Essex welcomes its new High Sheriff

14th April 2021

Simon Brice is setting out on his year as High Sheriff of Essex not only with a true sense of resolve, but also a sense of humour.

Taking on the role, which dates back to Anglo Saxon times, is “an honour” says Simon, a farmer, who is proud to be an Essex man, born and bred.

He has become the 841^st High Sheriff of Essex and is determined to make current day issues, including domestic abuse, modern slavery, county lines, mental health and rural crime his priorities in his year of office.

“It is a challenge to plan the year ahead, as there are still some uncertainties around Covid restrictions, but I am looking forward to getting out and meeting people face to face as much as I can,” said Simon.

“The voluntary and charity sector and our excellent police, fire and ambulance services, as well as Essex County Council, the unitary authorities and District Councils, have all stepped up to the mark over the past difficult year.

“They all deserve thanks and support as they continue to do a tremendous job to serve the county. I think as High Sheriff it is possible to see things behind the scenes that others don’t have the chance to see. I could be having a discussion with a High Court judge one day, then talking to someone addicted to drugs or a victim of domestic abuse the following day.

“A High Sheriff does not have political allegiance, which I think is important, as people feel they can speak freely in these circumstances. I will be there to give support, to make connections, perhaps open doors and to jolly or cajole where necessary. Even when dealing with difficult issues, I will be doing it with a smile.

“Coming from a family who have farmed near Witham for five generations, we have seen many changes over the years and, just as farming has evolved, Essex will continue to change and adapt as we slowly come out of the Covid pandemic.

“I am looking forward to working with Essex Community Foundation (ECF) who look after the High Sheriffs’ Fund, which gives grants to causes tackling crime and promoting community safety.

“I hope to be able to raise money to add to this fund 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.

“It is humbling when you hear how grants from the fund can make a difference to vital volunteer and charity groups and how a little can go a long way in providing help. I am also looking forward to linking with ECF for the High Sheriff’s awards which do a great job towards boosting morale and recognising the excellent work of many organisations in the county.”

Simon has a busy year ahead and he and his wife Emma are planning to hold a garden party in aid of the High Sheriffs’ Fund in September, the same month as their daughter Lucy’s wedding. Their son Oliver is playing an increasing role in running the family’s businesses, allowing Simon more time for his duties as High Sheriff.

“Essex is a remarkable and diverse county, faced with many challenges and I look forward to supporting and working with great people throughout the county in my year of office,” said Simon.

SUPPORT THE HIGH SHERIFF AND YOUR DONATION WILL BE MATCHED!

ECF is pleased to manage 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 Now www.justgiving.com/fundraising/high-sheriff-of-essex-2021

Local charity provides vital support for young people

12th April 2021

This year was supposed to be one of celebration for the acclaimed charity, Waltham Abbey Youth 2000, but it became one of the most challenging ever since it was set up 26 years ago.

The Coronavirus pandemic meant that instead of celebrating the landmark anniversary the charity, which provides a wide range of services for young people and their families, had to close down its facilities including its youth clubs and parent drop-in sessions.

But, thanks to a grant from our Coronavirus Response and Recovery Programme and support from other organisations, Waltham Abbey Youth 2000 has been able to continue its vital counselling service for young people, which has been needed more than ever. Until lockdown, the service was based at the local secondary school.

Elaine Fletcher, chairman of trustees for Waltham Abbey Youth 2000 said: “Our counsellor, Angie Pearson, who has been with us for the past 21 years, had to double her hours because of the huge increase in demand. She set up a programme to work from home to keep in touch with vulnerable young people of the town who were having to cope with all the stresses of lockdown.

“More than 1,700 contacts have been made with young people and their parents/carers.  Angie developed booklets for the young people to record their thoughts and feelings about COVID-19, to keep them motivated and help provide a sense of achievement. She put into action activities to keep their sense of aspiration alive and also promoted the ideas of relaxation and exercise.”

One of the young people helped by the counselling service said: “The weekly contact helped me cope and stopped me going crazy at times.”

Over the years Waltham Abbey Youth 2000 has received many accolades and last year was one of 23 organisations in Essex to be nominated for a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

Elaine said: “2020, which should have been the year of celebration for our 25^th anniversary, was and still is a huge challenge. We have had to provide an increased counselling service as demand did not reduce at the start of the school year, and the latest lockdown continued to have a negative impact on young people and their families.”

