Funding Opportunity: The Saffron Community Fund – Opens Again for Applications
26th May 2026
Since its launch, the Saffron Community Fund (SCF) has awarded over £250,000 in grants, enabling grassroots organisations to deliver essential services and projects that strengthen local communities. Established by Saffron Building Society and managed in partnership with Essex Community Foundation, the fund ensures support is distributed fairly and where it can have the greatest impact.
Smaller charities and community groups based near a Saffron Building Society branch across Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk now have another opportunity to apply, as the Saffron Community Fund has reopened for applications.
Discover if there is a branch near you – here.
What the Fund Supports
The Saffron Community Fund focuses on projects that support elderly people, children and young people, and environmental or green causes. Applications are open to charities, not-for-profits, and volunteer groups. Each application is assessed individually to ensure funding is allocated fairly.
Why it Matters
Claire Hunnable, Saffron’s Community Business Partner, explains:
“The Saffron Community Fund has become a real source of colleague and member pride – in 2022 we invested the largest sum to date. Working in partnership with the Essex Community Foundation (who administer Saffron’s fund), we granted £19,327 to applicants including Bishop’s Stortford Mencap, Thaxted Centre for the Disabled, Enterprise East, and CARA (Centre for Action & Rape Abuse). Our support is critical for these smaller charities and we welcome applications for funding from an amazing diversity of groups who do great work at a grassroots level.”
Since then, the fund has gone on to support many more organisations, from community allotment projects and youth initiatives to services for older people and vulnerable groups. Each year, the range of applications grows, reflecting the creativity and resilience of local charities working hard to make a difference.
Examples of Projects Supported by the Fund in 2025
Among some of the latest recipients from the last funding round are are:
- Uttlesford District Stroke Support – A community based organisation supporting local stroke survivors and their carers through regular social meetings, lunches, and outings. They were awarded £1,500 towards their weekly social lunches, outings and informal support for elderly stroke survivors and carers in Saffron Walden.
- Children’s Hospital Pyjamas – a UK-based charity, which collects brand new pyjamas to then donate to hospitals, hospices, and women’s refuges across the UK. They were awarded £1,000 towards the costs of providing pyjamas for poorly and vulnerable children across Essex-based hospitals.
- Bury St Edmunds Child Contact Centre – a registered charity offering supported contact to families where there is no significant risk to the child or those around the child. They were awarded £2,000 to support their core costs.
Deadline
Applications close Monday 22nd of June 2026
How To Apply
Could your charity or group be next?
If you would like to apply, please fill out the application form by Clicking here.
We always recommend getting in touch first to ensure you have the right guidance before submitting your application, to do so please give our Grants Team a call on 01245 355947 for more information.
Get In Touch
- Call us on 01245 355947
- Click here to book a time slot to speak with a grants officer
- E-mail grants@essexcf.org.uk
Funding Opportunity: East of England Co-op Community Cares Fund Opens 1 June
The region’s largest independent retailer, East of England Co-op, is inviting applications for grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 from charities and organisations that support people in its trading areas across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
The East of England Co-op’s Community Cares Fund gives financial support to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, charities and parish councils that are providing services or activities that will have a positive impact in their communities. The fund looks to support work that helps people to play an active part in our communities to reduce barriers and inequalities and improve social contact and experiences.
Fund Outcomes:
- Improved access to social activities for all
- Reduction in feelings of isolation and improved wellbeing
- Supported people into education or employment
- Provided Information, advice or guidance to maximise income
- Evidence of partnership working or alliance formation
Your application should fit one or more of the five fund outcomes.
Fund Criteria :
- Your work must be delivered within a reasonable distance from an East of England Coop Store. They have stores across Colchester, Braintree, Maldon, Tendring. Store finder – East of England Co-op
- East of England Co-op will only consider applications where they will be funding 30% or more of the overall costs.
- The fund will not support the same organisation in consecutive years. If you’ve received a grant from the Community Cares Fund previously, there must be at least 12 months since your last end of grant report was received.
The deadline to apply is 6 July 4:30pm.
Opens for applications on 1 June 2026
Grant decisions will be made 14 September 2026
How to apply:
To apply, please fill out our online application form here.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your work in advance of applying, please call the ECF grants team on 01245 355947, or book a call with the team here.
The Geoffrey Sneed Engineering & STEM Scholarship Launches
20th February 2026
Dr Geoffrey Sneed (pictured above) devoted his life to learning, innovation and inspiring others through science and engineering. Raised in Ilford, he showed an early aptitude for maths, physics and engineering, which shaped his academic and professional career.
After graduating from Imperial College London and completing a PhD, Geoffrey spent 15 years teaching physics, maths, chemistry and applied sciences at Ealing High School. Known for his forward-thinking approach, he helped establish one of the first purpose-built applied science laboratories in a state grammar school and developed specialist experimental equipment, with a strong focus on real-world application.
Beyond the classroom, Geoffrey held senior academic and research roles, including as a research director at the University of Surrey, as well as appointments at the Science Museum and Imperial College. In 1979, he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study international approaches to science education and later received the Churchill Medal at 10 Downing Street.
An inventor as well as an educator, Geoffrey created the Pulsometer, a medical chronograph watch designed to measure heart rate quickly. His work consistently reflected his belief that engineering should serve society and solve practical problems.
Inspiring young people remained central to his life. He founded the Molecule Club, introducing children to science through a musical performance that toured schools across the Midlands. Alongside this, he maintained a lifelong interest in the motor industry, writing extensively about its engineering and history.
When Geoffrey died in 2022 with no immediate family, he agreed that his estate should be used to establish a charitable fund in his name, recognising his lifelong contribution to education.
A New Opportunity for Future Engineers
This decision led to the creation of the Dr Geoffrey Sneed Engineering Scholarship, offering a new opportunity for academically able students across Essex who face financial barriers to higher education.
Through ongoing financial support, the scholarship helps students focus on their studies and progress into careers where engineering and STEM knowledge can be used for wider societal benefit – values central to Geoffrey’s life and work.
What the Scholarship Offers
The scholarship provides financial support towards living costs while studying at university. Awards are made for an initial three-year period, with the potential for review for a fourth year, helping to ensure stability and continued support throughout a student’s degree.
Rajesh Bhramav who received funding to support his degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge University shared :
“ The Dr Geoffrey Sneed Engineering Fund has had a truly meaningful impact on my journey through sixth form and into university. The books, financial support and academic resources provided were instrumental in supporting my A-level studies and university applications, and this support has enabled me to pursue my ambitions with confidence and make the most of the opportunities available at university. In addition, the encouragement and belief shown by the members of the Essex Community Fund has been truly invaluable.”
Another student who has benefited from the Fund is Rithvik Badiadka, who also recently received a grant to support his degree at Warwick University and shared with us the difference it has made to his university experience.
” The support from the Dr Geoffrey Sneed Engineering Fund has had a significant impact on my experience at Warwick and allowed me to immerse more fully in university life, especially at a difficult time in my life where the financial pressures on my family would have made it quite difficult for me to fully explore the opportunities here at Warwick. The Fund has supported my day-to-day living costs whilst also giving me the opportunity to join various societies and sports clubs, and this balance between academic focus and personal development has had an incredibly positive impact on my time so far at Warwick. I am incredibly grateful and indebted to the Fund and Essex Community Foundation for all their support.”
Interested in Applying?
If you live in Essex, East London/Essex border, are currently studying A Levels, and plan to progress to a STEM-based degree, particularly Engineering, you may be eligible to apply.
To find out more – Click here
Co-op Community Cares Fund Opens for Applications
27th October 2025
Applications open Monday, 3 November
The East of England Co-op, the region’s largest independent retailer, is inviting applications for its Community Cares Fund, offering grants of £1,000–£5,000 to charities and organisations supporting communities across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire.
The Community Cares Fund provides financial support to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, charities and parish councils delivering services or activities that make a real, positive impact on their communities. The fund particularly focuses on initiatives that help people take an active part in community life, reduce barriers and inequalities, and improve social connections and experiences.
Successful applications should align with one or more of these outcomes:
- Improved access to social activities for all
- Reduced feelings of isolation and improved wellbeing
- Support into education or employment
- Information, advice or guidance to maximise income
- Evidence of partnership working or alliance formation
Fund Criteria
- Projects must be delivered within a reasonable distance of an East of England Co-op store (locations include Colchester, Braintree, Maldon, Tendring). Click here to find your nearest store.
- The Co-op will only fund applications covering 30% or more of the overall project costs
- Organisations cannot receive consecutive yearly grants; a 12-month gap is required if you have previously received funding
How to apply:
Deadline to apply is 5pm, Monday 1 December 2025.
Grant decisions will be announced in January 2026.
To apply, complete our application form which you can find by clicking here.
We always recommend discussing your project in advance with our Grants Team to do so please call 01245 355947 or book a call.
