Funding boost keeps young people swimming in Harwich
26th March 2025
Volunteers at the Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston Swimming Club are to keep their vital skills at the highest standard, helping swimmers stay safe and reach their full potential, thanks to a grant of £5,000.
The money has been given to the club by the Milsom Charitable Fund, so that the volunteers can continue to have training and coaching courses to maintain their expertise.
Set up 20 years ago to support local good causes, the fund is managed through us, ensuring that monies are distributed in accordance to their wishes.
The grant for the swimming club has been given a warm welcome by Danielle Pickersgill, a member of the pool committee.
She said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding. The pool is a place where individuals and families can come to enjoy swimming and water-based activities, so it is important that our volunteers are trained to the highest standards to ensure safety for all.
“We also run competitions in our Olympic sized pool, and we have some very talented young swimmers. Offering appropriate coaching can help them improve and achieve their goals.”
The pool is part of the Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles centre, which also includes state-of-the-art fitness facilities, as well as a full sized astro-pitch for football and hockey players of all ages.
Paul Milsom, Managing Director of Milsoms Hotels and Restaurants said: “We are committed to supporting local charities in the Harwich area through our fund with ECF. The pool is a great resource for families and a place where children can make friends while keeping fit and healthy.
“Our own children, Charlie and Jack, are both keen swimmers and competed on the school’s circuit when they were younger. It is great that we can give some support that will ensure more children can benefit from using the pool at Dovercourt.”
The Milsom Charitable Fund was established in 2005 by Paul and Geraldine Milsom after Paul’s father Gerald died.
Gerald was a larger-than-life character and was a great supporter of charitable causes. Paul and Geraldine are carrying on his legacy through their fund with ECF and, as they have a long association with Harwich through their business at The Pier, they regularly give support to voluntary and community organisations working in the area, particularly those working with young people. Since the fund was set up it has given grants totalling more than £35,000.
To find out more about setting up a charitable fund in your name or, if you are a charity or voluntary group, how to apply for a grant, call us on 01245 355947, or email perry.norton@essexcf.org.uk
Building a community brick by brick
A community space in Halstead has seen huge success in its first year of operation.
The Wellbeing at The Shed Project opened its doors in March 2024, transforming a disused St. John Ambulance Station into a health and wellbeing hub, including a Men’s Shed.
Funding from the Braintree District & Eastlight Community Fund enabled Kevin Pryke (pictured on the right) to realise his dream of creating a safe space in Halstead, after being inspired whilst visiting Cut Maple Men’s Shed.
The Hub now hosts a variety of activities to increase wellbeing including yoga, pilates, meditation and dance sessions, but more than this, it’s a place where people can connect, stay active and support each other.
The success the Wellbeing at The Shed Project has had is testament to the hard work and community spirit that has developed since its launch.
Kevin said: “It’s grown way beyond what we intended, receiving 7,000 visits in its first year alone. In addition, our Men’s Shed group meets on Tuesday and Thursday, and will meet more often if demand increases.”
Members of the men’s shed work on meaningful, practical projects together. Accomplishments include a rocking horse for a local children’s hospice.
The Hub also offers allotment spaces with raised beds to allow people with all abilities to grow fruit and vegetables.
Kevin said: “The idea is to prevent loneliness and isolation. 75 per cent of all suicides are men, with those aged 46 to 64 in the largest group. It’s a good support group after retiring – a place where people can talk, connect, and support each other.”
Rod, a regular visitor to the shed, said, “It’s lovely coming here. You have a chat and help each other with your projects. It’s better than sitting at home.”
More than £1 million has been awarded to a host of local causes around the Braintree District in the last couple of years. This example is one of many success stories and demonstrates the positive impact anyone can have on their community.
If you would like to give back to your local community, we would be pleased to have a conversation with you. Please contact Perry Norton on 01245 355947 or email perry@essexcf.org.uk
Putting rural communities at the forefront
21st March 2025
As the Essex Rural Fund celebrates its 16th anniversary with us, there is a renewed drive to raise awareness of issues in rural communities and to get more people involved.
Essex is well known for its cities including Chelmsford, Colchester and Southend, as well as its busy ports like Harwich, and urban areas such as Basildon. But Essex has another equally important side to its character, its lovely rural areas.
The Essex Rural Fund, set up 16 years ago, is playing a vital role in helping people in the rural parts of the county, by supporting community groups and charities working in these areas.
