Saffron Building Society has doubled its charity grant scheme - with applications now open twice throughout the year.
The Saffron Community Fund was first launched 11 years ago, and will now offer its largest ever grant sum of £75,000, to be awarded in total throughout the year.
Applications for the first round of grants have now closed, and the Saffron Community Grant panel, which is made up of building society employees and members, has announced that 18 charitable organisations are set to benefit.
The successful applicants from the first round in Saffron Walden are 1st Chesterford Scout Group, Dig It Community Allotment, Newport Meet and Eat and Support 4 Sight.
Grants are also going to Bishop’s Stortford Child Contact Centre, Bishop’s Stortford Youth Project, Braintree District Mencap, Colchester Gateway Club, Herts Inclusive Theatre, Lighthouse Furniture Project, Next Chapter, Rehabilitation, Education & Assessment Care for Hippotherapy, SNAP Special Needs & Parents Ltd, Stansted Mental Health Initiative, Tabor Centre, The OutHouse, Wilderness Foundation, and Heads2Minds.
More than £50,000 will be split among the applicants, depending on the amounts they applied for.
Claire Hunnable, community business partner at Saffron Building Society, said: "It’s a real privilege to be able to support our local communities with the Saffron Community Fund, and to extend that support twice throughout the year for the first time brings us such joy.
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"At Saffron Building Society we do the right things for the right reasons and reaching out to worthy causes across the East of England is paramount to us and our members."
The Saffron Community Fund provides grants to a mix of charities, community groups and volunteer organisations. The fund is run in partnership with the Essex Community Foundation (ECF).
Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said: "The 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.
"The grants available from Saffron’s fund with us will give them a welcome boost and make a significant difference at this challenging time."
For more information, or to apply for the next round of funding, go to www.saffronbs.co.uk/about/community/our-community-fund.
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