The Saffron Community Fund – Apply Now
23rd October 2025
Smaller charities and community groups across Essex, Hertfordshire, and Suffolk have another chance to secure vital funding as the Saffron Community Fund (SCF) is now open again for applications. This initiative, created by Saffron Building Society and managed in partnership with Essex Community Foundation, ensures grants are distributed fairly and where they can make the biggest impact.
Since its launch, the SCF has awarded over £250,000 in grants, helping grassroots organisations deliver essential services and projects that strengthen local communities.
What the Fund Supports
The SCF focuses on projects that support elderly people, children and young people, and environmental or green causes. Applications are open to charities, not-for-profits, and volunteer groups. Each application is assessed individually to ensure funding is allocated fairly.
Why It Matters
Claire Hunnable, Saffron’s Community Business Partner, explains:
“The Saffron Community Fund has become a real source of colleague and member pride – in 2022 we invested the largest sum to date. Working in partnership with the Essex Community Foundation (who administer Saffron’s fund), we granted £19,327 to applicants including Bishop’s Stortford Mencap, Thaxted Centre for the Disabled, Enterprise East, and CARA (Centre for Action & Rape Abuse). Our support is critical for these smaller charities and we welcome applications for funding from an amazing diversity of groups who do great work at a grassroots level.”
Since then, the fund has gone on to support many more organisations, from community allotment projects and youth initiatives to services for older people and vulnerable groups. Each year, the range of applications grows, reflecting the creativity and resilience of local charities working hard to make a difference.
Examples of Projects Supported by The Fund This Year
Among some of the latest recipients from the last funding round are are:
- Uttlesford District Stroke Support – A community based organisation supporting local stroke survivors and their carers through regular social meetings, lunches, and outings. They were awarded £1,500 towards their weekly social lunches, outings and informal support for elderly stroke survivors and carers in Saffron Walden.
- Children’s Hospital Pyjamas – a UK-based charity, which collects brand new pyjamas to then donate to hospitals, hospices, and women’s refuges across the UK. They were awarded £1,000 towards the costs of providing pyjamas for poorly and vulnerable children across Essex-based hospitals.
- Bury St Edmunds Child Contact Centre – a registered charity offering supported contact to families where there is no significant risk to the child or those around the child. They were awarded £2,000 to support their core costs.
Deadline
Applications close Monday 22nd of June 2026
How To Apply
Could your charity or group be next?
If you would like to apply, please fill out the application form by Clicking here.
We always recommend getting in touch first to ensure you have the right guidance before submitting your application, to do so please give our Grants Team a call on 01245 355947 for more information.
Get In Touch
- Call us on 01245 355947
- Click here to book a time slot to speak with a grants officer
- E-mail grants@essexcf.org.uk
High Sheriff Encourages Applications – 2025
13th October 2025
Charities and voluntary groups across Essex that are helping to protect people from harm, support victims of crime, or make their communities safer can now apply for grants from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
The High Sheriffs’ Fund provides vital support to a wide range of local initiatives and groups working to improve community safety. This includes efforts focused on crime prevention, rehabilitation, and many other related issues. Grants of up to £5,000 have previously supported projects such as services for victims of modern slavery, counselling for women and children affected by domestic abuse, diversionary activities for young people, and work placement schemes for ex-offenders.
The current High Sheriff of Essex, Julie Fosh, has seen first-hand the dedication of volunteers and community organisations working to make Essex a safer place for everyone.
“The role of the High Sheriff is, in part, about recognising the important work of the charitable sector in making our communities safer places” said Julie. “I have been inspired by my visits across the county and the commitment of volunteers. The grants from the High Sheriffs’ Fund are just one way of showing thanks and appreciation, so I very much encourage groups to apply.”
The High Sheriffs’ Fund is one of many charitable funds managed by ECF that support local people and communities. Through its partnerships with successive High Sheriffs, ECF ensures that funding is directed where it can have the greatest impact.
Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Policy and Programmes at ECF, said:
“We are pleased to work with successive High Sheriffs to ensure that the money from the Fund tackles important issues at a local level. We also have other charitable funds that can support community safety initiatives, so please contact our grants team for advice on making an application.”
To Apply
The deadline for applications is 1st of December 2025, and the panel will meet to review submissions in February 2025.
The Fund is open to any project or group across Essex with focuses linked to community safety.
To apply, Click here and select High Sheriff’s Fund from the dropdown menu.
You can also call the Grants Team on 01245 355947 for more information. We always recommend getting in touch first to ensure you have the right guidance before submitting your application