18 organisations to be funded through our 25/26 community grant

Young people in every district and borough across Essex are set to benefit from increased youth provision thanks to the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Unit (VVU) awarding grants totalling more than £307,000 to 18 Essex-based charities.

The grants have been given to a wide range of organisations across the county and will enable local charities to help steer young people away from crime and also support young people who have been victims of crime. Some of the charities to benefit from the £307,728 funding include:

• £20,000 to Canvey Island Youth Project to expand youth services including outreach and detached youth work in Benfleet and Canvey
• £19,440 to Lambourne End Centre for Outdoor Learning, Epping Forest, to develop a wellbeing programme for young people.
• £20,000 to Rainbow Services, Harlow to run their 12 week carpentry project providing a safe space for young people at risk of drug and gang influence
• £12,000 to North Avenue Youth Centre, Chelmsford for youth worker time to run additional sessions in the summer holidays and to run teaching to cook sessions
• £17,500 to Achieve Thrive Flourish to deliver a targeted programme to support young people in Rochford through community sports and outreach sessions
• £16,428 to Riverview Charitable Trust Thurrock to support vulnerable young girls at risk of engaging in risky behaviours, delivering a comprehensive package of activities, mentoring, and employment support for girls
• £15,000 to Heads 2 Mind, Braintree for holistic and mentoring workshops for secondary schools
• £19,980 to AFIUK allowing for youth services to continue in Colchester, but also funding new provision in Harwich and Clacton
• £11,397 to Noo Yu CIC in Uttlesford to deliver boxing and life skills sessions, delivered by an England Boxing Coach, leading to an ASDAN qualification

Importance of community involvement

Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Chair of the Essex Violence and Vulnerability Partnership, congratulated all the charities who are recipients in the latest round of VVU funding.

Mr. Hirst said: “Community involvement matters so much in keeping our county safe. And what better place to start than with community projects, delivering targeted work in the neighbourhoods they know and understand.

“The VVU grant supports projects that give children extra support and positive activities to get involved with – sport, drama, youth clubs. The projects provide access to counselling, mentoring and trusted adults, while at the same time giving targeted support that prevents young people becoming involved in violent crime or antisocial behaviour.”

Mr. Hirst continued: “All the charities we are funding are committed to protecting young people, to give them a better future and I am looking forward to following their progress over the next 12 months.”

Doddinghurst Road Community Church Youth

One of the beneficiaries of the VVU grant is Doddinghurst Road Community Church Youth which has been awarded £20,000 for its work in the community, building relationships with hard to reach and disadvantaged young people, as well as continuing the development of the schools based outreach work the project already does in Brentwood.

Aaron Watts, Youth and Community Pastor at DRCC Youth said: “The Violence and Vulnerability Community Grant is a huge boost to the work we can do with and for young people in Brentwood. We have built up trust within the Brentwood community, having been working successfully with young people both in local schools and through our youth outreach work. The funding allows us to continue this work, supporting young people at risk and helping them make better decisions with better life outcomes.”

All the eighteen organisations awarded VVU grants were reviewed by panels of stakeholders including young people. They all work on the issues deemed as priorities by young people through the V&V Listening Projects including: more trusted adults for young people to talk to; safer spaces and youth provision where young people choose to hang out; support for victims of youth violence and interventions on knife harm and building resilience; more “turn up and try” activities outside of schools hours within safe places.

The funding for the VVU community grants runs till March 2026 with projects monitored and evaluated on the positive difference they make to the young people who attend.

The full list of funded projects and locations is below: