe, keep connected or  help those who are self-isolating, and those disproportionately effected by the pandemic.  New projects and those that need to be adapted or scaled-up to better respond as a direct result of  COVID 19, will also be considered.

Contact us on 01245 356018 to discuss making an application. 

Voluntary organisations and community groups across Essex have since March 2020 been helping to meet residents’ need for practical, financial or emotional support through the pandemic. Food projects, advice services, mental health and domestic abuse charities and local projects helping people to shield, self-isolate, get tested or get vaccinated have all played their part.

As we emerge from lockdown, needs are expected to grow and change again as residents hit by the pandemic pick up the pieces. People will be dealing with the mental and emotional impact of what they’ve been through and the changes and uncertainty ahead.

• £1m goes to Essex Community Foundation (ECF) for grants up to £20,000 for voluntary organisations.
• Essex County Council will distribute £1m directly in grants up to £50,000 for medium-sized frontline organisations.
• £500,000 goes to Essex Association of Local Councils for small grants up to £5,000 for ‘mutual aid groups’ – residents or volunteers who’ve come together to help others in their communities.
• £150,000 goes to ECL (Essex Cares Ltd) for more support to people with sensory needs who have found it harder, during the pandemic, to safely access their communities and get the support they need.
• The rest will be split between the county’s 12 volunteer centres, Provide Community Interest Company and NHS partners to co-ordinate volunteering efforts and meet emerging needs such as for community transport to vaccination centres.

The funds come from Department of Health and Social Care funding to Essex County Council to contain and manage the COVID-19 outbreak. They are for use before the end of June 2021.

Cllr David Finch, Leader of Essex County Council said, “I would like to thank our voluntary and community sector and the thousands of volunteers who have stepped up to help their neighbours over this last year. There is more hard work to come. This funding will offer them capacity to help residents through to the summer, as they adjust to life after lockdown.”

Caroline Taylor, CEO of Essex Community Foundation said, “There is still a lot of pressure on the voluntary sector and a growing demand for support in local communities. We are delighted to be chosen as a partner to help deliver this programme in Essex and direct funding to where it is needed most.”

Sarah Troop, Chair of Volunteer Essex said, “The voluntary sector across Essex has experienced huge challenges over the past twelve months with changes to delivery models and uncertainty around funding being coupled with the drive to deliver support across the county in new ways. Often they have played a critical part in the community response to the coronavirus and have faced unprecedented challenges. The funding being provided to Essex voluntary sector infrastructure through the Volunteer Centres will go a long way to ensuring community support and volunteer action is maintained in coming months and is gratefully received.”

Charlene Slade, Chief Executive Officer of Essex Association of Local Councils said, “Essex Association of Local Councils is incredibly proud of the volunteers and mutual aid groups in Essex who have worked tirelessly during these difficult times to support people across the county. The funding administered so far on behalf of Essex County Council has been an invaluable resource, providing food hampers and PPE. This new funding will meet the future needs of grassroots activity within our communities.”

Just a few examples of how VCS organisations have stepped up:

• Essex Wellbeing Service alone has supported over 207,000 people across Essex in the last year, with district-based community hubs making huge impacts in supporting those with daily living tasks.
• Community 360 recruited more than 100 volunteers to help at vaccination centres in North East Essex.
• Community-based mutual aid groups have also played a huge role, for example: Witham Pay it Forward Group completed 30,000 jobs to support Witham residents and Danbury Community Action Volunteers provided hundreds of volunteers for their Primary Care Vaccination Centre.
• Nazeing and Brentwood Mutual Aid provided 600 volunteers to help with surge testing.

To discuss the funding that we have available to distribute, please call our grants team on 01245 356018.

Charities receive £130,000 lifeline pandemic funding boost

8th March 2021

Young people and unpaid carers will continue to receive essential support through the pandemic and beyond after Eastlight Community Homes and Braintree District Council award more than £130,000 of grants.

The Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund is managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and was created ten years ago to provide local voluntary organisations and charities with the opportunity to apply for funding annually.

Braintree Youth Project Charity and Crossroads Care are among six charities to receive a share of over £130,000 to provide much-needed support through these challenging times.