“We are very fortunate to have received support, including the grant from Essex Community Foundation. Looking to the future, and with restrictions slowly easing, we are determined to establish a homework club and to re-start our very popular cookery clubs. We will also be running our parent drop-in facility when we can, as this has proved such a help to so many people.

“Waltham Abbey has a history of being quite a deprived area, but we know that with the right support the young people of the town and their families can attain so much more.”

The rise of Baby Banks in Essex 

18th March 2021

Essex families struggling to afford clothing and other essential items for their newborn babies and children are being given vital help by Baby Banks around the county. 

An increase in the need for such support has resulted in Baby Banks being opened in Braintree, Tendring and Billericay. The set-up is similar to foodbanks and parents can use Baby Banks for essential equipment required for bringing up young children, including nappies, wipes and shampoo, as well as larger items such as prams and pushchairs. 

Referral come from local nurseries, schools, GPs and community centres. 

Andy Payne Warpole, Head of Programmes at Essex Community Foundation (ECF), said: “We have seen a big increase in the number of applications we have received from Baby Banks over the past year. They tell us they have been inundated by requests for help, particularly during the pandemic.  

“The rise in demand is due to a number of reasons including reduced salaries while parents were, and continue to be furloughed, job losses, cuts to Universal Credit payments and a rise in the number of people fleeing domestic abuse.” 

Baby Bank Tendring received £1,200 from ECF and used this vital funding boost to buy items that they cannot accept as second-hand donations because of health and safety concerns. These include cot mattresses, car seats, dummies, bottles and sterilisers. 

Georgia Phillips, Director of Baby Bank Tendring, said: “After watching a Channel 4 Dispatches programme about Baby Banks showing the amazing work being done for local communities, I was inspired to offer the same. We began working with local providers to develop a service which offers pre-loved donated baby clothing, toiletries and equipment to those who need it. 

“The support we’ve had from local people who have been so helpful, and their donations have been fantastic. We put out a weekly wish–list on Facebook so people know what items we need and it is amazing to see how generous people are. 

“It’s sad that people need our help, but we are so pleased that we are in a position to do it”. 

Baby Stuff Braintree is also feeling the pinch caused by COVID-19. Susan Pedder, Trustee, said: “The need for clothes is often seen as below that of food, but children benefit from self-esteem, so as well as keeping them warm, a new coat adds so much to their lives. There are so many people needing support right now that we are having to buy clothing, rather than rely solely on donations. The £1,000 awarded to us by ECF has enabled us to make a big difference to many more children”. 

To contact Baby Bank Tendring, email: babybanktendring@yahoo.com. 

Baby Stuff Braintree ask that you contact them through their Facebook page.  

SUPPORT ECF’S ACORN FUND CHALLENGE and help more local charities like Baby Banks.

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.    

Donate online now: https://justgiving.com/campaign/ECFAcorn 

Making life better by reusing and recycling

Being without basic household necessities such as a bed and a cooker is something most people would find unimaginable. 

But for some this is a harsh reality and the need for help and support in situations like these is on the increase. 

In the last three months 112 deliveries of essential furniture and household appliances have been made by Epping Forest ReUse (EFRU) to people in need referred through the Essential Living Fund. 

EFRU’s shop opened in 2013 to enable people on low incomes to access affordable, good quality furniture and home appliances. 

The charity has recently been given vital funding by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF) to continue its work, which is needed more than ever. 

Although Epping Forest is seen as an affluent area, many people are in financial difficulty and lack the essentials to make their daily life easier or more comfortable. 

EFRU provides furniture and household appliances for those who find themselves in need of help, including women who have experienced domestic violence, then move on from a refuge to a flat, but have nothing to furnish it with, for homeless people in a similar situation and to enable patients to come home from hospital. 

Donated furniture and household appliances are collected without cost to the owner and the charity sells the goods at low or discounted prices.   Some Items are provided free to people referred by approved agencies and to customers identified by staff as being in exceptional need. 

The Coronavirus pandemic has meant that EFRU has had to close its shop, but the charity is continuing its work and has been designated as an essential service. 

Referrals are still being made through the Essential Living Fund to help those in crisis, including the provision of starter packs of basic items needed to set up a home. 

