A PROJECT which aims to engage with young people from the gypsy and traveller community and a playbus are among those receiving support in the latest round of a grants scheme.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Cllr Kay Twitchen, chairman of Essex County Council is pictured with Cllr Christina Cant, Chairman of Uttlesford District Council presenting awards to Jaqui Foile (Voluntary Sector Training) and Rosie Juhl (Uttlesford Buffy Bus)Cllr Kay Twitchen, chairman of Essex County Council is pictured with Cllr Christina Cant, Chairman of Uttlesford District Council presenting awards to Jaqui Foile (Voluntary Sector Training) and Rosie Juhl (Uttlesford Buffy Bus) (Image: Archant)

Uttlesford Buffy Bus received £2,500 from the Essex Millennium Fund to help with the cost of the bus travelling to 15 different communities across the district. The bus provides play activities for children under five.

One Voice received £1,603 from to support the organisation’s work engaging with young members of the gypsy and traveller communities in Braintree and Uttlesford.

Awards from both the Essex Millennium Fund and Essex County Council’s Chairman’s Fund, totalling more than £66,000, were presented to 24 Essex-based charities and voluntary organisations at a ceremony held at the Essex Record Office last month.

The two funds, managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF), give ongoing support for initiatives to enhance the lives of people living in Essex.

Cllr Kay Twitchen, chairman of the county council, praised all of the representatives of organisations present at the awards for all their hard work.

She said: “Thank you for your commitment and dedication to enhancing the lives of local people. You are an inspiration and this event serves to remind us all of just what an asset we have in all the volunteers who contribute so much to communities in the county.”

The Essex Millennium Fund was established as an endowed fund within the ECF to celebrate the Millennium. It is distributed to voluntary and community groups working within the priority areas of carers, community support, enhancing the environment and young people.

The Chairman’s Fund was established in 2007 to support voluntary and community groups which are working to enrich the lives of people in their community by participation in activities exploring culture and heritage.

The two funds have so far awarded a total of £870,000.