The fund, which we manage, was launched in 2009 by the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) to help celebrate its 80th anniversary.
Nick Charrington, who is President of RCCE and is also a panel member for the Essex Rural Fund said: “Around 70 per cent of Essex is rural and about a quarter of the population lives in rural communities. Our coastline is also the longest of any county in England.
Picture: Nick Charrington in the countryside of Lamarsh
“When you drive or walk through rural Essex all looks well, but underneath that picture of tranquility, there is a lot of deprivation. Services such as shops, buses and other local facilities have been cut back and this has had a big effect, making practical issues such as visiting family or getting to work really difficult.
”The Essex Rural Fund is tackling these issues and is making a difference in a lot of areas. Since it was set up it has given grants totalling almost £190,000 to a whole range of projects and initiatives in the county’s rural communities. It has also supported many local assets including village halls, Scout groups, Men’s Sheds, community shops, pubs and post offices.
“With support and encouragement from the Essex Rural Fund people are rising to the challenge and keeping their rural communities alive.
“Sometimes a grant goes to something that might seem to be unglamorous but is actually quite important. An example is a grant given to Rayne village hall which needed some money to replace their very old boilers. Rayne is a small village, and the hall plays an important role in hosting a wide range of activities throughout the week that bring people together. These include dance and exercise classes for children and adults, karate, youth football, carpet bowls and a WI. Without the new boilers, the village hall couldn’t stay open, as it wouldn’t have met the necessary regulations.’
Nick added, “One of the main problems in rural areas is loneliness, and village halls such as the one mentioned are at the heart of the community, helping to bring people together, keeping them active and alert.
“If communities can be helped to keep local facilities alive then isolation is reduced. It also provides people with opportunities for volunteering, which can improve their wellbeing.
The foresight of the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) to set up the Essex Rural Fund 16 years ago has established a strong foundation to improve the lives of thousands of people in the county, now and into the future.
“We want the Essex Rural Fund to keep on growing and, as it is an endowment fund, the bigger it gets the more it can continue giving grants on a long-lasting basis”, said Nick.
As the fund is celebrating its 16th anniversary in 2025, Nick and others are aiming to raise awareness about what the Fund is doing and are encouraging people to get involved.
Join the annual Essex Rural Fund Walk
The Essex Rural Fund annual walk has been a firm fixture of Essex life for several years. This year the walk will be on Saturday 26 April around the Copford area, near Colchester and, as always, the focus will be on gentle exercise, good company, beautiful surroundings and the opportunity to support a good cause.
If you would like to join the walk, please email nicholas@layermarneytower.co.uk
Charities and community groups that have recently benefited from support from the Essex Rural Fund are:
1st Ashingdon Scout Group received £1,000 to help repair and install additional fencing at a community project to restore an area of meadow and woodland.
Ferriers Barn in Bures received £941 to support the running of a Day Centre for adults with a multiple disability.
High Easter Cricket Club needed some help to repair and redecorate the showers in their well-used pavilion and received £970.
Lamarsh Lion Community Pub is a focal point in this rural village and they received £1,600 which helped them with their running costs and enabled them to buy some planters to enhance the outdoor area at the pub.
Local Food (& More!) Co-operative received £2,000 towards building a new shed for carrying out electric and mechanical works and a repair shop in the rural villages of Little Canfield and Dunmow.
Uttlesford Buffy Bus is a mobile play centre in the form of a double decker bus which travels around the rural villages in Uttlesford. A grant of £3,000 is helping them to continue providing play and activities to families with young children.
Wethersfield Community Activities received £4,680 to continue running their Bump, Baby, and Toddler Group.
Rural Community Council of Essex
RCCE has been at the heart of rural Essex for more than 90 years, working as a charity to help local communities build a thriving and sustainable future. Current priorities include improving the provision of affordable housing, sustaining community facilities such as village halls and tackling the problem of social isolation.
In 1929 one man, Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo, had the idea to create the RCCE. A disciple of John Ruskin, Mackmurdo’s work as an architect, designer and writer had influenced the Arts and Crafts movement and helped introduce the ‘art nouveau’ style to England.
Mackmurdo lived latterly in the village of Great Totham, where his work to provide a village hall convinced him of the need for an organisation able to support and sustain rural communities across the whole county.
As part of the celebrations and to mark its 80th birthday in 2009, RCCE decided to establish the Essex Rural Fund as an endowed fund within Essex Community Foundation.
