Have a heart this Christmas

21st November 2024

Being prepared for serious and unexpected incidents was a way of life for George Cook as he rose through the ranks and became chief officer with the Essex Police Special Constabulary.

During his 47 years of distinguished service, he attended many incidents ranging from a highjacked aircraft at Stansted Airport, murders and serious and fatal road accidents, but suffering a heart attack in June was something he was not expecting.

George, 79, who lives in Southend, where he was born and bred, was so delighted with the treatment he received that he has pledged his support for the Essex Heart Fund, to help other patients in the county.

“My heart attack, which happened at home, was completely unexpected,” said George. “Although I have had other health issues, I didn’t have any history of heart problems. I called an ambulance when I realised that what I was experiencing was more than just indigestion.

“Following excellent treatment from the ambulance service I was taken on ‘blues and twos’ to Basildon Hospital’s heart unit. I was amazed by the speed with which I was assessed and treated.

“I was lucky that a major artery was not involved, but it was still a heart attack, which was treated by the insertion of a balloon. From arrival at the heart unit to being back on the ward after successful treatment, was approximately three hours and I was able to go home two days later.

“My attitude is that you have to get on with life and I am doing my best to stay fit and active, with an exercise regime every day, including a two-to-three-mile walk.

“The treatment I had from Dr Thomas Keeble and his team at the heart unit at Basildon Hospital was world class, which is why I am supporting the Essex Heart Fund. I want the people of Essex to be more aware of the fund and how it can help heart patients and their families.”

George combined a career in merchant banking, shipping, charity work and the public sector at executive level, with the outstanding service he gave to the Special Constabulary in Essex.

“Having a full-time paid job and also a demanding role within the Special Constabulary often meant that my social life suffered,” he said.

“I was fortunate to have understanding girlfriends and to have employers who allowed me time off to carry out police work. When I reached the age of 60 in 2005, I decided to take early retirement from my paid job to devote my time to the increasing demands of directing the Special Constabulary in Essex, whose numbers at that time were approaching 600. I also founded the Association of Special Constabulary Chief Officers and in the last two years of my service I spent the majority of my time on national issues.”

George was made an MBE in 2002 for services to the police and charity. He now wants to spread the word about the Essex Heart Fund and, as well as giving his personal support to the cause, says he is willing to give talks to local groups about his experience following his heart attack.

The Essex Heart Fund, which is managed by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation, was launched in 2020 by renowned consultant cardiologists, Dr Gerald Clesham and Dr Thomas Keeble, along with charity specialist Fred Heddell.

Dr Clesham and Dr Keeble both work at hospitals in Essex, including Basildon Hospital and Fred has wide experience of the charity sector in the county.

They developed the idea for a new charity in Essex with the aim of meeting the needs of Essex heart patients and their families and bringing major improvements to their lives.

Dr Clesham said: “Heart conditions are still the commonest causes of premature death and are a major cause of disability.  Our cardiac services here in Essex serve a population of about 1.8 million people and we are fortunate to have the internationally-recognised Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon, along with some great work going on in our other hospitals the county.

“Money donated to the Essex Heart Fund is spent solely in the county, on community services and support groups for patients and their families, the development of new hospital-based clinical services and to support local cardiovascular education and research.”

The Fund has already awarded grants totalling nearly £15,000.  The latest grant of £3,580 has enabled the purchase of a bedside lung function assessment device to monitor a patient’s vital signs while they are undergoing a TAVI (Trans Catheter Aortic Valve Implantation) procedure.  This is particularly helpful for patients experiencing aortic stenosis which is when the aortic value in the heart has become narrowed.  This is usually caused by a build-up of calcium deposits on the valve over the course of a lifetime.

The assessment device will help improve efficiency and decrease waiting list times at the Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon.

Other grants from the Essex Heart Fund include support for:

• the Tickers Cardiac Support Group to help provide cardiac fitness training for heart attack survivors at a venue in Chelmsford.
• a training defibrillator for Essex Community First Aid, whose volunteers give first aid cover at community events across Essex.
• the installation of defibrillators at Essex locations, in former telephone kiosks in Terling, Fairstead and Audley End and a bowling club in Thurrock.
• a heated defibrillator cabinet for the three villages of Little Yeldham, Tilbury-Juxta-Clare and Ovington Parish Council.
• the Saffron Walden Community Shed to buy a defibrillator for use by them and the local area.
• to provide counselling for individuals impacted by Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) in Colchester, Southend-on-Sea and Basildon

Did you know?

• Heart conditions are still the commonest causes of premature death
• 7,500 heart procedures are performed every year at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre
• In Essex someone dies of heart disease every two hours
• 20,000 people in Essex have heart failure

Support the Essex Heart Fund

It is easy to make a donation and lots of ways that you can give support:

• Donate online via essexheartfund.org.uk
• Include EHF in your will
• Choose EHF as your charity to support if you take part in a fundraising event or nominate EHF as your corporate charity of the year.
• Organise an event in aid of EHF

Main photo:  The Seniors section at Burnham on Crouch golf Club was pleased to raise money for the Essex Heart Fund during the club’s centenary year with Bryan Lorimer, Seniors captain (left) and James Smyth, vice captain (right) holding the banner, alongside members of the club.

Leave a gift in your Will for everyone in Essex

20th October 2021

Supporting local communities through us by leaving a legacy in your Will is becoming increasingly popular.

As well as making a difference now, your gift will last for many years to come and there are tax incentives when you give to charity in this way. If you are thinking about leaving a legacy, a good place to start is by talking to your professional adviser, or you can call us to talk through your ideas.

Here is a lovely story about a lady who made a generous bequest to us this year.

Gwendy Marrs Fund

Gwendy was born in 1930 and lived most of her 90 years in North Essex. From a young age she had a love of dancing and by her late teens she had become one of the high-kicking Tiller Girls made famous by the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium. She was a member of the dance troupe for four years, culminating in its 1952 tour of South Africa.

When she returned to Essex, Gwendy started work for the Colchester Lathe Company where she stayed for 31 years. After her husband Colin died in 1983, she resumed her love of performing and made appearances as an extra on many well-known TV series, including Hi-De-Hi and Lovejoy.

Gwendy is fondly remembered by all who knew her as a warm and exuberant personality, the life and soul of any gathering, and as someone who enjoyed her nearly 90 years to the full.

She was involved in many local community activities and we were delighted to receive a legacy from her. We look forward to keeping her memory alive through the Fund established in her name.

“Gwendy was such a wonderful lady who was full of enthusiasm for life. Dancing and performing were her passion, and she was always keen to be involved in local activities whether it was through the church or the croquet club.

“She had no children or close family to leave her estate to, so when I raised the idea of setting up a Fund in her name with ECF and leaving a legacy, Gwendy was so pleased that she could help people after she died, and that she would be remembered for years to come.” Fiona Ashworth, Thompson Smith and Puxon

We can help you support your local community in many ways. No matter which option you choose or what you want to achieve with your charitable giving, we make it easy for you to support a wide range of local voluntary organisations working at the grassroots of our communities.

To find out more about leaving a legacy please click here or call Perry Norton, Head of Development, on 01245 355947 or e-mail perry@essexcf.org.uk

Befriending programme helps to beat loneliness in West Essex

12th October 2021

A befriending scheme for those with life-limiting illnesses will help even more people in West Essex, thanks to grant of £10,000.

St. Clare Hospice, based in Hastingwood, has received the funding boost from the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF) for their ‘compassionate neighbours programme’.

The scheme connects people who are socially isolated due to life limiting illnesses or limited mobility from older age with members of the public, who volunteer their time to visit or call them regularly.

Julie Foster, from St. Clare Hospice, said: “The risk of social isolation has increased dramatically ever since COVID-19 took hold and we had been expanding our programme as much as possible to try and meet the growing demand, particularly in rural areas, but we have been limited by staff resource.

“This grant from ECF helped us to employ a full-time support worker who will expand our work matching local volunteers to members of the community by encouraging the building of genuine friendships through weekly visits or phone calls.”

Julie added, “The project benefits both parties – the compassionate neighbour and the community member. Many of our compassionate neighbours have experienced the loss of a loved one and are themselves lonely and isolated.”

Sylvy volunteers as a compassionate neighbour and said: “I had always wanted to give something back and when I found out about the scheme, and that I could start doing home visits to bring companionship, I knew this project was right for me. But it’s a two-way thing; it’s got to work for both people, and with Pam, my match, as soon as I walked in the door, I knew that this was right.”

If you would like to access support from compassionate neighbours or enquire about becoming a volunteer, please click here.

During the pandemic, St. Clare Hospice also launched a new bereavement helpline, established weekly counselling sessions for nursing and residential home care workers, and created new support materials to help people facing death and loss.

SUPPORT ECF’S ACORN FUND CHALLENGE and help charities like St. Clare Hospice.

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 JustGiving
• 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 Norton: perry@essexcf.org.uk

Southminster railway station to host men’s skills workshops

22nd September 2021

Handymen will be taking on a project to give Southminster’s station’s old workshop and deserted waiting room a much-needed boost.

The old leather workshop on the station platform has been taken over by long-term “shedder” Bob Adams and Maldon and District CVS for a new Men in Sheds project.

This space, equipped with workstations already in place, will be used to host the project for men in the area to come together and share practical skills and knowledge.

As a first step the Essex Shed Network will be organising a working party to sweep and sort the space so its ready for the project to launch.

Next to the old workshop is a former waiting room which has fallen into disrepair and work will be carried out so it can be turned into a social space to complement the workshop.

There are also plans to refresh station planters and refurbish the community garden which runs next to the station platform.

Maldon and District CVS director Sarah Troop said: “I am so pleased to be able to receive the keys of this great community space.

“We have been dreaming of having a Men in Sheds project on the Dengie since we opened the Maldon Shed in 2014.

“A lot of hard work and perseverance have finally got us to this stage and we are keen to hit the ground running and make this space open the community as soon as possible.

“I’d like to thank Greater Abellio rail for sharing our vision and the Community Network rail team at Essex County Council who we will be working alongside to complement the station adopters scheme to create a welcoming environment for commuters and other station users.

“Thanks also goes to the Essex Community Foundation who have provided funding to the project.”

The Essex Shed Network will be looking for men in the area to take on a range of roles within the project in the coming months. To get involved, call 01621 851891 or email matt@essexshednetwork.co.uk.

Republished from the Maldon & Burnham Standard.

Funding available to help improve charities digital services

17th September 2021

Voluntary and community organisations in Essex are invited to apply for funding to develop and improve their digital services.

The Digital Grants Programme, which is managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF), helps voluntary organisations to make use of digital technology and improve the experience their beneficiaries have.

The Programme has now reopened for its second round of applications and will not only provide vital funding, but also create a network of organisations in Essex that have an interest in developing their digital skills for the benefit of the wider community.

Examples of grants previously awarded:  

• £4,000 to Teen Talk (Harwich) to develop a new website and improve their social media presence to better represent a charity supporting young people in Tendring.
• £5,180 to Peaceful Place to buy a CRM system to help the Basildon-based organisation support people with young onset dementia.
• £10,000 to YMCA Essex to upgrade their WiFi network and improve internet connection at a YMCA housing facility for young people in Colchester.
• £9,265 to Essex Blind Charity towards the redevelopment of their mobile IT infrastructure and CRM system. were involved in the Programme last year.

Jonathan Dixon, General Manager of Essex Blind Charity, explains the difference their grant has made:

“It has truly transformed the way we work and how we can support people with a visual impairment. Our referrals are often newly diagnosed people who are struggling to come to terms with their sight loss.

“We visit them in their homes and our new CRM system, purchased with this grant, means we can collect client information all one place, and as it is cloud based, the whole team can access it both on the move and at the same time.

“This grant has helped us to support people in a timely manner, capturing all their needs with minimal fuss and being able to recall that information with ease.”

Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Programmes at ECF, said “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the digital gap across the voluntary and community sector, and through our conversations with our grant partners, we have seen a renewed interest in developing the use of digital platforms.