The recipients in the latest round are:

• Action for Family Carers will receive £20,000 over two years to provide support to young carers in Braintree district.
• Braintree Youth Project Charity will receive £30,000 over three years to help employ a member of staff to support young people.
• Braintree, Halstead & Witham Citizens Advice are awarded £31,832 over two years for their outreach service supporting disabled people in Braintree district.
• CARA Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse continue their work with a grant of £26,000 over the next two years, providing help and support to people living in Braintree district who have been affected by sexual violence.
• Crossroads Braintree and Chelmsford will receive £12,000 over two years to provide respite support for unpaid adult carers
• Crossways Church Fellowship (Revolution Youth Project) to receive £12,000 over two years to provide a youth group and activities for young people in Halstead.

Crossroads Braintree and Chelmsford has highly trained support workers who help carers to look after their loved ones in their own home.  By temporarily alleviating the caring responsibilities for the unpaid carer, it allows them time to go shopping, get some exercise or meet friends.

Danielle Perry, Development Manager at Crossroads, said: “The practical support we provide to carers means they can re-charge their batteries, feel less stressed and improve their well-being. We also reach out to those who feel lonely or cut off from the community, due to their caring responsibilities, and we spend time with them.  We know carers who are still isolating due to COVID-19 and they also require our help with food shopping or collecting prescriptions.”

Braintree Youth Project Charity provides a safe haven for young people aged 11-18 and up to 25 with special needs, including many that are disadvantaged or socially isolated, where they are cared for, listened to and respected. They run a range of indoor and outdoor activities, aimed at building confidence and helping young people to achieve their full potential.

Graham Goodchild, from Braintree Youth Project Charity, said: “We’ve had a huge growth in our membership over the past two years as more and more young people seek a haven where they can mix, make new friends and develop their confidence. We want to give them every chance to achieve any future they want, and, during the pandemic, we’ve been hosting video calls so our young people can stay connected and still talk to their friends. We look to welcome new members as we expand into more areas in the town.”

James Green, Eastlight’s Community Investment Director, said: “We are committed to supporting communities to recover from the pandemic. Many local organisations and charities have been hit really hard and that impacts on those they provide lifeline support to. We will continue to be here and help make a real difference to the lives of local people.”

Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Chairman of the decision-making panel, said: “Braintree District Council is proud to be a part of this fund which is more important than ever for charities during the pandemic. It is brilliant to see the great work they are doing and how they are supporting our district’s residents during this difficult time.”

Local charities and voluntary organisations working in Braintree district are encouraged to contact the ECF grants team on 01245 356018 to talk about their funding needs or click here for our online application form.

For more information about ECF helps people to give locally, click here.

High Sheriffs’ Awards recognises our unsung heroes

4th March 2021

The prestigious High Sheriffs’ Awards were announced on Wednesday, March 3, in a live programme broadcast by BBC Essex.

COVID-19 restrictions made it impossible to hold the event at its usual venue, Hylands House in Chelmsford, but the High Sheriff of Essex, Julie Fosh, was determined that the show would go on.

The ceremony, being held on the radio for the first time ever, lost none of its kudos and high-profile recognition was given to local charities tackling crime, community safety and anti-social behaviour.

A knife crime education programme for young people, an organisation providing work experience to ex-offenders and a specialist support scheme for victims of modern slavery were among those to receive awards.

A total of 23 local organisations received grants totalling over £42,000 from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, which is managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

For Julie Fosh, the awards were the culmination of her successful year of office at a time like no other in the long history of High Sheriffs of Essex.

She said: “It was so important that this annual thank you to the voluntary sector did not fall to the wayside in the wake of COVID-19. The idea to go live on the radio was brilliant, as everyone could still hear about the vital work groups are doing across the county and it was an opportunity for us to come together, over the airwaves, to celebrate something positive.”

The two-hour radio show was hosted by Steve Scruton and Ian Wyatt. Julie Fosh, Nick Alston, Chair of ECF and B J Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex, joined them on air to talk to grant recipients and award winners.

Alongside the grants, special awards were presented to five organisations:

• The High Sheriffs’ Cup was awarded to The Gifted Organisation for their work delivering online confidence and skills building sessions for young women living in Harlow, Ongar and West Essex.
• The Essex County Council Bowl was won by Justice and Care who work with Essex Police to increasing the provision of specialised support to victims of modern slavery.
• The Essex County Fire & Rescue Shield went to Red Balloon Family Foundation for their intervention programme helping young people in Epping Forest district who are at risk of criminal exploitation.
• The Essex Police Cup was awarded to St Giles Trust for the preventative sessions on violence, vulnerability,and exploitation they provide to pupils in seven Essex schools.
• The High Sheriffs’ Shield went to Ormiston Families for their work helping children across Essex to deal with having a parent or carer in prison.

