National Care Leavers Month 

27th November 2025

ECF is proud to be one of 31 community foundations supporting the Care Leavers Programme across the UK. Launched in 2024 by UK Community Foundations and the Local Authorities’ Mutual Investment Trust, in partnership with CCLA Investment Management, the multi-year programme helps care leavers aged 16–25 thrive as they transition to adulthood. 

In its first year, the programme supported over 2,000 young people, funding 59 organisations and 411 individuals directly. The new report, published on 25 November during National Care Leavers Month, highlights the programme’s impact so far. 

To read about the difference the Care Leavers Programme is making, see the full report here.

Our New Annual Review for 2025 is Here!

18th November 2025

We are excited to share our newly published Annual Review – Click here to read.

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.

If you would like a hard copy of the report, please e-mail hello@essexcf.org.uk with your address details.

30 Years of Generosity in Essex

30th October 2025

Nick Alston, CBE DL, has been at the helm of several of the county’s most valued services. He was the first ever Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, has been a key figure in local health provision and is also involved in the education sector. 

Nick has steered ECF from strength to strength and has launched its landmark 30th anniversary year with an ambitious new strategy to be the voice of the voluntary sector.  In November, he will step down as Chair of ECF and hand over chairmanship of the organisation to his fellow trustee, Atul Manek who joined ECF as a Trustee in 2022. 

Nick has been hailed as an exceptional leader and is proud that ECF now manages more than 200 funds and has given grants totalling £60 million to voluntary and community groups in Essex. 

“When I was asked to chair the board of trustees for ECF it was a daunting prospect, but it has been an absolutely joyous time,” said Nick. “We have been through challenging times, but throughout it all I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with wonderful people, the fundholders, our passionate board members, the staff at ECF and the groups we have supported. 

“We have been able to build up an investment of £55 million, so that we can continue to give support to those who need it. This has involved some very grown up, serious and deeply responsible work, but all the time it comes round to why we are doing this, why we are seeking more funds, to help communities across the county, because the need is still so great. 

“It has been a humbling experience to visit many of the charities ECF has supported, especially in the year when I was also High Sheriff of Essex, and I was able to visit 120 charities and see the whole thing in the round. It is remarkable to spend time with these organisations and see the work they do in economically deprived areas where people are struggling. I am also privileged to see things from the fundholders’ point of view, as my wife Pippa and I have our own named family fund with ECF.  

“I am pleased to have broadened the horizons of ECF’s board, which has been modernised with open recruitment, reflecting a wider diversity and gaining the insights of different age groups. The blend is right and I am delighted that Atul is taking over.  

“He is a man of vision, integrity and deep social purpose. His generosity, through his own family fund and his leadership as an ECF trustee, has helped shape where we are today. I know he will guide the Foundation with purpose and care and, with great rigour, will make sure that we have everything in place to take ECF forward. 

“It’s remarkable to think it was 30 years ago that our visionary founders, Ian and Angela Marks, began rallying people to help bring to life what was, at the time, an ambitious new idea, the creation of Essex Community Foundation.  

“That’s three decades of families creating legacies, of businesses stepping up, of communities placing their trust in the Foundation. Trustees, past and present, have asked big questions, listened to those closest to the issues and responded with care.  

“If the last six years have been about building momentum, the next will be about bold expansion. I am excited to see the beginning of a year-long anniversary celebration for ECF. Our 30th anniversary won’t be a retrospective, it will be a key milestone in this important journey that started three decades ago.  Our theme is simple – 30 Years of Generosity. 

“It has been a great honour to serve the Foundation, to work alongside such passionate trustees, talented staff, inspiring partners and committed supporters. I am an Essex boy through and through and I am looking forward to spending more free time in the county I love, with more walking and sailing. I am also looking forward to being an ambassador for ECF and spreading the word about its work. 

“ECF has achieved so much and, in the words of our founder, Ian Marks, ‘There is still much more to do.’ As I hand over to Atul Manek I truly believe the best is yet to come.

Jenny Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex and Patron of Essex Community Foundation paid tribute to Nick’s work at an event held at Braxted Park to launch the Foundation’s 30th anniversary year.  She said: “As chair of ECF’s trustees Nick has left a lasting and deeply positive legacy, both for the Foundation and for the wider community it serves.  

“His passion for Essex, generosity of spirit and unwavering commitment have shaped the Foundation’s development and enabled it to respond with strength and agility during times of real challenge. 

“He has helped guide the organisation through change, championed innovation and always kept people and community at the heart of everything. Nick has shown integrity, compassion and a profound belief in the power of community. 

“On behalf of Essex Community Foundation, the people of Essex and personally, as His Majesty’s representative in the county, I offer him deepest thanks and heartfelt gratitude for the part he has played.” 

Southend Community Fund Hits a Milestone!

27th October 2025

The Southend Community Fund (SCF), one of Essex Community Foundation’s (ECF) longest-standing charitable funds, has reached an exciting milestone. In September, the SCF panel awarded £536,386 in grants, meaning the Fund has now given out more than its endowment of £522,842 since it began. This achievement highlights the Fund’s lasting commitment to supporting Southend’s communities. 

Founded in 2001 by then-Mayor Howard Briggs, the Fund was set up to provide ongoing support for voluntary and community groups across the borough. Howard, with lifelong friend Peter Croysdill and a small team of local volunteers, kickstarted the Fund and helped it grow through donations, events, and community engagement. Since then, ECF has proudly managed SCF, ensuring vital funding reaches the groups that need it most. 

