Qualis is launching a new round of funding for its Community Benefit Fund and is inviting organisations from across the Epping Forest District to apply. The fund provides grants of up to £5,000 to community groups and charities to support them in delivering services, projects and events that help improve the lives of residents in the district.
Now in its second year, the Community Benefit Fund aims to build on the success of its first year, which saw grants totalling £90,500 given to a diverse mix of projects across the district.
“From Roydon to Waltham Abbey, Loughton to Ongar, our funding is adding lasting value to the communities where we operate,” said Qualis Managing Director Ben Johnson.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the community and are delighted to be inviting applications for our second year of funding to build on its success.”
Ben explained that Qualis, in partnership with Epping Forest District Council, funds the programme using the surpluses and efficiencies it has achieved through providing its maintenance services.
“This ensures that any surpluses we make is returned back to the community, for the community,” he said.
Organisations supported in first year
The Community Benefit Fund has supported charities, schools, sporting groups, events, arts and culture projects and community groups, listed below and more information about some of these projects can be found here.
Charities
- Epping Forest Foodbank
- Restore Community
- St Clare Hospice
- Home-Start Essex
- The Made with Love Chicken Soup Run
- Accuro (Care Services)
- Affordable Counselling Epping Forest
- Citizens Advice Epping Forest
- Chabad Buckhurst Hill
- Epping Forest Community Champions
- Radio Forest
- Voluntary Action Epping Forest (VAEF)
Schools and education programmes
- Youth Employment Strategy
- Epping St John Secondary School
- Friends of Ivy Chimneys School
- Ongar Honey
- Ongar Primary Committee
- Waltham Holy Cross PTFA
- Upshire School
Sporting groups
- Ongar Pétanque
- North Weald Cricket Club
- Larsen Bowls Club
- Ongar Community Sports Trust
Events
- Ongar Town Festival
Arts and culture projects
- Zinc Arts
- Forest Creative Writers Group
Community groups
- Hyde Mead House Coffee Club
- Ongar Millenium History Society
- 1st Roydon Brownies and Guides
- Epping Squadron Air Training Corps
Ready to apply?
Applications can be made at any time here, with each application assessed by a panel of representatives from Qualis, housing tenants, Council officers and Councillors every two months.
Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, applications must demonstrate a benefit to those who rent their homes from Epping Forest District Council.
Applications are particularly welcome that show how an event or project is creating new jobs and training opportunities, supporting health and well-being, regenerating the area and making the Epping Forest District a more sustainable place to live.
“We want to partner with people who are as passionate as we are about making the Epping Forest District a vibrant and thriving place to live and work,” said Ben.
“We know there are so many people out there doing some amazing things in the community and we look forward to being able to play a role in their continued success.”
