Essex welcomes its new High Sheriff
5th April 2022
Nicholas Alston CBE DL is starting his year as the 842nd High Sheriff, determined that the role which dates back to Anglo Saxon times, is aligned with current day issues.
At the top of his list of priorities for his year in office, is shining a light on the vital role that volunteers play in giving their time and expertise to supporting local charities and improving communities for the benefit of others.
Nick, who was born in Harwich Police Station in 1952, spent 30 years working in national defence and security for which he was appointed CBE in 1996. He lives in Chelmsford with his wife Philippa and describes himself as “a thoroughly Essex boy”.
He is Chair of Trustees at the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF), is a Governor at Anglia Ruskin University, previously chaired the Mid-Essex Hospitals Trust and until recently was Chair of the drug and alcohol charity, Open Road.
“I am delighted to have been appointed by Her Majesty the Queen to this most ancient of roles”, said Nick.
“Essex is a wonderfully diverse county, and I am looking forward to getting out and meeting as many people as I can. I want to highlight the important work of local charities, community groups and volunteers and to draw attention to some of the issues that they are tackling.
“Our communities will inevitably have been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to better understand the impact this has had and what the future may look like as we all move ahead.”
“I am also looking forward to spending time with Essex Police, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service, the Courts and in particular the Probation and Prison Services, to understand the pressures they face in keeping us all safe.”
Nick will regularly share details of his visits and activities on the High Sheriff of Essex website and on social media. He said, “I hope people will find my visits and experiences interesting and that they may learn something they did not already know. I hope too that I might be able to encourage more people to think how they might volunteer in their own communities.”
To mark the start of his year, Nick has published a book celebrating 25 years of the High Sheriffs’ Fund in Essex, which includes contributions from past High Sheriffs and beautiful photographs from around the County. Each year the Fund supports groups of many different sorts across Essex working to make their communities safer.
“I hope to be able to raise money for the Fund from the book and from other events during the year, and as ECF runs the ‘Proceeds of Crime Matched Funding Scheme’, thanks to the support of Essex Police, all donations I receive will be matched 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.”
Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said: “Nick has a busy time ahead, with events and visits already in his diary, including a summer reception that he and Pippa are planning for July at RHS Hyde Hall. We wish him good luck and look forward to supporting him during his year and sharing his progress.”.
You can follow Nick’s journey at www.highsheriffofessex.com and @Essex_HS on Twitter.
SUPPORT THE HIGH SHERIFF AND YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED!
ECF is running the Proceeds of Crime Matched Funding Scheme where donations to the High Sheriffs’ Fund are matched 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: bit.ly/HSFundEssex
Young dancer puts her best foot forward
4th April 2022
A talented young dancer from Loughton is one step closer to having her dreams become reality, thanks to support that will help her to compete at a national level.
Ella Sofi Zarnadze, who is 10 years old, took up Latin and Ballroom dancing professionally just two years ago. Now, a donation of £1,000 from a fund managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation, means that Ella Sofi, along with her dance partner Alexander, will be able to increase their training and enter more competitions.
Ella Sofi’s dad, Beka Zarnadze, said: “We give as much support to Ella Sofi as we can, but the cost of travelling to competitions, specialist clothing, coaching and competition fees adds up really quickly.
“We are so grateful that ECF’s donor, who has chosen to remain anonymous, was inspired by Ella Sofi’s talent and potential and wants to help her achieve her dreams.”
In April 2022, Ella Sofi, and her partner Alexander, are representing Great Britain on the Juvenile Team at the Junior Dance Festival, taking place at the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The talented duo has already come second overall in the UK International Championships, third in the British Nationals, and won the Stars of the Future Dance Championship. They are also top of the National League Table for juvenile dance competitors.
Perry Norton, Head of Development at ECF, said: “We are pleased to support Ella Sofi and wish her and Alexander good luck in their upcoming Juvenile Team Match in Blackpool, where they are representing Team GB for their category.
“The charitable funds we manage reflect the different wishes of our donors. In this case, the donor likes to support individuals and voluntary organisations in West Essex. They also wish to remain anonymous.
“Working with us means they can achieve their charitable aims while maintaining their anonymity.”
ECF works with individuals, families, companies, public agencies and charitable trusts. If you would like to discuss how we can work with you to achieve your charitable aims, please call us on 01245 355947 or click here for more information.
