Greenfields gave over £260,000 of funding to local projects in 2012

Published by Donata Rio for Greenfields Community Housing in Housing and also in Care and Support, Communities

Greenfields Community Housing, based in Essex, provided over £260,000 of grants to local projects and organisations in the Braintree District in 2012. The money came from two different funds: the Greenfields Community Fund; and the joint Community and Housing Investment Partnership Fund with Braintree District Council.

The annual £50,000 Community Fund supports voluntary organisations who work with the residents of Braintree District. The maximum grant the Community Fund can offer is up to £5,000. 12 organisations were funded in 2012, including £2,830 to the Tabor Centre in Braintree to continue a creative writing course for disabled people; £5,000 to Silver End Scout Group towards work in the new HQ, and £1,513 to The National Childbirth Trust (Halstead and Sudbury branch) to run a postnatal drop-in service in Halstead.

Mark Watson, who works at Braintree Foyer who were funded £2,000, said: “'The grant we received from Greenfields has enabled over 30 local volunteer life coaches to provide coaching sessions for 34 young people from Braintree and Witham over a seven-month period. This should help them to unlock their talents and achieve their goals. Already two of the young people have started their own businesses and two others have set up community projects.  These achievements would not have been possible without the support we have had from Greenfields Community Fund.'

The joint Community and Housing Investment Partnership (CHIP) Fund aims to improve communities through working in partnership with local residents and businesses to make changes that impact the lives of local people. Part of the fund is used to provide grants to local projects and organisations and, in 2012, six of them received grants, including £62,808 to Braintree East: Pride in our Patch group to carry out landscaping improvements to the grassed and wooded area off Hay Lane South, Braintree; and £103,316 to fund the ‘Green Team’ – a new landscaping, training and employability project for young people.

Karen Brown, who runs the Braintree East: Pride in Our Patch group, said: “With the help of Greenfields, the Council and environmental regeneration charity, Groundwork, we can enhance a well-loved public area, leaving mature trees in place, but adding further colour with themed planting alongside a woodland walkway. They are also going to support us with an opening ceremony in the spring and I can’t wait to see the result of everyone’s hard work.”

Sandra Crosby, Housing Director at Greenfields, said: “Helping to improve the lives and wellbeing of people living in our communities is something that is at the centre of what we do. Providing grants is an important part of this and we love to see the results.”