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.
The challenges of coastal living
2nd August 2023
People who live in Essex have a precious asset within their reach, one of the longest coastlines in England. Stretching over 350 miles, the Essex coast embraces fascinating and historic towns and important countryside.
Living by the seaside can be idyllic, but for some it can pose challenges including isolation, a shortage of employment, lack of good transport links and sparse local services.
Charities based in areas such as Harwich, Clacton-on-Sea, Burnham-on-Crouch and Southend-on-Sea are helping to make life better for people in coastal communities in Essex.
Many such organisations are led by local volunteers, and their close involvement with the places they are based-in and serve, means they can understand and help meet local needs. Essex Community Foundation (ECF), an independent grantmaker, supports the work of these voluntary and community organisations, thanks the generosity of fundholders and donors who choose to give locally.
Someone who has a lifelong connection with the Essex coast and who has made a vast difference to the quality of life in his community is Peter Croysdill. More than two decades ago Peter set up the Southend Community Fund with his friend from childhood, Howard Briggs, a former mayor of Southend.
Their aim was to create a unique financial resource for the area, where local giving could be channelled to provide ongoing support for charities and community groups in Southend.
The Fund, managed by ECF, has grown steadily thanks to fundraising events, donations and support from local people. Since it was launched the Southend Community Fund has awarded almost £500,000 in grants. It also has an equivalent endowed amount which provides an ongoing source of funding.
Peter said: “The fund is such an asset for Southend, providing support for local charities and organisations. It is a legacy for the area, and I am proud of what has been achieved since it was set up.
“Working with ECF has been a great success, they can do all the checks to make sure that the money is spent correctly, where it is needed.
“The fund is run by a panel of local people who make decisions on the applications made to ECF for grants. Southend is a great place, but there are areas needing support and the grants can help these communities.
“We have been able to help many different charities, including the Balmoral Community Centre in Westcliff-on-Sea which desperately needed new windows. If we had not given this support, the many groups that use the hall would not have been able to meet. It is a real community hub and when we went back to visit the centre months later, the people there told us they were so delighted with the help given by the fund.
“The Fund has given grants to HARP, the charity for homeless people and to charities helping domestic abuse victims. We were also able to help SAVS, the council for local voluntary services, when their telephone system was breaking down. Without that grant they wouldn’t have been able to carry on.”
Peter, a community stalwart, who lives on the seafront, has recently taken the role of President of the Southend Community Fund. It is a fitting recognition for the vital contribution he has made in establishing such a resource to help his fellow citizens in the place where he has lived all his life.
His friend Howard Briggs has, due to declining health, had to move away from Southend to be closer to his family. But he and Peter can be assured that their vision of a stronger community will live on.
Among the local charities working in coastal areas in Essex who have received support from funds run by ECF are:
Chalkwell Lifeguards received a grant of £2,750 for their life-saving equipment. Anthony Martin, from Chalkwell Lifeguards, said: “The seaside is a very beautiful place, but due to the ever-changing tides and currents and fast changing weather conditions it can also be a very dangerous place.
“We provide a Beach Patrol and Rescue service to help keep residents and visitors to our new city safe when they are enjoying the beach and water along Southends foreshore. In recent years our club has become much more than a Lifeguard Patrol Unit, with our base at Chalkwell Shelter becoming also more of a Community hub to assist and serve all sections of the local community.
“Our Club and its volunteers support Southend Councils Beach Welfare Officer scheme and offer public information and water safety advice for people passing by and a constant First Aid service including a heart restart defibrillator which we have at our Club house at Chalkwell Shelter and also one that we take on cycle & foot patrols from Southend Pier to Bell Wharf at Leigh-on-Sea.
“Our Beach Welfare Officer volunteers also act as welcome hosts to residents and visitors during the summer months, we also offer local carers groups a place to meet, including those caring for loved ones with disabilities and a widow and widowers group. We also work closely with ‘Active Life’ for community yoga exercise sessions on the beach and also host litter picking events.”
Bradwell-on-Sea Community Shop is owned and run by members of the local community. A £6,000 grant helped to create a small self-service café area. The shop is now a focal point where local people meet. Rachael Smith, from the community shop said: “Our village shop faced an uncertain future when the former owner decided to sell-up. With our nearest supermarket over 10 miles away the shop played a vital role for the community and we could not be without it.
“Fortunately for the villagers the former owner Michael Baker, who opened the shop as a community store back in 2009, not only came up with the idea of a business owned by local residents but was also extremely benevolent in letting us purchase the property for a much-reduced price.
“In September 2014 the local community came together and raised nearly £45,000 through a shareholder scheme. That, together with a bank loan, meant we were able to make the purchase and keep the heart of our community alive. Every xcess we make from the shop goes either back into the store or the community.
“We have also been the recipients of generous funding including the grant from ECF. We are extremely grateful for all the support we have received. Today we employ a full-time manager to run the shop and Post Office, employ a 19-year-old from the village and we have over 30 fabulous volunteers who run the store on a shift basis, keeping the shop open seven days a week.”
