Scouts net £1,530 from Southend Fund (From Echo)

Scouts net £1,530 from Southend Fund

7:00am Tuesday 19th June 2012 in Southend By Chloe Chapman

A DOZEN Scouts with special needs have had their wish to attend an international camp granted thanks to the Southend Fund.

The 4th Southchurch Special Needs Scouts will have a week of fun, learning and confidence building at the annual Scout Jamboree, in Chelmsford, this August.

The group are one of eight organisations benefiting from grants, which add up to more than £20,000, awarded by the Southend Fund.

Michaela Halfacre, one of the leaders of the Southchurch Special Needs Scouts, said: “Receiving a grant of £1,530 was a real surprise and has made it possible for the Scouts to go to the jamboree.

“The members of the group, who are aged from ten to 25, have varying needs and conditions, including autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and various degrees of learning difficulties.

“Quite a few of them have only one carer who would find it difficult to meet the cost of sending them to the camp.

“We have been doing our own fundraising, but receiving the grant from the Southend Fund has made all the difference.”

The Southend Carers Forum received £3,700 to promote its services at monthly carers roadshows, while the same amount was also awarded to Essex Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs to enhance youth club opportunities in Southend.

A £3,456 grant to St Andrew’s Open House will go towards expanding community services in Westcliff, and elderly people in care homes across the town will benefit from a special exercise programme, after the Southend United Community and Education Trust was awarded £2,500.

The Southend SOS bus was given £1,000 towards the cost of first aid supplies, the Trinity Family Centre, in Westcliff, was awarded £2,500 to provide facilities to people aged over 16 with learning difficulties and Trust Links gardening project, in Westcliff, was given £2,000 towards a new garden cafe.

The Southend Fund was set up by former mayor Howard Briggs in 2001 and has since distributed nearly £135,000 to organisations and charities. For details, visit thesouthendfund.org.uk