Local people are in full bloom at community allotment
16th March 2022
A community allotment based in Saffron Walden is receiving much needed funding that will help more residents to enjoy the outdoors and grow their own fruit and vegetables while socialising and improving mental health
Set up in 2011 by a group of volunteers, the Dig It Community Allotment, off the Walden Road, has recently reopened and is getting ready for the Spring/Summer season.
A grant received in 2020 of £4,806 meant they were able to buy new tools, make the site socially distanced and safe, while providing mental health support to members to reduce isolation and support well-being.
The funding came from the Britvic Community Fund which is managed by independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
Laura Thompson-Harper, from Dig It, said: “The allotment is an important place where people come together to socialise while learning how to grow different produce.
“Our experienced team of sessional workers support our service to develop their knowledge in growing and horticulture. Our service users are from a wide range of backgrounds and many are involved in the project to reduce isolation and improve mental and physical health.
“Being in the outdoors has so many benefits for health and well-being and it not only helps to keep our members fit, but also means they can socialise and talk about things that may be worrying them. Strong friendships are made through the activities and the groups are wonderful.
“Everything we grow is shared out among our members so everyone can take fresh ingredients home for dinner.”
Laura added, “We are so grateful for this grant. It has made a huge difference and enabled us to develop our site, expand our offering and meet the needs of our community”.
Dig It’s activities in the community have included an ‘earth oven building’ course in collaboration with Fairycroft House and Art @ the Allotment sessions. They also work in collaboration with Saffron Walden Mencap Society and Cornell Café through a group run specifically for service users of these settings.
They are open for two sessions a week (from Feb-Nov) on Monday 9.30am -12.30pm and Friday 10.30am -13.30pm. Art @ the allotment is running fortnightly till June. For more information please visit http://dig-it.org.uk/ or contact info@dig-itgardens.co.uk
The site is wheelchair friendly, with raised beds, as well as play areas for children. Doga are also welcome.
Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Programmes at ECF, said: “Thanks to our fundholders, we can help groups like Dig It to grow and develop their work in response to the needs of their communities.”
If you are a local charity or community project in Essex that needs funding to support your work, call us on 01245 356018.
A decade of charitable giving
14th March 2022
Over the past decade Saffron Building Society has awarded £100,000 to a wide range of local charities and voluntary groups.
In 2011, the local mutual established the Saffron Building Society Community Fund with the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation, to support local communities now and in the future.
Claire Hunnable, Community Business Partner from Saffron, said: “This is a significant milestone which we are pleased to celebrate, but it also reflects the continuing needs in our local communities.
“Setting up our endowed charitable fund with ECF 10 years ago has enabled us to bring all our giving under one banner and have a long-term approach. ECF takes care of all the administration and presents us with details of groups looking for support. A panel made up of our staff and members are then involved in discussions about which grants we will award.”
This year, the Fund has awarded £19,327 to nine local organisations. Among them are those that are helping people with a disability, are bringing people together to tackle isolation and supporting those experiencing financial hardship.
One of the recent funding recipients is Ending Life’s Taboo which offers rapid access to counselling and vital support for young adults aged 18 – 40 who have been told they have a life-limiting or end of life diagnosis.
Another grant went to the community Toy Library in Colchester, which gives local families access to free toys to aid the development and overall well-being of children. This funding has helped to cover their rent and insurance costs.
Claire added: “Every year, our Fund supports charities that are local to our branches and provide an essential service to people in their community.
“Working with ECF is helping us to learn about the wide range of charities and voluntary organisations and understand where our funding can have the most impact.
“Helping smaller, lesser-known charities is really important to us and our Fund is just one way that we give support. We have launched Saffron Community Link a community space in Saffron Walden that can be used free of charge by local charities.”
To find out about ECF and how your business can give back locally in Essex, click here.
Enhancing the environment in Dedham Vale and Stour Valley
Charities and community groups that are helping to enhance the environment in the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley areas are encouraged to apply to the Stour Valley Environment Fund (SVEF) for grants to support their work.
The Fund was set up by the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Stour Valley, and is managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation.
It provides grants of up to £2,500 to charities and voluntary groups that help to enhance the local environment, on both Essex and Suffolk sides of the river Stour.
Since the Fund was set up 10 years ago, it has awarded nearly £30,000 to a wide range of charitable groups that work to maintain the area as one of outstanding natural beauty. The Fund can support core running costs, capital items, and project costs.