One family helped by EFRU described the charity as “a light in dark times” and a volunteer with EFRU said: “I was surprised to learn that there are children in our district who do not have their own bed to sleep on. I took two calls in one morning about such a problem and thankfully we were able to provide beds for those children.” 

Janet Whitehouse, a trustee for EFRU said: “It has been a difficult year and there is more demand than ever before for our services.  An increasing number of people need help with basic equipment for their homes.  The Coronavirus pandemic has affected the amount of goods donated to us and currently there is a great need for donations of white goods.” 

Caring for the environment is another aspect of EFRU’s work and each year it saves nearly 100 tonnes of goods from going to landfill. Upcycling furniture is something that the charity is keen to resume doing in the future. 

The charity has two full time and four part time staff and, when lockdown restrictions are eased, will be able to resume another of its aims, to promote volunteering.   

Despite the difficulties of current times, the charity is determined to continue its work and is embracing the future with an enthusiastic and forward–thinking new manager, Esther Herel, who is passionate about the charity sector.   

Ester said: “Since I started at Epping Forest ReUse in January the staff have continued deliveries of essential furniture and household appliances to people in need and I’ve started a Click and Collect service.  I’m looking forward to our showroom re-opening on 12 April so we can welcome customers back again”.    

EFRU’s showroom near Epping station is open to all.  To donate items to Epping Forest ReUse please call 01992 578222 or email info@eppingreuse.org.uk 

SUPPORT ECF’S ACORN FUND CHALLENGE and help more local charities like EFRU.

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.   

Donate online now: https://justgiving.com/campaign/ECFAcorn 

More support for voluntary sector to deal with COVID-19 impacts

9th March 2021

Grants of up to £20,000 are now available from the Essex Covid Response Fund managed by us. 

Grants awarded must be spent within 12 months of receipt and can support core and essential operating costs as well as projects or capital items.  We are interested to hear about projects that ensure communities stay safe, keep connected or  help those who are self-isolating, and those disproportionately effected by the pandemic.  New projects and those that need to be adapted or scaled-up to better respond as a direct result of  COVID 19, will also be considered.

Contact us on 01245 356018 to discuss making an application. 

Voluntary organisations and community groups across Essex have since March 2020 been helping to meet residents’ need for practical, financial or emotional support through the pandemic. Food projects, advice services, mental health and domestic abuse charities and local projects helping people to shield, self-isolate, get tested or get vaccinated have all played their part.

As we emerge from lockdown, needs are expected to grow and change again as residents hit by the pandemic pick up the pieces. People will be dealing with the mental and emotional impact of what they’ve been through and the changes and uncertainty ahead.

• £1m goes to Essex Community Foundation (ECF) for grants up to £20,000 for voluntary organisations.
• Essex County Council will distribute £1m directly in grants up to £50,000 for medium-sized frontline organisations.
• £500,000 goes to Essex Association of Local Councils for small grants up to £5,000 for ‘mutual aid groups’ – residents or volunteers who’ve come together to help others in their communities.
• £150,000 goes to ECL (Essex Cares Ltd) for more support to people with sensory needs who have found it harder, during the pandemic, to safely access their communities and get the support they need.
• The rest will be split between the county’s 12 volunteer centres, Provide Community Interest Company and NHS partners to co-ordinate volunteering efforts and meet emerging needs such as for community transport to vaccination centres.

The funds come from Department of Health and Social Care funding to Essex County Council to contain and manage the COVID-19 outbreak. They are for use before the end of June 2021.

Cllr David Finch, Leader of Essex County Council said, “I would like to thank our voluntary and community sector and the thousands of volunteers who have stepped up to help their neighbours over this last year. There is more hard work to come. This funding will offer them capacity to help residents through to the summer, as they adjust to life after lockdown.”

Caroline Taylor, CEO of Essex Community Foundation said, “There is still a lot of pressure on the voluntary sector and a growing demand for support in local communities. We are delighted to be chosen as a partner to help deliver this programme in Essex and direct funding to where it is needed most.”

Sarah Troop, Chair of Volunteer Essex said, “The voluntary sector across Essex has experienced huge challenges over the past twelve months with changes to delivery models and uncertainty around funding being coupled with the drive to deliver support across the county in new ways. Often they have played a critical part in the community response to the coronavirus and have faced unprecedented challenges. The funding being provided to Essex voluntary sector infrastructure through the Volunteer Centres will go a long way to ensuring community support and volunteer action is maintained in coming months and is gratefully received.”

