Young people with disabilities will be able to enjoy a holiday break and people with mental health difficulties will be given more support thanks to the first grants from a new fund established with the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

The grants have been awarded from The Maypole House Charitable Fund which has been set up with ECF to support the provision of respite services for children and adults with disabilities and their families and carers.

A total of £2,440 has been given to Accuro Care Services towards the cost of a holiday for disabled young people from the Saffron Walden area. It will be the first time since 2010 that the organisation has been able to offer such a holiday.

The youngsters will be able to enjoy a weekend away in a safe environment accompanied by caring staff and volunteers. This will also give the families of the young people a respite break.

In addition, a grant of £4,000 has been awarded to the Essex Respite and Care Association to help towards the cost of recruiting more staff and training new support workers.

The grant will also help towards the generation of publicity for the organisation to spread the word about their work in providing care and respite for people with a mental health diagnosis and their carers across mid and west Essex.

The Maypole House Charitable Fund was set up with ECF following the transfer of money raised in the Saffron Walden area by an organisation called RESCU.

The initial aim of RESCU’s fundraising was to build a respite care centre, which would have been called Maypole House. But when it was realised that this could not be achieved RESCU took the decision to close the charity and put the money to use in a way that would honour their original objectives and build on all they had achieved.

Jill Elms from RESCU said: “We are very pleased that we have been able to establish the Maypole House Charitable Fund with ECF.

“A lot of hard work went in to our original fundraising and we are very grateful for all the support we received. It was not easy to have to make the decision that building a respite care centre was no longer feasible or sustainable.

“But being able to set up the fund with the help of ECF and having the benefit of match funding means that we have been able to stay true to the spirit of our earlier aims.”

She added: “Through the fund we will be able to give support now and into the future to those giving respite care to people who need it most.”

The money transferred by RESCU to ECF had the benefit of Government match funding through the Community First Scheme, meaning the value of The Maypole House Charitable Fund was substantially increased. As a result the fund will be able to distribute a larger number of grants year on year.

Grants are now available through the fund for individuals and voluntary organisations which are providing support and respite services.

For more details call ECF on 01245 355947 or visit essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk