Grassroots Grants - Southend gets a cash injection for Community Groups

Small charities in Southend stand to gain from a new £208,000 injection of cash. The money is coming from the Government and will be distributed by Essex Community Foundation and the Southend Fund over the next three years.

There could be more to come if generous local businesses and wealthy families are willing to donate funds which will be topped up by the Government's newly launched Grassroots Grants programme. The ambition is to create a £500,000 fund from which further grants to community organisations can be made in future.

Essex Community Foundation and the Southend Fund are calling on local people and businesses to back the Grassroots scheme, which will see the Government add 50% to all charitable donations destined for local communities.

The money is part of £130 million nationwide drive by the Government’s Office of the Third Sector to support thousands of voluntary and community groups throughout England. Under the Grassroots Grants scheme, local people can nearly double the value of their donations if they give through a long-term endowed fund to be set up by Essex Community Foundation. Returns from the fund will then be used to ensure that further grants are available, particularly once the current Government funding programme runs out in March 2011.

Howard Briggs, Chairman of the Southend Fund said: “This is great news for Southend. As well as asking groups seeking funding to contact us, we are also urging individuals and businesses who want to put something back into the local community to consider using this scheme. The match funding enables big returns on donations so there has never been a better and more cost effective way to give.”

Apply for a grant

How to give and almost double your gift.

Southend's Mayor selects Southend Fund as her Chosen Charity

Southend's Mayor for 2008/09, Cllr. Gwen Horrigan, aims to raise money during her year of office to help young people in the town.

At the annual mayor-making ceremon, Mrs Horrigan said her chosen charity for the year would be the Southend Fund, first set up by former Mayor Howard Briggs which gives support to young people and other good causes in the town.

Cllr Horrigan said: "My further pledge is to do the best I can for Southend and for its people during my year and to make sure that local people know that the Southend Fund is their Fund"

Read more about the events being held to raise funds for the Mayor's charity