A previous grant recipient is Friends of East Town Park. They received £1,500 to replace a wheelchair accessible viewing platform that overlooks the River Stour, at Haverhill. This has helped residents to connect with the environment and provided a calming space people could visit throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Another supported charity, A Rocha UK, reported a 200% increase in visitors using the public footpaths in Foxearth Meadows during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which is home to 50 species of bird, 20 species of dragonfly, and over 150 different species of plants. We awarded them £1,250 to buy the gardening equipment needed to maintain Foxearth’s waterways and help get the local community involved in maintaining the area.
Helen, who volunteers alongside her son Jonathan at Foxearth Meadows, shared how beneficial the project has been for them both: “Jonathan is autistic and has severe learning difficulties, but loves being active and being outdoors, so the volunteer mornings have been brilliant for him.
“What has blessed me most has been to see him regarded as a valuable part of the team and treated as a regular person.”
Also supported is Witham Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade who received £1,400 to replace a boardwalk in Peter’s Vale that had become unsafe. They used 100% recycled plastic decking boards instead of traditional wood.
Who can apply:
How to apply
The application guidelines for the SVEF Fund can be found on the Dedham Vale & Stour Valley website here
Donations can be made to the SVEF Fund here.
Grants help tackle pandemic impact in Braintree district
Grants have been awarded to six Braintree-based charities to help hundreds of local people to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic.
Parents who have struggled with loneliness, children who are anxious about returning to school and older people who have not been able to enjoy fun activities with others are among those who will benefit from the Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund.
The fund, set up in 2015 by Braintree District Council and Eastlight Community Homes with Essex Community Foundation (ECF), has now awarded £1 million to local charities and causes.
The latest awards include £26,700 for Families in Focus, which provides advice and emotional support to Braintree families who have children with special educational needs or disabilities.
Families supported by the charity include those who have struggled with reduced income during the pandemic and many whose children have struggled to return to education because of increased anxiety.
Home Start Essex’s funding boost of £13,210 means 60 parents and carers in Braintree who are facing challenges with raising young children will attend weekly peer support sessions over the next two years.
While their children play, parents and carers, many of whom have struggled with isolation and loneliness during the pandemic, have the opportunity to connect with others while receiving support and enjoying well-being sessions.
The Wilderness Foundation’s Brave Futures programme, which will receive £38,400, offers group therapy out in nature to people of all ages who have experienced grief, trauma, addiction, isolation and other experiences which have affected their mental health.
A spokesperson from the charity said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund for their support which will make a huge difference to so many vulnerable people who seek our support each year.”
The £15,000 grant awarded to Halstead Day Centre is a “tremendous boost” for residents aged 60 or over facing isolation, according to manager Veronica Harman. The grant will fund fun activities ranging from bingo games to music classes as well as morale-boosting trips to the centre’s beach hut in Brightlingsea.
A £26,841 grant will help Witham Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade turn 11 acres of forest near Twinstead into a space where children from across the region can discover the great outdoors. The funding will help make the area safe and accessible and allow the brigade to hire an education officer to put on activities such as “minibeast hunts” and building birdboxes.
Hearing Help Essex will receive £22,110 to help fund Hearing Help Sessions in the district, where trained volunteers clean and maintain NHS hearing aids while offering advice and support. Last year, the charity helped 597 of the 20,000 Braintree district residents with hearing difficulties and visited a further 67 homes to meet residents who could not travel to them.
James Green, Eastlight’s Community Investment Director, said: “Charities are doing brilliant work in Braintree district and it’s our privilege to support some inspiring organisations who are helping residents begin connecting again and recover from the impacts the pandemic has had on so many.”
Cllr Frankie Ricci, Cabinet Member for Communities at Braintree District Council, said: “The Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund is a great example of partnership working and provides grants to wonderful causes throughout the district, helping to provide support to those who need it most as we work to recover from the disruption Covid has had to us all across the past two years. Along with our Councillor Community Grants, they are a great way of providing much needed funding to community groups and organisations.”
Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said: “There are so many smaller, local voluntary organisations that work in the heart of Braintree communities. By working with the decision-making panel for this Fund, we are able to give many of them the financial support they need so they can either continue their work or expand it”.
If your charitable project in Braintree District is in need of financial support, please call us on 01245 356018. You can see a selection of what we have funded previously here.