Each year, the fund provides money to meet applications from the local community. These Applications are assessed against strict criteria by the Essex Community Foundation to ensure that the application is genuine and that community needs are met. After this process a panel of local people reviews the applications and approves the grants. Those who are successful in their application are then invited to a prestigious award ceremony, which is usually held in May/June, where they will receive their cheque from The Southend Fund.

To apply for a grant please contact the Grants team at Essex Community Foundation on 01245 356018 or click here to obtain a general application form.

Please note: Our next grant application deadline is 9 January 2009.

Grassroots Grants

Grassroots Grants is a £208,000 grants programme to be delivered over the next three years.

Grants of up to £5,000 are targeted at small, mainly volunteer led groups, with an income of less than £20,000  a year and have been active in their community for more than 12 months.  There will be  a fast track assessment process for applications received by 12 noon every second Wednesday of the month.

If you meet the above criteria and would like to apply for a Grassroots grant please contact the Grants team at Essex Community Foundation on 01245 356018 or click here to obtain the application form.

To date the fund has awarded almost £60,000 in grants to over 50 organisations.

Grants Awarded
The following are examples of grants that have been awarded from The Southend Fund.

Help The Aged  £1000  To provide 30 safety and security kits for installation in the houses of   elderly residents in Southend.

 Southend Womens Aid  £2000   To support volunteer recruitment and external training costs.

Southend Hospital Radio  £250  Towards the annual operating costs of the Hospital Radio service

 Southend on Sea (SOS) Bus  £2000  Towards the cost of providing a mobile support vehicle for use in the SOS Bus project providing a weekend evening safe haven for vulnerable people of all ages in Southend-on-Sea

Royal Association for Deaf  £300  To support the running of a monthly family People group in Southend for families with deaf or hard of hearing children.

Headway Essex  £1750  Towards the core costs of a Brain Injury Advisory Service in South Essex

Trust Links Ltd  £1000   Towards the cost of providing a small building to act as a visitor centre at the Community Garden and Wildlife area in Southend.

DIAL Southend  £2500  Towards the running cost of providing information, advice, services and practical help for people with disabilities, their carers and families.

HARP (Homeless Action Resource Project)  £3000  Towards the core running costs of the homeless resource in Southend.