Examples of grants awarded this year: 

• Southend Christian Fellowship: awarded £4,131 to run a Community Café in the Kursaal Ward. 

• Little Heroes ASD Support Group: awarded £3,500 to support families with children on the autism spectrum. 

• Big Purple Pants: awarded £2,000 to deliver peer support groups for individuals living with secondary breast cancer. 

• Just Ride Southend: awarded £4,000 to buy a specialist electric wheelchair bike, making cycling accessible for all. 

We congratulate SCF on the remarkable difference it continues to make across the borough. Reaching the milestone of awarding more than its endowment demonstrates the power of long-term giving, and we look forward to continuing to work with SCF to empower communities, spark new ideas, and transform lives across Southend for many years to come. 

How to Support the Fund 

If you live in Southend-on-Sea and want to support your local charities, you can make a one-off donation to the Southend Community Fund or you can give regularly.  

Donations can be made to the Southend Community Fund by contacting ECF on 01245 355947.

You can also choose to leave a legacy with your own specific wishes. If interested, please contact us. 

Co-op Community Cares Fund Opens for Applications

Applications open Monday, 3 November

The East of England Co-op, the region’s largest independent retailer, is inviting applications for its Community Cares Fund, offering grants of £1,000–£5,000 to charities and organisations supporting communities across Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire. 

The Community Cares Fund provides financial support to voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, charities and parish councils delivering services or activities that make a real, positive impact on their communities. The fund particularly focuses on initiatives that help people take an active part in community life, reduce barriers and inequalities, and improve social connections and experiences. 

Successful applications should align with one or more of these outcomes: 

• Improved access to social activities for all 
• Reduced feelings of isolation and improved wellbeing 
• Support into education or employment 
• Information, advice or guidance to maximise income 
• Evidence of partnership working or alliance formation 

Fund Criteria 

• Projects must be delivered within a reasonable distance of an East of England Co-op store (locations include Colchester, Braintree, Maldon, Tendring). Click here to find your nearest store. 
• The Co-op will only fund applications covering 30% or more of the overall project costs 
• Organisations cannot receive consecutive yearly grants; a 12-month gap is required if you have previously received funding 

How to apply: 

Deadline to apply is 5pm, Monday 1 December 2025.

Grant decisions will be announced in January 2026.

To apply, complete our application form which you can find by clicking here.

We always recommend discussing your project in advance with our Grants Team to do so please call 01245 355947 or book a call. 

The Saffron Community Fund – Apply Now

23rd October 2025

Smaller charities and community groups across Essex, Hertfordshire, and Suffolk have another chance to secure vital funding as the Saffron Community Fund (SCF) is now open again for applications. This initiative, created by Saffron Building Society and managed in partnership with Essex Community Foundation, ensures grants are distributed fairly and where they can make the biggest impact.

Since its launch, the SCF has awarded over £250,000 in grants, helping grassroots organisations deliver essential services and projects that strengthen local communities.

What the Fund Supports

The SCF focuses on projects that support elderly people, children and young people, and environmental or green causes. Applications are open to charities, not-for-profits, and volunteer groups. Each application is assessed individually to ensure funding is allocated fairly.

Why It Matters

Claire Hunnable, Saffron’s Community Business Partner, explains:

“The Saffron Community Fund has become a real source of colleague and member pride – in 2022 we invested the largest sum to date. Working in partnership with the Essex Community Foundation (who administer Saffron’s fund), we granted £19,327 to applicants including Bishop’s Stortford Mencap, Thaxted Centre for the Disabled, Enterprise East, and CARA (Centre for Action & Rape Abuse). Our support is critical for these smaller charities and we welcome applications for funding from an amazing diversity of groups who do great work at a grassroots level.”

Since then, the fund has gone on to support many more organisations, from community allotment projects and youth initiatives to services for older people and vulnerable groups. Each year, the range of applications grows, reflecting the creativity and resilience of local charities working hard to make a difference.

Examples of Projects Supported by The Fund This Year

Among some of the latest recipients from the last funding round are are:

• Uttlesford District Stroke Support – A community based organisation supporting local stroke survivors and their carers through regular social meetings, lunches, and outings. They were awarded £1,500 towards their weekly social lunches, outings and informal support for elderly stroke survivors and carers in Saffron Walden.
• Children’s Hospital Pyjamas – a UK-based charity, which collects brand new pyjamas to then donate to hospitals, hospices, and women’s refuges across the UK. They were awarded £1,000 towards the costs of providing pyjamas for poorly and vulnerable children across Essex-based hospitals.
• Bury St Edmunds Child Contact Centre – a registered charity offering supported contact to families where there is no significant risk to the child or those around the child. They were awarded £2,000 to support their core costs.

Deadline

Applications close Monday 22nd of June 2026 

How To Apply

Could your charity or group be next?

If you would like to apply, please fill out the application form by  Clicking here.

We always recommend getting in touch first to ensure you have the right guidance before submitting your application, to do so please give our Grants Team a call on 01245 355947 for more information.

Get In Touch

• Call us on 01245 355947
• Click here to book a time slot to speak with a grants officer
• E-mail grants@essexcf.org.uk