We catch up with the two charities which benefited from the Echo’s Cash For Charities giveaway last year.


Voted for by hundreds of readers, Carli Lansley Foundation in Eastwood and HARP homeless charity in Southend were both awarded a share of £20,000 allocated for the south east, from the paper’s parent company’s charitable arm, the Gannett Foundation.


Karl Lansley, set up the Carli Lansley Foundation following the death of his wife Carli Lansley, who tragically died in her sleep at the age of 36 in 2017 from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome. 
The foundation was awarded £5,623.72 and Karl said the funding gave the foundation a boost after a difficult couple of years.
“The funding made a big difference to us. It came after a long time of not being able to do fundraisers during the pandemic. Having the funding gave us a boost and led on to a bit of a rollercoaster year so far, with lots of support and fundraising” said Karl.
The screening days are for anyone over 14 and under 35, people can contact Karl directly to be contacted to book online. Karl said: ““We have screened 960 people and it has picked up 41 people with health issues. Some of those might be minor but there was at least one that was serious and meant a young boy had an operation,” said Karl.
They had a recent concert by Hands 4 Voices and there is set to be a golf day, afternoon tea and curry night. They are having a collection day at Morrisons Western Approaches, Southend, 3 September 3 from 9am to 5pm, people interested in volunteering can email info@carlilansleyfoundation.org.uk and www.carlilansleyfoundation.org.uk.


HARP was thrilled to receive the £1,983.64 funding and it was earmarked to go towards the Bluebird Project, supporting formerly homeless individuals, with a safe and calm place to live.
Dina Jobson, head of fundraising at HARP, said: “We were so grateful to receive the Cash for Charities grant from the Echo, which we have put aside for final stages costs of our Bluebird development. The money will be used to help furnish the rooms at this amazing 50 bed accommodation, which will provide blue skies and bright futures for local people experiencing homelessness. The project is going very well, due to complete at the beginning of September, and we anticipate that we will have our first residents moving in to their new home at Bluebird by mid-October.”  

To support the project visit www.harpsouthend.org.uk.