Local community and voluntary organisations are being encouraged to apply for their share of £37,000, which is being made available by Colchester Borough Council.

Organisations can apply for the Project and Development Fund 2008/09, which provides money for projects that will improve life chances for people living in the borough. Projects include reducing anti-social behaviour, tackling health inequalities, increasing educational attainment and reducing unemployment.

Councillor Maggie Kimberley, Portfolio Holder for Neighbourhoods at Colchester Borough Council, said: "We are looking forward to hearing from organisations that can work with us to tackle these very important issues".

Organisations can apply from Monday 7 January with the deadline for applications being Friday 7 March. There is also £5000 available throughout the year for village halls and community centres to apply for help with small repairs and minor works.

Application forms for both funds are available by contacting Sue Hawes on 01206 542255 or alternatively emailing enquiries@colchestertendringtrust.org.uk

From 1st January 2008 the Colchester and Tendring Community Trust will be relocating to the Straight Road Community Centre.
We have slightly outgrown our existing accommodation at
Colchester Carer’s Centre but will still enjoy close links with our friends there.

Our new contact details from 1st Jan 2008 are:
Address: C/o Straight Road Centre
                         329 Straight Road
                         Colchester
                         CO3 9EF
Tel                   01206 542255
Email              enquiries@colchestertendringtrust.org.uk
 

The Trust's 50/50 community christmas raffle has once again proved popular with local community and voluntary organisations. 46 local groups took part in the annual fundraiser which helps to raise funds for the Community Trust and also the organisations which participate. Since the annual event began in  1992, over £60,000 has been raised.

The first prize winner purchased the lucky  ticket through Lawford Pre-school which has been a keen supporter of the raffle in recent years. The lucky winner receives £500 cash, which should come in handy just before Christmas. Numerous other prizes were won  including a gym membership, vacuum cleaner, DFDS mini-cruise and luxury hamper. If you would like details of future events, please contact the Trust .

Thirteen local good causes are celebrating success in the latest Colchester and Tendring Community Trust grant round.
 £4002 will be shared by community and voluntary organisations across Colchester and Tendring for projects helping a wide range of local people.
One of the lucky grant recipients is Stardust, a parent support group for families with pre-school children with visual impairment and other special needs. The grant will go towards the purchase of a ‘sensory suitcase’ which will be used at group sessions and loaned out to families. Sophie Kidd, Group organiser, explained that the grant from the Trust would be vitally important in bringing fun and enjoyment back to families having to deal with the demands of multiple medical appointments and the stresses of caring for a child with special needs.
Other groups receiving grant awards are as follows: £352 to Supporting Parents In Need (SPIN) towards swimming activities, £300 to Connaught Social Club for the Blind for an outing, £300 to Layer Good Companions Club towards an outing, £200 to Special Autistic Support Group for specialist books, £200 to 1st Holland-on-Sea Scouts towards new fencing, £200 to Jack and Jill pre-school for staff training, £500 to Monkwick Sk8ers towards their skate park project in Berechurch, £200 for books to Greenpath Ventures, £500 to Colchester Gateway Clubs and Stepping Stones Nursery towards their joint minibus appeal, £400 to Colchester and Tiptree Toy Library to run extra respite sessions, £150 to Colchester Counselling and Psychotherapy Centre for new chairs and £200 to the Ormiston Children and Families Trust for children’s art activities in Berechurch.  

Fifteen community and voluntary groups across Colchester and Tendring are celebrating cash handouts in our latest grant round. Awards range from £150 to over £2000 and will help groups across North East Essex to make life better for residents.
Clacton Area Crime Prevention Panel received £455 to run their 2007 Primary School gardening competition. The annual competition helps to foster respect for other people’s property amongst primary school children. Gill Elkin, panel secretary, explained:
“Getting the grant means that we are able to encourage children to consider their environment and the detrimental
effect crime can have. The grant means a lot to us as we have no official funding. All funds for projects we run are either by grant or fund-raising”     
The other grant recipients were:
Colchester Hospital Television Service £500 towards Autumn programmes. Tendring Access Group £480 towards running costs, The Royal Residents’ Association (Berechurch) £400 for publicity and children’s activities. HEAL £500 for a new laptop. Mistley Norman Kids Club £500 towards a quality assurance scheme. Harwich and District Crime Prevention Panel £500 towards basketball facilities.                  St Margaret’s Church Hall £2019 towards kitchen refurbishment. SODA £300 towards a summer outing. Point Clear Community Association £500 towards storage and shelving. School Road Group £400 towards new football facilities. Colchester Carers Centre for Children £500 to support families. Brightlingsea Saturday Club £250 towards a summer outing. Monkwick Youth Club Group £150 towards decorating the Centre and Birch Glen Crew £400 for the Birch Glen Park project.