Charities in Braintree receive £96,000 in grants
30th November 2023
TEN fantastic organisations will receive grants totalling almost £96,000 to support hundreds of local residents.
The Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund was set up in 2015 by Braintree District Council and Eastlight Community Homes with the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
These latest grants, building on the £1 million already awarded to a host of local causes, are set to make a huge impact to organisations who support communities in Braintree district.
They include Halstead Community Shed, which will receive £20,000 to support the purchase and transformation of the old St John Ambulance Station at Fenn Road into a health and wellbeing hub. Not only will this funding help keep the ambulance station community-owned, but it will help to improve the services on offer to combat loneliness and mental health issues in Halstead.
Project Leader, Kevin Pryke, said: “We’d like to thank the panel for their support with the ‘Wellbeing at Halstead Shed’ project. The funds provided will help finance our new project during its first few years, allowing the trust and its volunteers to focus on supporting the local community.”
Mental health charity Heads2Minds will receive £20,000 over three years to deliver a series of emotional wellbeing workshops in primary schools across Braintree district.
The Salvation Army Housing Association will receive £19,000 to establish two peer support groups across the Braintree district for young people who are neurodiverse or part of the LGBTQ+ community and who are at risk of homelessness.
Home-Start Essex provides informal, non-judgemental family support and its £26,000 grant will help fund a family wellbeing group across Braintree over the next two years.
More local organisations supported by the fund include:
- The Empire Theatre Trust, who will receive £2,430
- Braintree Youth Project Charity – £2,025
- Majendie Trinity Explorer – £1,000
- 4th Braintree Scout Group – £1,000
- Braintree Youth Project Charity – £2,025
- Tabor Centre – £3,120
- Ferriers Barn – £700.
James Green, Eastlight’s Community Investment Director, said: “Throughout our communities, local organisations have a huge impact on the lives of residents across the Braintree district. We’re proud to be able to support ten fantastic groups with the Braintree District & Eastlight Community Fund and help them to continue making a real difference.”
Cllr Mary Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities at Braintree District Council, said: “There are many community groups and projects that provide a vital lifeline to residents in the Braintree District. Funding such as this allows them to continue to provide and grow their services to those who need them. It’s particularly important to support our voluntary and community sector as we face the increasing Cost of Living.”
Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Programmes at Essex Community Foundation, said: “This latest funding will enable local charities and voluntary organisations to provide vital help to an increasing number of people who are in need of support in the Braintree District at this time.
“We have a strong partnership, built up over many years, with Eastlight Community Homes and Braintree District Council, and we are pleased to work with them to identify and support local organisations that are making such a difference to the lives of local people.”
Supporting music and the arts in Essex
Without music and dance the festive season would lose much of its sparkle and magic. From heart-warming school plays to professional Christmas shows and from grand orchestral concerts to community choirs, all the arts are part of the wonderful traditions we can enjoy at this time of the year.
To help nurture and support the talented young people who make such performances possible, we provide grants to support a wide spectrum of the arts for individuals and a variety of organisations in the county.
For some families, the cost of helping their children pursue their dreams would otherwise be a huge financial strain. Our grants have helped many young people achieve their ambitions of a career in music and other arts and has also given groups and organisations the chance to stage festivals, concerts and many other events.
Belinda Starling Memorial Fund
Belinda, a talented musician and writer, was just 34 years old when she died from complications following routine surgery.
In 2007 Belinda´s family, who live in Essex, established a charitable fund in her memory with us. The fund helps young people in Essex to follow their literary, drama or music ambitions which they would be unable to pursue without encouragement and money.
Lois Pankhurst, (main picture) from Leigh on Sea, has received support from Belinda’s Fund to follow her dream of becoming a ballet dancer. She has been dancing since she was six and her talent has been recognised by achieving a place at the Royal Ballet School in London, where only one in 12 girls are accepted through a rigorous audition process.
Her Principal at the Leonard Dance Academy in Rayleigh where she was a pupil said: “Lois is an exceptionally talented young lady. She is destined for big things and ballet is part of her soul. She is truly one of the most talented ballet dancers that I have had the pleasure of teaching.
“Her family have gone above and beyond to support her talent in an industry that is often only achievable for those with financial means. It has been a real struggle for this family, so we hope Lois gets the opportunity to realise her potential.”
David Starling, Belinda’s father said: “It would have made Belinda very happy to know that a fund in her name was giving young people opportunities to realise their full potential.”
Essex Young Musicians’ Trust (EYMT)
EYMT was set up in 1984 as a registered charity to provide financial assistance to young musicians who had gained a position in the Essex Youth Orchestras (EYO) and who showed the ability and/or potential of following a career in music but were held back by financial situations.
Judith Anderson Fowle, founder of EYMT, said; “Apart from tuition, membership of the EYO provides students with a wide variety of performing opportunities, including foreign tours, that helps them decide if a musical career is for them.”
EYMT has kept its close contacts with the EYO and now also provides post graduate bursaries to help students with the cost of furthering their education at renowned conservatoires in the UK and Europe.
In 2015, the Trust came under the auspices of the ECF. Three of the EYMT trustees continue to work with ECF to help make decisions about who will benefit from support. EYMT was delighted to sponsor a small award at the Ongar Music Club’s Essex Young Music of the Year competition and later in the year to support a Masterclass given by Tamsin Little CBE at which their new Norman Harper Award was presented.
Peter Lovell is the lead officer for Music Services in Essex. He said: “The funding that EYMT provides is hugely beneficial to support talented young musicians who need additional financial support to take up all the opportunities they need to build their confidence and improve their skills.”
Nathan Quilter lives with his family in Canvey Island was just 16 when he achieved his Grade 8 Clarinet. A regular member of the Essex Youth Orchestra (EYO), Essex Youth Symphonic Wind Orchestra and Aldeburgh Young Musicians, Nathan also volunteers with the Essex Marching Corps. He benefited from EYMT’s support which enabled him to be a member of EYO.
Now aged 18, Nathan has gained a place to study at the prestigious Royal College of Music where he will develop his musical skills and pursue a career as a musician. Support from the Belinda Starling Memorial Fund will help him make the most of this great opportunity.
The structure, dynamics and impact of the third sector in Essex
22nd November 2023
At our first Charity Symposium we shared our commissioned report by Professor Tony Chapman, from Durham University on The Structure, dynamics and impact of the Third Sector in Essex (November 2023).
To view Professor Chapman’s slide presentation click here.
To view Samuel Kasumu’s presentation highlighting his book ‘The Power of the Outsider’ and his inspiration to write it, click here.
The local voluntary and community sector is an amazing ‘home grown’ resource and the report provides a comprehensive picture of strengths and issues facing the sector.
Our latest community listening project reports, include our Cost-of-Living Report, based on 10 in depth interviews, our Cost -of-Living Survey Analysis Report and the all the full data from the Survey.
These reports, written by independent researcher, Hannah Fletcher, will continue to influence our grantmaking to ensure we are meeting the needs of the sector at this critical time and will also help shape our new 5-year strategy that we are currently developing.
Our New Annual Review and Grant Supplement has been published!
20th November 2023
We are excited to share our newly published Annual Review and Grants Supplement!
This is a round up of our work over the past 12 months and features stories about local groups we have supported, and the new funds set up with us.
The report also highlights some of the findings from our latest Community Listening Project.
If you would like a hard copy of the report, please e-mail hello@essexcf.org.uk with your address details.
Health Research Grant Programme
31st October 2023
Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and Suffolk Community Foundation are working with Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care System (SNEE ICS), to fund voluntary and community organisations to be Community Research Champions.
There is £75,000 in grants available across Suffolk & North East Essex from the ‘Community Voices in Health Research Grant Programme’ to support core or project costs.
To be eligible to apply to ECF, charities and community groups must be working in Colchester or Tendring.
Grants of up to £5,000 per organisation are available to enable positive engagement with the communities you work with, and to support your staff and/or volunteers to become Community Research Champions. You can apply as a single organisation or as a partnership of several organisations. If you do apply as a partnership, you can request funding of more than £5,000 in total, but the application is subject to a maximum of £5,000 per organisation.