“We are happy to consider applications for simple digital solutions, but also welcome innovative projects. Understandably, digital projects can take some time to implement, so multi-year grants are possible too.”

The average grant from this Programme is £9,500, however, there is no maximum grant limit.

ECF are keen for organisations involved to collaborate with others that have received funding, and will host events where they can share their learning and hear from digital experts.

How to apply: 

Please call the ECF grants team on 01245 356018 to discuss your ideas in advance of applying. Alternatively, you can email grants@essexcf.org.uk.

There is no deadline, but please be aware that funding decisions may take up to two months.

For more information on eligibility and to complete our online application form, please click here.

Over £530,000 has been awarded to 10 local charities

26th August 2021

Home-Start Essex and Southend in Sight are among 10 local voluntary organisations to receive a share of £530,000, awarded from the Mid & South Essex Community Partnership Grants Programme.

The Programme has been administered locally by the independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF), working with the Mid & South Essex Hospitals Charity, Mid and South Essex Health Care Partnership and NHS Charities Together.

Grants of between £30,000 and £80,000 are being awarded to help communities that have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, giving a much-needed boost to local charities in this challenging time, and whose work is helping to reduce the demand on NHS services.

The funded organisations support local residents, including children and young people, older people, families, those with disabilities, homeless people and carers.

Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Programmes at ECF, said: “Working together with our partners means that the money generously donated during the NHS Charities Together COVID-19 Appeal has the greatest impact.

“The grants awarded will support a diverse range of community groups that are making a difference to the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds in mid and South Essex. The organisations to receive grants are:

• BOSP Brighter Opportunities for Special People, in Basildon, have been funded to provide counselling and a respite service for children with disabilities and life limiting illnesses, who are unable to attend school during the pandemic
• CARA Centre for Action on Rape and Abuse offer counselling to survivors of sexual violence across mid and south Essex
• Dial South Essex have received funding to support disabled people of all ages, their carers and families
• Home-Start Essex are being supported to provide mental health and wellbeing support to expectant and new parents or parents with pre-school children
• SNAP have been funded for their family support service informing and empowering parents with special needs or disabled children across South Essex
• South Essex Advocacy Services have been supported to fund the extension for the ‘Hospital to Home’ service, including older people with significant support needs in Basildon, Rochford and Southend
• Southend In Sight are working in a partnership called Essex Vision to improve and increase the support offered to visually impaired people
• Yellow Door Youth Hub have received funding to provide counselling, mentoring, and social activities for young people, aged 11 to 25, on Canvey Island
• CHESS have been funded to help people across Chelmsford, Braintree, Maldon and Rochford who are homeless or rough sleepers
• Southend Carers’ Forum engage with local unpaid carers with a focus on underrepresented groups including young carers, those from Black, Asian, Minority Ethic communities and male carers

Alan Tobias OBE, Chair of Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity, said: “I have passed on my congratulations to the successful organisations and I wished them well with their planned work. I am really pleased we have been able to deliver the programme and look forward to seeing the organisations work in partnership with the community of Mid & South Essex.”

Professor Mike Thorne CBE, Chair of Mid and South Essex Health & Care Partnership said: “I am delighted such a varied group of local organisations in Mid and South Essex will be able to support and help make a difference to the lives of those in our communities that have been impacted most by the pandemic, thanks to our community grants programme funded by NHS Charities Together.”

“Essex Vision”, four local sight loss charities, are working together to address the needs of the visually impaired community who have been affected by COVID-19.  They will use the grant to provide outreach, wellbeing activities, information and support, helping to reduce isolation and increase confidence as we come out of the pandemic.

Lucy Martin, Chief Executive of Southend in Sight, on behalf of Essex Vision and the four charities said: “We are all thrilled to be working together across Mid & South Essex to help visually impaired people build their confidence as society begins to open up.

“It has been particularly difficult for many to navigate their way through the pandemic and as small local charities we can now provide the much needed one to one support to help those most in need.”

For more information about applying to ECF for a grant, click here.