Nick Shuttleworth, Executive Director of RCCE said: ‘We wanted to do something which would have a lasting effect and are delighted that the Essex Rural Fund is proving its worth, providing such valuable support for community groups and charities working in the rural parts of the county.’
Did you know?
- 72% of the surface area of Essex is designated as rural.
- The average house price in rural Essex is £465,207 which can be as much as 12 times average earnings, thus pricing local people out of the market.
- 25% of households in rural Essex are off the mains gas grid
Statement: Voluntary sector leaders call for a stronger role in devolution and local government reform
20th March 2025
Fifteen infrastructure organisations across Essex’s voluntary and community sector (VCS) have issued a joint statement, asserting the role of the VCS as essential partners in the county’s future.
Coordinated by us, the statement highlights the need for the VCS to be actively involved in ongoing devolution and local government reform discussions. These changes, which include the proposed creation of a Mayoral Combined County Authority for Essex, Southend, and Thurrock, present both opportunities and risks for local communities.
The statement says: “As leaders of local infrastructure organisations, we recognise the opportunities that devolution and local government restructuring might bring. However, as local government structures evolve, it is essential that the voluntary sector’s role in supporting communities across Essex, Southend, and Thurrock is understood, valued, and protected.
“The VCS in Essex is an essential part of the county’s social and economic fabric. It supports thousands of people every day, providing critical services that enhance health and wellbeing, social cohesion, community safety, and economic opportunity. With 17,500 full-time equivalent employees, 95,000 volunteers, and an annual expenditure of nearly £1 billion (including volunteer time), the sector is not only a vital partner to local government and public services but also a cornerstone of thriving communities, driving community resilience and economic growth.
“However, the current landscape presents significant challenges. Many charities face a relentless cycle of short-term funding, leaving little room to plan, innovate, or collaborate. Burnout in teams is growing, and recruiting and retaining skilled staff and volunteers is becoming ever harder. Devolution offers an opportunity to bring decision-making closer to communities, but the further restructuring of local government risks disempowering local communities and making it harder for grassroots organisations to deliver tailored support where it is most needed.
“The voluntary sector has always been at the heart of Essex’s communities, and as local government undergoes major transformation, it is critical that the sector is recognised, resourced, and respected, and involved as a key partner in shaping the future of the county.”
Andy Payne Worpole, our Director of Programme and Policy said: “We welcome devolution’s potential but must ensure that voluntary organisations remain at the heart of decision-making.
“The voluntary sector is a major contributor to community wellbeing and economic growth. If it is overlooked in this process, local communities will suffer.”
We are committed to supporting the sector through this period of change and invite local charities and voluntary groups to engage with them and the consultation, share concerns and ideas, to help to shape the future of devolution in Essex.
Read the full statement here
High Sheriff recognises local charities
6th March 2025
Local charities and voluntary organisations that address crime and anti-social behaviour and improve community safety have received recognition and grants at the annual High Sheriff’s Awards.
Among the projects receiving support were youth groups and community hubs for young people, support for survivors of
sexual violence, projects that contribute to community cohesion for minority groups, support for people who are vulnerable and homeless, and knife crime prevention workshops.
Over 250 guests attended this year’s ceremony held at Hylands House in Chelmsford, where trophies, certificates and 30 grants totalling £162,000 were presented by the High Sheriff of Essex, David Hurst DL.
The event was supported by Essex County Council, Chelmsford City Council and the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. Presenters Steve Scruton and Ian Wyatt supported the event by compering and interviewing the trophy winners and other guests, with conversations shared by Sadie Nine on her Saturday morning show on BBC Essex.
The grants came from the High Sheriffs’ Fund, and other community safety focussed funds all of which are managed by us.
David Hurst DL, the 844th High Sheriff of Essex, has travelled across the County during the year, visiting charities that are tackling a wide range of issues and helping people in their community. He has learned about their work and met with many volunteers, presenting them with certificates to recognise and acknowledge their commitment and dedication.
He said, “On my travels around the County, I have seen first-hand how charities are needing to balance paying their bills, alongside an increasing demand for their services. Also, just how important volunteers are to so many organisations and I would encourage everyone to consider how they may be able to support their local community in this way.
“The Awards event provides a wonderful opportunity for me, and other attendees, to recognise the significant contribution that charities and voluntary groups make in our communities. It is a privilege to be able to reward their outstanding work, and that of the wider voluntary sector, being undertaken in Essex that is helping to bu
ild and sustain safer communities”.
The coveted High Sheriff’s Shield was awarded to The Wilderness Foundation for their work helping to build emotional resilience of vulnerable individuals through outdoor based experiences and increasing understanding of conservation. They also received £5,000 for their established ‘TurnAround’ Project, for young people who have chaotic lifestyles, helping to boost confidence and providing them with tools to improve life skills and employment prospects.
Other trophies presented on the night were:
- The High Sheriff’s Cup, presented to CARA (Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse) for their work supporting survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse, providing independent, specialist support, promoting and representing their rights and needs.
- The Essex County Council Bowl, which recognises the contribution of organisations working in partnership to deliver programmes directly into the community, was awarded to Keep It 100 Youth. The charity works with under 25’s to raise awareness of exploitation, youth violence, county lines and weapon related crime.
- The Essex County Fire & Rescue Shield, which recognises an organisation’s work with young people, was awarded to Braintree Youth Project. The group provides a haven for young people aged 11-25 years, helping them to build confidence and develop their self-esteem. It is a space where they can feel respected, make new friends and gain qualifications to support employment prospects. The project offers an alternative setting that diverts young people away from potential risks of crime, drugs and alcohol.
- The Essex Police Cup, which recognises the work of voluntary organisations working in the community was awarded to CYP Yellow Door, based in Canvey, for their work with young people between 11-25 years. They offer a range of services and activities focussing on health and wellbeing including 1-2-1 advice, counselling and mentoring, as well as performing arts, youth clubs and smaller sub-groups for those who struggle with social anxiety.
Since the High Sheriffs’ Fund came under ECF’s management in 1997 it has distributed grants totalling over £775,000.
Andy Payne Worpole, Director of Policy and Programmes at ECF, said, “Successive High Sheriffs work hard to raise awareness of the voluntary sector in Essex, and encourage donations to the High Sheriff’s’ Fund.
“We are pleased to support them during their year of office and, together with the monies available from our other community safety focussed funds, ensure that vital funding gets out to local charities that are working hard to tackle crime and safety issues”.
The office of High Sheriff is an independent non-political Royal appointment for a single year. The High Sheriff receives no expenses, and the role comes at no cost to the public purse.
Click here to view all the photos taken on the evening, via our Flickr page.
For the full list of grant recipients at this year’s awards, click here.
Grants available for charities in Harwich and Tendring
4th March 2025
Voluntary and community organisations in Harwich are being encouraged to apply for grants from the Harwich Haven Authority Fund (HHA).
Grants of up to £5,000 are available for water-based and maritime projects as well as those contributing to educational, environmental and community initiatives.
Harwich Haven Authority was created by an act of Parliament in 1863 to safeguard the estuary and preserve 150 square miles of the Haven. The Fund, which has been managed by us since 2018, has given a total of £160,000 in grants to support local charities and voluntary groups working in Harwich and Tendring, and is part of the company’s wider programme of community support.
Melissa Wellings, ESG Director at Harwich Haven Authority said, “As a trust port, Harwich Haven Authority enjoys the advantage of being able to invest our profits back into the community that we live and operate within for the benefit of local people and future generations.
“Working with ECF has enabled us to support a wide range of local charities and initiatives to date that are helping to improve people’s lives, provide opportunities to help young people achieve their potential and enhance the areas where they live.
“If there are local groups working in Harwich and Tendring that need support, we would urge them to contact ECF to discuss their funding needs.”
Projects that have previously received support include:
- Harwich Time and Tide Bell – £200 to buy new litter pickers, to encourage the local community to maintain the cleanliness of the beaches and marine habitats in the area.
- IntoUni – £4003 towards salaries for education workers that support students from Tendring, so they can access further education.
- Signals Media Arts – £5,000 to provide children and young people living in Harwich with digital and creative skills.
- Tendring Time Bank – £5,000 towards help run a time bank that supports vulnerable people living in Clacton-on-Sea
- The Stour Blue Water Pass Trust – £4,000 to continue offering young people in Manningtree and surrounding areas, courses in sailing on the River Stour.
(Picture: Signals Media Arts students learning film production skills)
For more information on grant-making and how you can apply for support, head to our web page here.
You can also contact us at any time on 01245 355947 or book in a call with a member of our Grants Team here.
The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday 18 March.