Charlene Slade, Chief Executive Officer of Essex Association of Local Councils said, “Essex Association of Local Councils is incredibly proud of the volunteers and mutual aid groups in Essex who have worked tirelessly during these difficult times to support people across the county. The funding administered so far on behalf of Essex County Council has been an invaluable resource, providing food hampers and PPE. This new funding will meet the future needs of grassroots activity within our communities.”

Just a few examples of how VCS organisations have stepped up:

• Essex Wellbeing Service alone has supported over 207,000 people across Essex in the last year, with district-based community hubs making huge impacts in supporting those with daily living tasks.
• Community 360 recruited more than 100 volunteers to help at vaccination centres in North East Essex.
• Community-based mutual aid groups have also played a huge role, for example: Witham Pay it Forward Group completed 30,000 jobs to support Witham residents and Danbury Community Action Volunteers provided hundreds of volunteers for their Primary Care Vaccination Centre.
• Nazeing and Brentwood Mutual Aid provided 600 volunteers to help with surge testing.

To discuss the funding that we have available to distribute, please call our grants team on 01245 356018.

Charities receive £130,000 lifeline pandemic funding boost

8th March 2021

Young people and unpaid carers will continue to receive essential support through the pandemic and beyond after Eastlight Community Homes and Braintree District Council award more than £130,000 of grants.

The Braintree District and Eastlight Community Fund is managed by Essex Community Foundation (ECF) and was created ten years ago to provide local voluntary organisations and charities with the opportunity to apply for funding annually.

Braintree Youth Project Charity and Crossroads Care are among six charities to receive a share of over £130,000 to provide much-needed support through these challenging times.

The recipients in the latest round are:

• Action for Family Carers will receive £20,000 over two years to provide support to young carers in Braintree district.
• Braintree Youth Project Charity will receive £30,000 over three years to help employ a member of staff to support young people.
• Braintree, Halstead & Witham Citizens Advice are awarded £31,832 over two years for their outreach service supporting disabled people in Braintree district.
• CARA Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse continue their work with a grant of £26,000 over the next two years, providing help and support to people living in Braintree district who have been affected by sexual violence.
• Crossroads Braintree and Chelmsford will receive £12,000 over two years to provide respite support for unpaid adult carers
• Crossways Church Fellowship (Revolution Youth Project) to receive £12,000 over two years to provide a youth group and activities for young people in Halstead.

Crossroads Braintree and Chelmsford has highly trained support workers who help carers to look after their loved ones in their own home.  By temporarily alleviating the caring responsibilities for the unpaid carer, it allows them time to go shopping, get some exercise or meet friends.

Danielle Perry, Development Manager at Crossroads, said: “The practical support we provide to carers means they can re-charge their batteries, feel less stressed and improve their well-being. We also reach out to those who feel lonely or cut off from the community, due to their caring responsibilities, and we spend time with them.  We know carers who are still isolating due to COVID-19 and they also require our help with food shopping or collecting prescriptions.”

Braintree Youth Project Charity provides a safe haven for young people aged 11-18 and up to 25 with special needs, including many that are disadvantaged or socially isolated, where they are cared for, listened to and respected. They run a range of indoor and outdoor activities, aimed at building confidence and helping young people to achieve their full potential.

Graham Goodchild, from Braintree Youth Project Charity, said: “We’ve had a huge growth in our membership over the past two years as more and more young people seek a haven where they can mix, make new friends and develop their confidence. We want to give them every chance to achieve any future they want, and, during the pandemic, we’ve been hosting video calls so our young people can stay connected and still talk to their friends. We look to welcome new members as we expand into more areas in the town.”

James Green, Eastlight’s Community Investment Director, said: “We are committed to supporting communities to recover from the pandemic. Many local organisations and charities have been hit really hard and that impacts on those they provide lifeline support to. We will continue to be here and help make a real difference to the lives of local people.”

Councillor Gabrielle Spray, Chairman of the decision-making panel, said: “Braintree District Council is proud to be a part of this fund which is more important than ever for charities during the pandemic. It is brilliant to see the great work they are doing and how they are supporting our district’s residents during this difficult time.”

Local charities and voluntary organisations working in Braintree district are encouraged to contact the ECF grants team on 01245 356018 to talk about their funding needs or click here for our online application form.

For more information about ECF helps people to give locally, click here.