Building self-confidence and social skills
10th September 2021
An organisation in Ongar has now reopened, offering a programme of activities to help people develop their self-confidence and social skills in a relaxed and friendly space.
Zinc Arts, which is running a wide range of activities for adults who have learning disabilities, survived its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to a grant of £10,000 from the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
This lifeline funding helped to cover their lost income when they had to stop their theatre courses during lockdown and were unable to hire out rooms.
Sonia Cakebread, programme manager at Zinc, said: “We are so grateful for the grant we received from ECF as without it, we may have had to close down for good, and we could focus on hosting online sessions to continue supporting our clients.
“We also offered our empty premises to 3Food4U, which collects surplus food from supermarkets and donates it to people in need. This extra space meant they were able to increase their distribution, helping over 100 local families to get food, toiletries, clothes and other essential items.
“Our activities includes baking, flower arranging, pottery workshops and more. We are so excited to be back!”
Zinc also runs a community café, theatre workshops for all abilities and they use their profits to houses six local families who are homeless.
For more information about how you can apply for funding, click here.
Community bus service returns
10th August 2021
A community bus scheme for people living in rural areas of Epping and Harlow is back up and running after nearly a year of offering an adapted service.
The charity, Epping Forest & Harlow Community Transport (EHCT), helps local people who are unable to use conventional public transport, including the elderly, those who are disabled or people who are rurally isolated.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic their fleet of 18 mini-buses made around 8,000 door-to-door service journeys each month, but they had to adapt their offering in March 2020 when the country went into lockdown.
Angela Canham, manager of EHCT, said: “Although we were unable to operate as usual, we knew that our clients still needed our support.
“We applied for a grant from Essex Community Foundation and were awarded £13,175 from their Essex Coronavirus Response and Recovery Programme, which meant we could buy the equipment needed for some of our team to work from home.
“They made daily calls to our housebound passengers to provide them with some reassurance that they weren’t alone and help prevent them from feeling isolated.
“We also made trips to St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping and worked with NHS Princess Alexander Hospital in Harlow to deliver medications to patients who had gone home after being treated for Coronavirus or those with serious underlying heath conditions who needed to self-isolate.
“The funding we received also meant that we could add safety screens in our mini-buses for when restrictions eased.
“Like many charities, our income and donations reduced, but the need for our services grew. We are so grateful to ECF and their fundholders who decided to support us. It helped us get through a very challenging time and kept us going.”
Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Programmes at Essex Community Foundation, said: “Community transport services like EHCT provide a lifeline to people who are elderly or disabled, especially those who live in rural communities where there is a limited or no bus service at all.
“Knowing they can attend an appointment, meet friends or simply do some shopping, is so important as it helps keep them connected to their community and reduces feelings of isolation.”
EHCT are recruiting for new volunteers to help meet renewed demand for their services. To discuss the available positions, please call 01992 579556 or e-mail: efct@efcommunitytransport.org.uk.
For more information about ECF and how you can apply for funding, click here or call our friendly grants team on 01245 356018.
To support local charities and community organisations, please donate to our Acorn Fund Challenge here. We are currently matching all gifts on a 2 to 1 basis.
Local charity reopens with a splash
12th July 2021
A water activities centre set in the Lee Valley Country Park is making a splash after re-opening for customers in a Covid-secure way.
New outdoor handwashing facilities and other measures to combat Coronavirus have been installed at The ESSA Water Activities Centre, thanks to a grant of £2,000 from the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF.)
Now people of all ages can once again enjoy activities on the centre’s beautiful 22-acre lagoon in Nazeing, Broxbourne.
ESSA, a registered charity and RYA training centre, caters for schools,youth groups, individuals, families, corporate events and parties and runs a wide range of courses and activities.
The charity’s work helps young people to achieve their full potential physically, intellectually and socially through sailing and other water-based activities.
Training courses and activities for all ages at the centre include RYA sailing, RYA Powerboat and Safety boat, RYA Windsurfing, Dragon Boat helm, traditional rafting award, British Canoeing Start and Discover courses, Kayaking, Foundation Safety and Rescue training, Mega SUP and wobble boarding.
Volunteers play an important role at the centre. Several have gone into sea-based careers or sports associated industries and one was inspired to take up their education in marine biology.
When ESSA was looking to re-open after lockdown extra facilities were needed to ensure the centre complied with all the relevant Covid regulations and guidelines.
The grant from ECF helped ESSA meet the cost of installing new outdoor handwashing facilities which included new water pipe laying. The centre has also introduced ways to ensure social distancing and resources to deep clean every boat after use.
Kevin Downton, treasurer at ESSA said: “We are grateful to ECF for the grant which made it possible to re-open ESSA in a Covid secure way and provide hygienic outdoor hand washing facilities for our customers.
“We have had very positive customer feedback about our re-opening and that we are operating in a Covid secure manner.”
To discuss your funding needs, please call the ECF grants team on 01245 356018.
SUPPORT ECF’S ACORN FUND CHALLENGE and help local charities and groups like ESSA.
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 through: https://justgiving.com/campaign/ECFAcorn
- 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