Caroline Taylor, Chief Executive of ECF, said: “The Awards is such an inspiring event and one of my favourite nights of the year. Although we were hugely disappointed that we couldn’t bring everyone together for our in-person event, we are so grateful to BBC Essex for making it possible to still recognise and commend the charities’ work.

“The voluntary sector has had an incredibly tough time over the past year, so we are urging any organisations in need of financial support for their work to get in touch with us. We may be able to help.”

View a list of all organisations that received grants from the High Sheriffs’ Fund here.

To view and download photos of the High Sheriff of Essex with certificates and trophies for each of the groups, visit our Flickr page here.

You can listen back to the show on BBC Essex online here.

BBC Essex to host High Sheriffs’ Awards live

26th February 2021

On Wednesday 3 March from 6pm BBC Essex hosted a live show and presented this year’s High Sheriff’s Awards.  These annual Awards are designed to recognise and commend local voluntary organisations that devote their time and energy to make Essex a better and safer place.

The well-known Essex presenters, Steve Scruton and Ian Wyatt, brought their inimitable style and warmth to create a wonderful event full of information and conversation.  As well as talking with groups that are receiving grants from the High Sheriff’s Fund, Steve and Ian were joined by Julie Fosh, the current High Sheriff of Essex, Nick Alston, Chair of Essex Community Foundation and B-J Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex Police.

Whilst it was hugely disappointing that we could not bring everyone together at Hylands House for the usual in-person event we were absolutely delighted that BBC Essex stepped in to save the day and host the Awards event live from their studio.

You can listen back to the show on BBC Essex online here.

If you use Twitter, you can review tweets from the night using #HighSheriffAwards. Links to our social media accounts can be found at the top of our website homepage.

Read more about other projects we have funded across the county here.

To donate to the High Sheriffs’ Fund and support community safety initiatives across the county give online via our JustGiving page.

The gift that keeps giving

11th February 2021

Young women and girls in Harlow, Ongar and West Essex are being given the chance to unlock their potential and have a brighter future.

A special initiative by The Gifted Organisation, to provide online sessions giving girls and young women support and inspiration, has received high-profile backing with a grant of £4,690 from the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

The grant, which has come from the High Sheriff’s Fund, managed by ECF, has given The Gifted Organisation a vital boost at a time of enormous challenges. Lockdowns and school closures caused by the Covid pandemic affected referrals for the organisation’s services and meant that support sessions could no longer be held face-to-face.

Determination won the day and means that much-needed online support, confidence-building and life and work skills sessions are helping vulnerable or disadvantaged young women and girls living in Harlow, Ongar and across West Essex.

Tori Pearson, partnerships and progressions manager of The Gifted Organisation said: “Young people are at the heart and soul of what we do and we work with them to create solutions to the difficulties they face.

“We have been hearing of the crippling isolation and anxiety young women and girls have been experiencing during lockdown. It is a really tough time for them, they can’t go out or see their friends and they feel starved of the things that mean so much to them.  Many lead very complex lives and if they are vulnerable the current situation makes them more so.

“We feel that this is the forgotten generation and that is why we are determined to get our online project going. It is so important, as it gives a connection for young women and girls to learn skills that they can go on to use in real life. The more services we can provide to make them feel they are not alone and can achieve the better.”

The online sessions and workshops for girls and young women aged 15 to 25 range from yoga to inspirational talks and advice from high-achieving female mentors from various sectors.

Tori said: “Everyone in the The Gifted Organisation loves working with young people, supporting them to unlock their gifts and create brighter futures for themselves. Our aim is to enable young people to develop transferable skills while supporting their emotional and mental wellbeing and helping them move forward in a positive way, gaining creative, entrepreneurial and leadership skills.

“The young people themselves have emphasised a clear need for our services, saying how it has a real impact on their lives.”

Since it was founded in 2012, The Gifted Organisation has worked with over 4,000 young people and the funding from ECF will mean that their help and motivational support can reach many more.

If you are a voluntary or community organisation in need of funding, click here to check if you are eligible for an ECF grant.