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.
Three Essex Voluntary Groups receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services
6th June 2022
Three voluntary groups from across the county who work in the community have been honoured with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services (QAVS) aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Recipients are announced each year on 2nd June, the anniversary of The Queen’s Coronation.
Representatives of the groups receive the QAVS Award Crystal and a QAVS Certificate signed by Her Majesty the Queen from Her Majesty’s representative in the County, the Lord Lieutenant at a local ceremony. Two volunteers from the winning groups are invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in the summer of this year, along with other recipients of this award.
The three winning groups from Essex are:
- Brighter Opportunities for Special People (BOSP), Pitsea, Basildon – Has been in existence for over 30 years. Its volunteers support families who have children or young people with complex disabilities or life limiting conditions. The group provide a wide range of fun social activities and support services for 113 young people and over 250 parents, carers and siblings who receive vital respite.
- Brentwood Imperial Youth Band – Was formed over 30 years ago and is run entirely by volunteers who give over 11,000 hours a year to support young musicians who perform in the UK and overseas. The high standard of musicianship and performance excellence is truly remarkable and rates the band as one of the finest in the world.
- The Listening Post CIC, Basildon – Opened in 2016 to help meet a growing demand for mental health support. It provides one to one counselling services and unlike other counselling services, there is no waiting list, no limit to the number of sessions a client can have, and no issue that cannot be covered. Reduced rate sessions are offered based on disposable income, many are given free of charge, and nobody is turned away.
The three groups from Essex are amongst 244 charities, social enterprises, and volunteer-led groups to receive the prestigious award this year across the UK. The number of nominations remains high year on year showing that the voluntary sector is thriving and full of innovative ideas to make life better for those around them.
This award is given to volunteer groups across the UK to recognise exceptional service within their communities. The recipients of the award are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation. The QAVS is considered as the MBE for voluntary groups.
The three Essex winners will receive the prestigious Award from Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, later this year at presentation events organised to bring together the volunteers, those who receive the service, and other connected to the winning group.
Mrs Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex said: “The announcement of three winners of the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services, the highest national award for voluntary groups, across Essex is a wonderful tribute to the outstanding work of the voluntary sector. The number of awards won across Essex speaks volumes for the excellence of volunteering in our county and the increasing importance of the work of volunteers for community wellbeing. I am delighted that three extremely deserving groups, who are providing a wide range of services to our communities have been honoured by Her Majesty the Queen. I look forward to presenting the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services to each of the groups over the coming months, and to celebrate their success with their volunteers and many who receive their excellent service.
“I would also like to encourage all who know of outstanding voluntary groups doing outstanding work in their communities to go on to the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services website and nominate those groups for this wonderful award”.
Jodie Connelly, Chief Executive Officer of BOSP, said: “We feel really humbled and honoured to receive this award. BOSP is a small charity, aiming to prevent crisis in local families and enable children with disabilities to have the best time. Without the support of the community, this wouldn’t be possible. I feel the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services recognises this. To me it’s a huge official ‘thank you’ to all our volunteers and supporters in recognition of their hard work and commitment to BOSP”.
Johnpaul Wyndom, Musical Director of the Brentwood Youth Band, said: “Our team of volunteers commit hours upon hours of support, in a marvellous variation of forms, to make the band a possibility for our beneficiaries. They all do so with no reward and often with little recognition. To receive a QAVS award, especially in the Platinum Jubilee year, reminds us of the invaluable contribution made by our wonderful team, their dedicated service and what is possible when empowered by the unrelenting energy of volunteers”
Alison Cunningham, Founder and Director of The Listening Post CIC, said: “The Listening Post CIC is honoured to be awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services. The award highlights the considerable achievements of our volunteers through very difficult and challenging times. It recognises the dedication, commitment, and passion of our volunteers who believe that supporting people with their mental health can and does make fundamental and long-lasting changes to the lives of those they support”.
East of England Co-op offers £100K to local community groups in Essex
30th May 2022
Local community groups and charities in Essex are being encouraged to apply for a share of £100,000 on offer from the East of England Co-op.
Grants of between £1,000 and £5,000 from the ‘East of England Co-op’s Community Cares Fund’ are available to local voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations that deliver projects supporting community action, food justice or mental health and wellbeing.
The fund, which opened for applications on Monday 30 May, was launched by the retailer in 2020 to support groups that create services or activities which have a positive impact in their local community. To date, the East of England Co-op has so far given away £67,000 across Essex, supporting more than 50,000 people.
Organisations in the county which have previously benefitted from the Co-op’s Community Cares Fund include the Dance Network Association CIC for a social dance project aimed at older adults living with dementia and Parkinson’s disease; and the Colchester & Tendring Youth Enquiry Service to support the counselling of young people whose mental health has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commenting on the launch of the fund, East of England Co-op Community Development Manager, Kat Reading, said: “As a co-operative we’re committed to supporting our local communities and helping them to thrive. Our previous funding rounds have been extremely popular so we know times are incredibly challenging at the moment for community groups and the local people they support, but it is these small organisations that have the biggest impact.
“Thanks to the generous support of our members, who have kindly donated their dividend points along with cash donations, we’re able to support even more fantastic projects across the region.”
The East of England Co-op’s Community Cares Fund is delivered in partnership with the Essex Community Foundation.
What can be supported:
Funding applications should address at least one of these key areas:
- Community action– including the development of physical and virtual spaces and services that bring communities together
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Food justice for all– including access to, and sharing knowledge about good quality, nutritious food.
This fund is to support organisations in Colchester, Braintree, Maldon, Tendring. Near to their shops: Store finder – East of England Co-op
How to apply:
Due to the high level of applications we have receive, the deadline for this funding programme is now 5pm on on Tuesday 21 June. Grant decisions will be made in August 2022.
To check your eligibility and for the application form, click 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 356018.
New Report – Listening to our communities
24th May 2022
Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Programmes at ECF, highlights some of the key findings from our Community Listening Project that will help us to further develop our grantmaking and ensure that our funding is accessible:
“We commissioned this report to uncover the challenges faced by the local voluntary sector post-pandemic, better understand their experiences, and find out how we can support their work to help local communities thrive.
“The researcher interviewed organisations of different sizes and a wide range of beneficiaries including, children and young people, older people, refugees and asylum seekers, people living with disability and those experiencing homelessness.
“It was encouraging to know that we are responding to our communities in some of the ways that they need us to eg. the report emphasises the importance for us to continue championing smaller grassroots groups that may find it difficult to access alternative funding sources. Currently two out of five groups we support have an annual income of less than £50,000 and we actively try to engage with these new and smaller groups.
“The report also highlighted organisations’ need for multi-year funding and for us to increase the amount we award in this way. In addition, the importance of providing support for core running costs was important to them. Currently, a third of all our grants support staff salaries and other organisational core costs.
“The need for our grant funding to be accessible was also raised. We continually try to improve our processes and have already simplified our application and monitoring forms to help groups that are looking for funding. We also now offer bookable time slots so that anyone can meet with us to discuss a potential funding application and ask questions.
“We know that groups face a challenging time ahead and access to funding will always be an issue, however the report also highlighted other issues, including:
- The need to up-skill the voluntary sector on areas such as governance, leadership, and finance
- Increasing support for marginalised groups, ensuring equity, diversity and inclusion
- Influencing wider change and actively using local evidence to champion community groups
- Supporting collaboration by bringing groups together to network
“We will continue to listen and keep you informed of any new opportunities to get involved in community listening events. The report is easy to navigate, and we hope you enjoy reading it. If you would like to share your thoughts, please email me via Andypw@essexcf.org.uk.
“I would also like to thank all the community groups and organisations that took part in this research. Your contributions are invaluable.”