ACT NEWS - WINTER 2015 Anglian Community Trust is a new charity organisation that has been set up by Anglian Community Enterprise(ACE) Community Interest Company for the benefit of the community of North East Essex and surrounding areas. As Anglian Community Enterprise is a social enterprise, it can use a percentage of any profit it makes at the end of every financial year to invest in the local community. The funds enable Anglian Community Trust to support community and charity projects, through one-off funding, donations and fundraising. The Board of Trustees decide how the funding will be used in line with the charity’s aims. Lawrie Payne Jayne Hiley Nancy Borley Jane Meech “It is important to us to be able to support organisations which in turn support people in the local community. In ACT’s previous round of funding in the Autumn, £59,374 was granted to seven local groups: Colchester and Tendring Youth Enquiry Service, Inclusively Digital CIC, Tendring Time Bank, Colchester YMCA, Phoenix Homes Colchester, Open Road and the Harwich Mayflower Project.” Jane is a qualified Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and she has worked in the financial services sector for many years. Furthermore, Jane has held many positions ranging from Secretary to Treasurer, Chairman and Trustee for several local organisations. Welcome Jane! James Cracknell James is an enterprise development professional for third sector and profit organisations. He has worked in the financial service sector for many years and previously worked for social enterprise, CareerServe Co-operative. James has a passion for engaging with the local community. Welcome James! ACT NEWS - WINTER 2015 To promote and protect the social, mental and physical health, welfare and wellbeing of people in the community of North East Essex and surrounding areas. Nine Colchester youngsters have been sampling life as a firefighter on a Firebreak programme funded by Anglian Community Trust (ACT). Essex County Fire & Rescue Service was successful in bidding for £8,000 of ACT money to fund two Firebreak courses, one at Colchester fire station and one at Clacton fire station. Firebreak is a direct intervention youth inclusion programme for young people aged between 10 and 24. The youngsters on the Colchester Firebreak were aged 14 and 15. The Ark Centre received £4,600 of funding from Anglian Community Trust. The Ark Centre provides one-to-one counselling and play therapy for children and adults. The funding has allowed the employment of a specialist counsellor and as a result, there will be less pressure on local health services. For example, young mothers suffering from post natal depression (PND) will require fewer GP appointments, fewer prescriptions. Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) will have fewer referrals, children’s school attendance will improve. There is a direct link from children’s/ young people’s anxiety and difficulties to their behaviour: an immediate change that would be expected is an improvement in anti-social/challenging behaviour. Sally said: ACT Chairman Lawrie Payne presenting the cheque to Essex County Fire & Rescue Service " The funding was very welcome and has enabled the specific counselling service to continue for another 12 months" Lead Instructor for the programme, Karl Amoss, said: “The Essex Fire & Rescue Service plays a significant role in tackling wider social issues when working with young people. We’ve seen outstanding results in Essex from the Firebreak programme. It aims to promote a culture of safety, team-work and citizenship by teaching a range of vital life skills whilst undertaking the various disciplines of the Fire Service. The course provides a learning environment which combines practical skills and scenario-based training, with classroom-centred theory and discussion workshops.” Lawrie Payne is Chairman of ACT and also served 30 years in the Fire Service. He said: “It is important to us to be able to support organisations which in turn support people in the local community. Firebreak is an excellent initiative which helps young people with challenges in their lives, whether they are behavioural or health-related and we were delighted to fund programmes in Colchester and Tendring.” ACT will be inviting organisations which help improve people’s health and care across north east Essex to bid for a share of its next round of funding later in the year. ACT NEWS - WINTER 2015 The ACT Trustees presenting the cheque to Sally Johns Green (third from left) from The Ark Centre