Canvey Island is separated from the mainland of south Essex by a network of creeks and has a population of around 40,000. A lack of services locally was resulting in a rise in anti-social behaviour and alcohol and drug misuse among young people. Yellow Door Youth Club provides a vital service, and their Friday night youth club gives those aged 11 to 25 somewhere safe to go to spend their free time. It also offers a range of services focusing on improving health.
Harwich Connexions set up a mini-bus service in response to the isolation caused by a lack of local transport. It offers group travel for elderly people, those with disabilities or young people undertaking school outings. Over the past 19 years the service has grown to a fleet of seven minibuses and now a regular service to Colchester Hospital has been established thanks to a grant of £10,000.
Walton Community Centre received £5,000 from ECF to run a tech class to help elderly people get online so they can connect with family and friends to ease feelings of loneliness.
Shoeburyness Residents Association used a grant of £2,800 to install a solar powered “talking bench” on Shoebury East beach. Pre-recorded messages which change regularly are played for those who sit down while on a walk to encourage positive thinking.
If you care about your community and want to give back, contact Perry Norton at ECF to have a conversation on 01245 355947.
Phabulous café gives young people a helping hand
23rd May 2023
A café in Leigh-on-Sea is helping young people with additional needs, to improve their skills and confidence while at the same time, gain valuable work experience.
This hands-on opportunity has been supported by the Southend Community Fund which is administered by the independent grant making trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF). Since it was established in 2003, over £430,000 has been given out to charities and voluntary groups that are helping local people.
Sandra Howarth, from the charity The Phab Life which runs the Phabulous Café, said: “The young people prepare and serve everything, which can either be eaten in house or as a takeaway.
“Over the past year, we have seen 12 of our young people complete the programme and either go on to paid employment or other working opportunities. We have also built up a social network group to help the young people develop their self-worth and create lasting friendships.
“Securing grants like the one from the Southend Community Fund it vital for us to continue our work supporting young people with additional needs and create even more opportunities which will help them to improve their lives.”
Sandra added: “As well as the café experience, we host other events for our young people, including craft and games nights. We also recently returned from a group holiday to Potters, where 35 of us enjoyed a weekend of activities, food and fun.”
David Hurst, vice chair of the Southend Community Fund panel, said: “The café really is Phabulous! It is having a very positive impact on the lives of young people who need some extra support and we were pleased to support them as they grow their customer service and hospitality skills.”
David added, “Phab is just one of the local charities that has received support from the Southend Community Fund which only exists because of the generosity of local people, businesses and trusts. Working with ECF means the Fund is independent, invested for the long-term and local people will always be involved in decisions about where to give support year after year. This is a winning combination for our communities and the people of Southend-on-Sea who live in them.”
The Phab Life also runs the Phab Shop in Rayleigh High Street, which also gives young people with additional needs retail training.
If you are a local charity in need of funding, click here.
The Southend Community Fund offers the opportunity for your charitable giving to stay local and to benefit charities and voluntary groups working in Southend, Rayleigh and Rochford. Donate here: https://essexcommunityfoundation.enthuse.com/cf/3a62/SouthendCF or call us on 01245 355947.
Funding available for Southend community groups and charities
9th February 2022
Charities and community groups working in Southend-on-Sea are encouraged to apply to the Southend Community Fund for grants to support their work.
The Fund, is just one of 170 charitable funds that are managed by Essex Community Foundation. Since it was set up 20 years ago, grants totalling over £400,000 have been awarded to a wide range of voluntary and community organisations that are providing vital help to people living in Southend-on-Sea.
Applications are assessed by ECF who then works with a panel of local people to help make decisions about which requests to support.
Among the recipients from previous years is Friends of Dolphin Court (Livability) who received £2,250 to buy a beach accessible wheelchair to help members of their residential care home to enjoy as much freedom as possible at the seaside.
Brenda Verrall, the retired Chair of Dolphin Court, said: “Having an all-terrain wheelchair is a brilliant addition to what we can offer our clients, and the Southend Fund’s generous contribution has meant we were able to buy it far sooner than would otherwise have been possible.”
She added, “Previously those who are wheelchair bound would have had to stay at the home and miss out on the beach fun. We are so grateful”.
Trust Links received £7,000 to set up a community shed project in Shoeburyness to help alleviate isolation and improve the mental health of residents.
Southend Foodbank were awarded £7,700 towards the salary of a project manager who has assisted with their expansion due to increased need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Andy Payne Worpole, Head of Programmes at ECF, said: “We welcome applications for any charitable work that is improving the lives of local people in Southend-on-Sea and are particularly keen to hear from local organisations that have not applied to us before.
“We manage over 170 charitable funds that can give a wide range of support including core costs, project funding and community activities. Our grants team are on hand to discuss your work, answer any questions you may have and help you to access the funds we have available”.
The deadline for this Fund was 5pm on Tuesday 15 March. Decisions will be made in May.
If you are a local voluntary or community organisation in need of financial support, please call us on 01245 356018.
Donations can be made to the Southend Community Fund by contacting ECF on 01245 355947.