Local community groups receive funding

Our Community Alliances awarded 12 organisations and projects with £12k worth of funding!

The All In Alliance groups for Braintree, Witham, Halstead and Colchester, have been working alongside local residents to make our towns and cities a better place.

Recently, twelve shortlisted charities attended one of three Alliance meetings to present their pitches to residents and gain their vote.

In Braintree:

• Braintree Basketball Club for ages 5-18 scored big with the top grant and will receive £1,250 to put towards a new kit and supporting families with fees
• Braintree & Bocking Public Gardens Trust will receive £1,000 for replanting the community garden after recent frost damage
• And children’s care group POP Essex will receive £750 for a mobile hoist to help wheelchair users access equipment.

In Witham:

• Edith Borthwick School were voted by residents to receive the highest grant of £1,250 for specialised outdoor play equipment for wheelchair users
• Friends of Holy Family Primary School will receive £1,000 to set up a forest school to provide enrichment and educational activities for children
• Helen Rollason Cancer Charity will receive £750 to provide 47 complimentary therapy sessions for local cancer patients.

In Halstead:

• The Empire Theatre Trust in Halstead, who run dementia friendly cinema sessions, were chosen to receive £1,250 from the community grants
• Halstead Community Fridge will receive £1,000 to contribute to the redecoration and maintenance costs of the premises
• Earls Colne Bellringers will receive £750 which will be put towards a target of £70,000 needed to restore all 8 bells.

In Colchester:

• AFiUK, a charity supporting African families in the UK, received £1,250 to provide vouchers and energy support for single mothers
• Bridgeway Mission will receive £1,000 to continue their support for refugees and asylum seekers will contribute a commercial fridge/freezer
• Domestic abuse charity The Next Chapter will put their grant of £750 towards new sofas for the charity’s family room.

With a total of £12,000 funded through the community grants, equally divided across Braintree, Witham, Halstead and Colchester, these awards will help our community projects to continue the important work they provide within our towns.

Rue Garande, Eastlight’s Community Engagement Officer, said:

“We’re thrilled that these grants will be helping local projects to continue the vital work they provide our communities. Their work is important to our towns, and we’re delighted that the money will be used to support the services they provide.”