Former Loughton teacher awarded BEM in Queen’s Honours
15th June 2021
A former teacher from Loughton, who has committed her life to bringing people together and helping those in need has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Joyce Obaseki has been awarded a British Empire Medal in recognition of her hard work and dedication after founding Grant a Smile six years ago.
She launched the not-for-profit after discovering that there was no support available for children like one of her pupils, who came to school in a dirty uniform because his mother, who had cancer, was too ill to provide him with clean clothes.
The boy was being bullied at school because of his unkempt appearance and Joyce became determined to give youngsters like him the help they need.
Grant A Smile gives free practical support for eligible families whose home life is affected by serious illness. They also try to grant special wishes for children and Joyce has set her sights on expanding the organisation’s work to help vulnerable and elderly people.
Joyce said, “I was so surprised when I heard I was to receive this award. I had no idea I had been nominated and it was such a shock to get a letter from the Cabinet Office. It gives recognition to the organisation and particularly our work during the pandemic.
“I want to thank everyone for helping us to stay consistent and keep our mission alive. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful team of volunteers who I believe are the true Smile Heroes. I could not do the job without their support.”
Grant A Smile has also received a grant of £11,540 to support their work from the local independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation.
Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said: “Joyce is a real community champion and it is brilliant to see her get this recognition for all her hard work. Working within her local community, Joyce and her team can identify and support people who are in need and quickly get them the help that they need.
“During the coronavirus pandemic, Grant A Smile had to prioritise their efforts to help the families in greatest need and we were pleased to support their vital work distributing food parcels in the Loughton area”.
For a full list of everyone who received an Award in Essex this year, click here.
Chelmsford business backs local community
14th June 2021
Local charities are set to benefit from much needed financial support thanks to the local business, Chelmsford Star Co-op (CSC), that has department stores and food shops across mid and South Essex.
Over the past year, staff, members and customers of CSC have raised an incredible £20,355 for the Essex Coronavirus Response and Recovery Programme, managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF). This money will give immediate support to local charities that have provided support throughout the pandemic and those that are just starting to re-open.
Caroline Taylor, CEO at ECF said, “We are extremely grateful to CSC, its staff and customers for raising such an amazing amount of money for our Response and Recovery Programme. Through this we have been able to provide ongoing financial support to charities that have been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic, including those that have struggled to stay open or needed to adapt their services to help people in their local communities.
“Charities need support now, more than ever, and this additional funding will be a huge boost to them.”
In addition, CSC has also set up the ‘Chelmsford Star Co-op Community Fund’ to give long-term support to the community.
Caroline said: “We are delighted that CSC has set up a Fund with us to benefit local charities now and in the future. This will build on all that the company has given in the past and we look forward to working with them, sharing our knowledge of local issues so they can make decisions on where to give support and understand how their funding is making a difference.”
For more information about ECF and how you can apply for a grant, please click here or call our friendly grants team on 01245 356018.
If you are interested to know how we help businesses to give back to voluntary and community organisations in Essex, click here.
Raising aspirations for young people
9th June 2021
Young people in the Epping Forest area are to be given the chance of a better future through a new project being launched by the Red Balloon Foundation.
A grant of £4,713 from the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF) has given vital backing to this initiative which will raise the aspirations of young people to achieve successful employment, rather than falling into life of crime.
The great need for the project became clear when, as part of their outreach work during the COVID-19 pandemic, team members from the Red Balloon Foundation (RBF) delivered more than 6,000 parcels containing food and educational materials to local families.
“What we saw among many young people was a real loss of hope,” said Luke Lowrie, director of RBF.
“Their parents had often lost their jobs or were at risk of being out of work due to the pandemic and the young people couldn’t see any prospect of a better future.
“Although Epping Forest is seen as an affluent area there are several pockets of deprivation. Young people in these areas are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, as they see the ‘rewards’ offered by those recruiting them into criminal activity as the only way of supporting themselves and their families.”
“The parcels we delivered were a help for the families, but we wanted to do something which would have a positive impact in the longer term. The grant we have received from ECF has enabled us to launch a new intervention programme called ‘Employability’ for young people who are at risk of being exploited by criminals due to them living in poverty.
”The aim is to raise their aspirations for their futures and build resilience, giving them practical skills and work experience, to show them that their lives can take a different path.
“The 20-week programme will give them the opportunity of gaining a nationally recognised qualification and will include structured work experience or volunteering and outdoor sessions with our qualified team, to learn problem solving, teamwork and practical skills. Some of the young people will also be allocated a mentor in the community.
“We believe that this focused intervention will be a transformational experience for those who take part, as the project should do much to divert them from anti-social and potentially criminal behaviour in the future.
“In the long term we hope to encourage those who complete the programme to come back as volunteers to allow us to engage with as many young people as possible in the future.”
SUPPORT ECF’S ACORN FUND CHALLENGE and help local charities like RBF.
ECF is running the ‘Acorn Fund Challenge’, appealing for donations and matching them 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.
- Give online here
- To give by card over the phone call us on 01245 355947
- Send a cheque to Essex Community Foundation at 121 New London Road, Chelmsford CM2 0QT
- Speak to us if you want to make a donation by bank transfer or to set up a regular gift
- For more information email perry@essexcf.org.uk.
Saffron Building Society donates more than £100k in grants
3rd June 2021
A building society serving Essex has donated more than £100,000 to charities across East Anglia over the last decade.
The Saffron Building Society Community Fund, which is managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF) has been providing grants to charities since the fund began in 2011.
This year, Saffron has granted £13,778 to six different charities, meaning a total of 55 charities have benefited from the fund over the last ten years.
