Eight East of England charities are benefiting from more than £25,000 from Saffron Building Society's Community Fund.

The community fund was launched 12 years ago to provide grants to charities, community groups and volunteer organisations.

It is managed independently yet with a close partnership with Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

This year, the charities supported across Essex and Hertfordshire include initiatives aiding those with learning difficulties to manage finances, providing mentoring for primary school children, assisting vulnerable elderly people, and contributing to the cost of a key worker to aid children with complex needs.

Christian Youth Outreach Braintree District Trust, Brightview Farm, Dig It Community Allotment, Enterprise East Group CIC, Happy Hill Essex CIO, Small Acts of Kindness Trust, Special Needs and Parents Ltd, and Stepping Stones Play and Learn Group are the latest beneficiaries of the grants.

Claire Hunnable, community business partner at Saffron, said: "It’s a real privilege to be able to support our local communities with the Saffron Community Fund, and to see the impact this will make to each organisation brings us such joy.

"At Saffron Building Society, we do the right things for the right reasons and reaching out to worthy community causes across the East of England is paramount to us and our members."

She also urged community groups and charities unaware of the funding to consider applying, especially with the next round of funding closing by the end of the month.

Applications are evaluated by the Saffron Community Grant Panel, a team of employees and building society members.

Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said: "The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is having a huge impact on local charities, as they struggle to balance an increase in demand for their services with rising costs.

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"We’re pleased to again be working closely with Saffron to ensure their Community Fund will give these charities and organisations a welcome boost and make a significant difference in helping people across our region."

Grants from the Saffron Community Fund's second round of the 2024 scheme are now open for applications, closing on Friday, May 31.

For detailed information or to register for the next funding cycle, go to https://www.saffronbs.co.uk/saffron-community-fund-2024.