Things you might wish to include in your application are:
- Staff or volunteer time or expenses that will include participating in the mandatory ‘Be Part of Research’ training; contributing to the project evaluation being led by Suffolk and Essex Healthwatch; and joining a peer network to share learning
- Delivery of activities where conversations can be held with your communities to gather insight around the barriers and challenges to participating in research
- Communications activities to promote engagement
- Incentives to encourage individuals to engage
Funding can support new or existing activities and must be spent by 31 March 2024. Please note, training is likely to take place during January – March 2024. More information about the programme, including criteria and grant requirements can be found here.
The deadline for applications has now closed. If you need funding, please contact our grants team on 01245 355947, email grants@essexcf.org.uk or use our web chat.
Help the most vulnerable in Essex this Winter
27th October 2023
- As the UK population is living longer, the number of people suffering from loneliness is increasing. Nearly half of people aged over 80 live on their own and half of older people consider TV to be their main form of company.
- It has been proven that being lonely has a detrimental lasting effect on blood pressure with higher readings recorded amongst many people suffering from loneliness, as well as being a factor in cases of depression.
Getting to the centre of loneliness
A significant and growing proportion of the Rochford population are over 80 years of age and community support is becoming ever more important for people who are vulnerable, less mobile and isolated.
Hockley & Hawkwell Day Centre (HHDC) understands these problems only too well and has been providing a vital service to the older people in the local community from Hockley and the surrounding district for almost 35 years.
We were pleased to support them with a grant from our Surviving Winter Appeal to help them keep the Centre open during the Winter months.
The centre is open Monday to Thursday and is run by a dedicated team of volunteers who provide a warm friendly environment. Teas, coffees, scones and cakes are available in addition to delicious and nutritious home cooked lunches. This is followed by afternoon activities and entertainment, including bingo, cards, scrabble, knitting and singing.
Richard Jarrard, Trustee of the Centre said, “We see approximately 60 clients a day who are supported by a dedicated and caring group of volunteers.
“We offer a sociable environment where people can get hot nutritional meals, at a low cost and provide afternoon entertainment, all of which helps to keep their minds and bodies healthy.
“Support from within the community has never been more important than it is now, and helping people to keep well, active and connected is at the heart of everything we do.
“Thanks to support from ECF, we will be able to continue to keep our much loved and needed centre open throughout the winter months.”
Support our Surviving Winter Appeal
Our ‘Surviving Winter Appeal’ is one way of supporting vulnerable people in local communities and since the annual Appeal was first launched in 2011, we have given over £100,000 of support to local charities and voluntary groups.
The Appeal invites donations to raise vital funds that can be used to support older and vulnerable people, keeping them healthy and well during the colder months.
Andy Payne Worpole, head of programmes at ECF, said: “The Winter can be a difficult and dangerous time for older people, but also for those who are vulnerable due to issues including homelessness, disability or illness.
Local charities and voluntary groups can provide a lifeline of support, but the rising cost of living, increased food prices and energy bills is making it difficult for them to continue providing their vital services.
“But, you can help! All donations to our Surviving Winter Appeal will enable us to support local voluntary organisations and activities to help reduce loneliness and isolation, contribute to fuel and food costs, and assist those in need to get access to specialist services and community groups.
“If you receive the Winter Fuel Allowance or the Energy Rebate and don’t need it to pay your own bills, please consider donating some or all of this to our Appeal.
How you can help
- Donate your winter fuel payment if you don’t need it
- Give a one-off donation
- Set up a regular monthly gift
- Give online here
Cheques can be sent to the Essex Community Foundation offices: 3 Hoffmanns Way, Chelmsford, CM1 1GU. To ask questions about the Appeal and other ways to make a donation, please call us on 01245 355947.
Does your charity need funding this Winter?
If you are a local charity or community group that needs funding to support your work during the colder months, including core costs (such as rent and salaries), please call our grants team on 01245 355947.