Claire Hunnable, community business partner at Saffron Building Society, said: “After such a difficult year, that left many charities struggling to raise money, the importance of the community fund couldn’t be clearer.
“The charities are chosen by our grant panel, which is made up of staff and members with the expertise and guidance from ECF. We are safe in the knowledge that all the grant money is well-spent supporting the communities around our branches.”
The charities receiving money from the fund this year are:
- 3rd Brentwood Scout Group – Towards the purchase of a second-hand minibus.
- Action for Family Carers – To help run activity groups for people with dementia in Harlow, Epping, and Great Dunmow.
- Red Kite Rape and Sexual Abuse Service – To upgrade the charity log digital record system to aid the setup of a Hertfordshire-based charity supporting victims.
- Radio Forest – To upgrade the software and associated equipment of a hospital radio service covering Epping forest, Saffron Walden, and Brentwood.
- Stepping Stones Play & Learn Group – For the salary of a key worker to support children with complex needs.
- Beacon House Ministries – Advocacy work with vulnerable individuals leaving prison, supporting and educating.
Claire said: “We’re really proud to be able to support these important charities this year, and now that restrictions are easing, I am looking forward to visiting all of them and learning more about what they do.
“At Saffron, we pride ourselves on caring for our communities, so staying in touch with all the charities after the grants have been given is really important to the whole team.”
Saffron staff have proved consistently through the pandemic that it’s more than money when it comes to helping the less fortunate. Staff have been volunteering to assist those less able through the OnHand app, have provided a reassuring, friendly ear to customers on the phone during lockdowns and worked without ease to ensure everyone was financially able to navigate the year utilising free financial wellbeing calls.
To find out more about Saffron Building Society and its community efforts, visit the website here.
If you are interested to know how we help local companies to give back to their community, click here or call Perry Norton, ECF Head of Development, on 01245 356018.
Four Essex voluntary groups receive The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services
2nd June 2021
Four 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 May 2022 (depending on restrictions at the time), along with other recipients of this award.
The four winning groups from Essex are:
- Abberton Rural Training: this group provide local land based skills for vulnerable and isolated individuals and families in Essex.
- BATIAS Independent Advocacy Service: this group support people with learning disabilities to have their voices heard and inspire positive changes to lives, enabling those they support to become active citizens, and provide new life opportunities.
- Essex Police Special Constabulary: this group have over 520 volunteers who provide almost 204,000 hours of volunteer policing for the communities of Essex.
- Citizens Advice Southend: this group provide free, confidential and impartial advice to a wide range of people many of whom live in deprived areas.
The four groups from Essex are amongst 241 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 four Essex winners will receive the Award from Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, later this year subject to the COVID-19 restrictions at the time.
Jennifer Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex said: “The announcement of four 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 four 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, when the present restrictions allow, and to celebrate their success with their volunteers and many who receive their excellent service”.
New Mayor of Harwich launches fund for the town
20th May 2021
An important part of the history of Harwich is being celebrated with the launch of a new charitable fund that will provide support for local charities, voluntary organisations and community groups working in the Harwich and Dovercourt area for years to come.
The Mayflower Legacy Fund has been set up by Cllr Ivan Henderson, who has devoted almost three decades to public service in Harwich. Ivan is a former MP for Harwich, a district and town councillor, and became Mayor of Harwich on 20 May.
The fund, which will be managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF) has been named after the Mayflower which was registered in Harwich and, 400 years ago, was sailed from England to America.
Although many of the planned celebrations for the Mayflower’s anniversary have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Ivan’s hopes of establishing a fund to support local charities have become a reality. He is county councillor for Harwich and has launched his fund with £10,000, an allocation given to all county councillors to invest in their communities.
“I wanted to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Master Christopher Jones’ sea voyage aboard the Mayflower and to create something that will support local charities and will last beyond the anniversary year,” said Ivan.
“I feel very fortunate to have been able to launch the Mayflower Legacy Fund and I am delighted that my allocation of £10,000 from Essex County Council and further donations to the fund will be match-funded through the Proceeds of Crime Matched Funding Scheme, which is managed by ECF with support from Essex Police. This means that for every £2 donated, £1 will be added. If gift aid can be claimed this is matched as well, which means the original donation is nearly doubled.
“The fund will have a link to the ongoing maritime history of Harwich and, importantly, will build up over time and create a legacy that will support and benefit local people for years to come.
“There are so many local organisations who have been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic and they really need extra support. A lot of children and young people will be facing difficult issues and the fund will help them and enable them in turn to become involved and make a positive contribution to their community.”
Ivan has lived in Harwich for all of his life and worked at the docks for 20 years. He has to date completed 28 years public service, is now a transport consultant and is prominent in promoting tourism in Harwich.
He said: “All my Mayoral fundraising will go into the Mayflower Legacy Fund. I am hoping to encourage businesses and individuals to regularly contribute and have already had support committed from Milsom Hotels and Harwich Haven Authority.
“By doing this together we can build a financial resource for local charities and voluntary groups working in Harwich and Dovercourt to tap into and which will provide ongoing support, particularly for organisations that are contributing to community safety and those working with children and young people.”
Ivan is looking forward to a busy year and is delighted that the Harwich Sea Festival in August will host one of the major Mayflower 400th anniversary events postponed from last year.
He is planning to give a grant from the Mayflower Legacy Fund so that 10 local young people nominated by local charities can take part in a voyage from Harwich to Portsmouth organised by the Tall Ships Sailing Trust.
For more information and to make a donation to the Fund visit Ivan’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/harwichmayflower400legacyfund
Apply for a grant here or call the ECF team on 01245 356018 to discuss your charitable work.