The Community Fund exists for us to support good causes in the community. So far, we have awarded £18,500 to a number of schemes throughout Essex through donations from individuals, charitable trusts, public agencies and companies like us.
We award grants to support local community and charitable projects in Essex – with priority given to applications in closer proximity to communities around Bradwell-on-Sea and within the wider Maldon District.
What do we fund?
We support projects that improve the social, economic, or environmental wellbeing of communities and improve the quality of local life. Of course, the biggest challenge for all communities at the moment is daily with the effects of the pandemic, so one of our most recent grants was to Maldon & District Community Voluntary Service to help with their local Covid-19 response.
A fund panel, made up of staff members, consider applications throughout the year.
How to apply
You can apply at any time and we aim to provide a decision within eight weeks of Essex Community Foundation receiving your application. To apply for a grant from the bradwell B Fund, please visit Essex Community Foundation’s website, call them on 01245 356018 or email [email protected]
The Screwfix Foundation is a registered charity set up in 2013. We are passionate about making a difference to communities across the UK. We are a grant giving charity with a clear purpose to support projects that improve, repair and maintain homes and community facilities used by those in need throughout the UK.
The Screwfix Foundation currently offers local registered charities and not for profit organisations funding up to the region of £5,000. All applications are reviewed individually by our team on a quarterly basis, the review dates are in March, June, September and December. Please see our Full eligibility criteria.
How do we raise money? We raise funds throughout the year to support causes that will change people’s lives. Look out for raffles and fundraising weeks held within Screwfix stores and you can also round up your pennies when shopping online at www.screwfix.com or on the Screwfix app.
As well as helping local charities and not for profit organisations, we also partner with Macmillan Cancer Support, donating funds towards their home improvement programme, which helps people suffering from cancer in financial need with minor home improvements.
You can see all of the great charities we have supported here.
How to Apply
Before applying for funding from The Screwfix Foundation, your organisation MUST:
Be a registered charity or not for profit organisation.
Help those in need. This could be by reason of financial hardship, sickness, distress or other disadvantages in the UK.
Be looking for funding to support projects that relate to the repair, maintenance, improvement or construction of. homes, community buildings and other buildings.
“We know people are worried about rising costs and may be struggling. We’ve produced a summary of our services which may be able to help you during this difficult time. See what cost of living support you could be eligible for.
Help for Households is offering support to help you prepare for a challenging winter. Make sure you’re ready by finding out what you’re entitled to.
Many local councils are also offering additional services and funding.
Visit Energy Saving Trust to find out how you can save money on your energy bills.
A £400 government grant for all domestic energy customers will appear as a credit from energy suppliers from October 2022 onwards. This is known as the Energy Bill Support Scheme.
FUNDING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT IMPROVEMENTS
If you’re an Essex homeowner with a household income below £30,000, you may be eligible for £10,000 funding to make energy efficient improvements to your home through the Sustainable Warmth Scheme.
SAVE MONEY ON HEATING OIL
If you’re not connected to the mains gas supply, you can still save money on heating oil by joining the Rural Community Council of Essex (RCCE) community oil buying scheme.
GET SPECIALIST ADVICE
You could get help from a specialist energy advisor if you are finding it hard to pay energy bills or have debts with energy suppliers. They might be able to help you get a grant to improve your home’s energy efficiency. Visit Warm Homes Essex or contact the Citizens Advice Warm Homes team on 0300 3033 789.
CHILDCARE COSTS
You could get help with childcare costs, including:
The government has introduced a £150 Council Tax rebate. If you live in an eligible property and you pay your council tax by direct debit, your local council will generally make the payment directly to your bank account. Payments started in April 2022. If you live in an eligible property and you do not pay your council tax by direct debit, contact your local council.
You could be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.
FUNDING TOWARDS HOUSEHOLD COSTS
Anyone living in Essex can apply for the Essex Essential Living Fund. You will need to answer questions about your income, earnings and savings. You also need to give proof of your financial situation.
The Essential Living Fund can help pay for:
furniture
household furnishings
white goods
clothing and footwear, including school uniforms in exceptional circumstances
general living expenses such as groceries, nappies, toiletries and money for pay-as-you-go fuel meters
Pensioners in receipt of means tested benefits or council tax support will receive extra funding.
Eligible pensioners will receive £80 to help with household bills and shopping. This will be paid into their bank account.
Pensioners who do not share their bank details with their local council will receive a £80 supermarket voucher by post. This can be used at their nearest supermarket.
FOOD
Foodbanks give free food to people who are struggling financially. Visit the Trussell Trust to find a foodbank near you.
These voluntary and community organisations can help you to access support with food, fuel and essential items. You get help by contacting the organisation directly:
Children in reception, year 1 and year 2 automatically get free school meals. This is called Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) and you do not need to apply for it.
Children in year 3 and above may be eligible for free school meals, you can check your eligibility.
If your organisation is thinking about setting up a ‘warm bank’ this winter to help members of your community keep warm, please let Essex is United know by using this quick and easy form below so they can build a map.
Overall Purpose: To provide intensive support to homeless clients, supporting and guiding them to access services to overcome their issues.
Key activities and tasks: You will be responsible for registering new clients. Outreach visits in response to reports of rough sleepers, building relationships with clients to enhance engagement and developing pathway plans to achieve their goals. You will need to be proactive in assisting clients to claim benefits, access external services including GP, drug and alcohol counselling, mental health services etc. and seek accommodation making referrals where appropriate. Liaise with external organisations to ensure clients are engaging and needs are met. Encourage and motivate to attend workshop sessions to improve wellbeing and confidence. Once the client has secured accommodation you will continue to visit them at their home to provide tenancy support to ensure the tenancy is sustained and the client has opportunities to develop further. All contacts and actions need to be recorded on our computer system in an accurate and timely manner. You will also be required to be on the on call rota to respond to emergencies at the Step 2 Project between the hours of 12 midnight and 9.30am one week in every month.
Personal Specification
Competencies and behaviours needed to perform the role:
You will need;
Excellent communication skills
To have an understanding and non judgemental manner
To be solution focused
Be positive and supportive even during difficult circumstances
to be able to maintain professional boundaries at all times
the ability and willingness to be flexible
to use your own initiative and be able to adapt your approach to suit clients
the ability to work on your own and make decisions and within the team to share information and update
to be client focused
Minimum qualifications and experience to perform the role effectively:
Essential
Full clean driving license and use of car
Experience in a support role motivating people
Good level of English and Maths
Basic IT skills
Preferred
Understanding of benefits system
Awareness of drug, alcohol and mental health problems
Understanding of General Data Protection Regulations
Mid and South Essex are working with Essex Community Foundation (ECF) to support marginalised communities, helping to address health inequalities for people who have mental health problems.
To be eligible to apply, charities and community groups must be working within the mid and south Essex footprint.
There is £185,000 in grants available from our Mental Health Inequalities Programme to support either revenue costs, projects or capital costs.
Applications from these areas must be for work that:
Focus on historically underserved communities
Help us learn how to improve the accessibility and inclusiveness of mental health support for people experiencing mental health inequalities
Offer innovation and originality in supporting these groups of people to achieve their goals
Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 can be given to individual organisations. Grants of up to £30,000 are available for organisations that are working together in a partnership to tackle an issue in their community.
The panel are keen to hear from community and voluntary organisations who have ideas for projects and initiatives that will reduce the health inequalities for marginalised and historically underserved communities.
How do I apply?
To provide more flexibility, the programme will open for applications on 23 August as a rolling programme with regular panel meetings. To apply, please read the guidance. You need to complete our online application form here.
If you have any questions about making an application, you can phone ECF on 01245 356018 or book a time slot for a 1-1 meeting with a member of the ECF grants team.
Essex Community Foundation will be hosting a Teams webinar which you can join to learn more about this Programme and ask any questions you may have. They will also be sharing information about the findings of their community listening project and marginalisation, and you will hear the experience of an ECF grant partner.
We’re delighted to have capacity across Essex, Southend and Thurrock for new participants to join our employment support programme. Please do refer anyone you know who might benefit from our support.
Whilst we are entering into the last 6 months of our delivery, we have plenty of capacity to continue to support people referred to us over the coming months – so please do keep on doing so!
We have in place a 10-week programme to ensure that we continue to provide appropriate wellbeing support for all participants along with practical employability skills. This approach ensures that all participants who engage with us complete the cycle of support on offer.
PWCF considers small grant applications from UK registered non-profit organisations supporting grassroots projects in diverse and deprived communities in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and Internationally. The small grants programme awards single or multi-year grants to a maximum value of £5,000 and £15,000 respectively. The average single award is £1,500. In order to maximize impact, we would also consider awarding multi-year small grants to UK registered non-profit organisations.
Please review our funding themes, eligibility criteria and application process before applying for a small grant:
HHE is a small charity , helping lots of people. It delivers a set of simple , but impactful services, using an uncomplicated business model. The successful candidate will be a well-rounded business practitioner who has a proven, operational track record. You will be leading the day-to-day effort to make the charity run well, you will also be at the heart of enabling it to grow and help more people. This is a great opportunity for the right person to roll up their sleeves and make a great charity, even greater! Sound like you?
Job Title: Operations Manager Role Purpose
To manage and co-ordinate the day to day operations
To manage, support, and develop the staff team, leading by example in line with our values and principles.
To lead on HR and IT for the charity, ensuring compliance with legal obligations, reviewing and upholding existing policies and systems, as well as implementing new processes when required.
Deputise for CEO as requested.
Salary: £30,000
Hours: Full time 37 hours per week (working hours and pattern negotiable for the right candidate)
Location: Office based in mid-Essex. Currently Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, Travel across Essex will be required.
Contract: Permanent
How to apply
Send a CV with a covering letter no longer than 3 sides of A4, setting out how you meet the specification, to [email protected]. We welcome applications from all. We actively encourage applications from people with a lived experience of hearing loss, supporting you and your requirements. All those invited to interview will have the opportunity to discuss any reasonable adjustments that are required to ensure a positive interview experience. If you would like an informal conversation about the role prior to applying please call 01245 496347 and ask to speak to Sophie Ede.
Deadline for applications is Midday on Monday 19th September 2022. All applications will be acknowledged.
On Monday 22nd August it was announced by Thurrock CVS that their Chief Officer, our colleague and friend Kristina Jackson had passed away.
Kristina was an inspirational colleague whose dedication to the communities of Thurrock and latterly Southend was obvious to all who had the pleasure of working with her. As a team member within the Essex CVS network she was supportive to her colleagues often being a balanced voice who was not afraid to challenge with respect, fairness and humour.
On behalf of ECVS we send condolences to her team in both Thurrock CVS and Southend AVS, where she also held the role of Chief Officer until May this year, the wider community, her friends, family and partner Simon.
Kristina will be hugely missed by all that worked with her.
Sarah Troop and Clive Emmett
Co-chairs of ECVS in behalf of ECVS
