Nick Alston is chairman of the Trustees of the Essex Community Foundation. The organisation provides grants to charities and voluntary organisations in Essex. Last year they gave out £4.4 million. This was 760 grants with an average of £5,000. 422 applications were from groups not previously supported. Not all were successful. About 25% of grants were to first time applicants. £144,000 was given last year to recipients in Brentwood. Nick explained that the foundation began in 1996 following an American model. Individuals are encouraged to set up a fund, from which grants can be made to organisations that are seen as important by the donor. They administer 180 funds. having over £50 million invested. ECF were very happy to receive bequests in wills. However he said it was far more interesting for a donor to be able to be engaged in the decisions about giving and to meeting the recipients. There are 10,000 voluntary organisations in Essex and 5,000 charities. He emphasised that people working in local areas really understood local needs. He spoke passionately about supporting mental health provision, encouraging that politicians on the doorstep in this election year be asked about their views.
For more information about ECF, contact https://www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk
e-mail hello@essexcf.org.uk
Phone 01245 355 947
Playlist
Marvin Gaye – What’s going on? – Title track from 1971 album, no 1 in Rolling Stone 500 Greatest albums of all time.
Lauren Diagle, Jon Batiste & Natalie Hemby – St Ferdinand – from the 2024 Grammy nominated Christian album – Lauren Diagle. My Presenter Pick album 2023.
Carole King – You’ve got a friend. From the 1971 album – Tapestry – no 25 in Rolling Stone 500 Greatest albums of all time, winner of 4 Grammy awards including Best Song for this track.
Rod Stewart – Sailing – 1975 UK no 1 and in five more countries. Top 5 in six more countries.
The Kings singers – And so it goes – song from Billy Joel’s 1989 album – Stormfast – USA no 1, selling 4 million, Australia no 1, UK no 4 and Top 10 in eight more countries.
Birthdays competition.
Paul Young – Every time you go away – 1985 USA and Canada no 1, UK no 4 and Top 20 in six more countries. Brit award for best video of the year.. Paul is 68 years old.
Calvin Harris & Rag and Bone man – Giant – 2019 no 1 in 4 countries including Russia. UK no 2, Top 20 in 17 more countries including Lebanon..1.8 million download soles in UK. Calvin Harris recently celebrated his 40th birthday.
Madness – Baggy trousers – 1980 no 3 in UK and New Zealand. Top 10 in 2 more countries. Lead singer Suggs is 63 years old.
Thanks to Chris and Bob in Harlow, Chris in Guildford, Patrick in Ingatestone and Nick in the studio for taking part. The winner with 4 points was Patrick.
Patrick requested Madonna – Frozen – 1998 UK no 1 and in 10 more countries. USA no 2 and no 2 in 12 more countries.
Matt Munroe – From Russia with love – Theme song from the 1963 BAFTA award winning Bond film. One of the track given the orchestral treatment by London Concertante at Chelmsford Cathedral on 11th of May.
Chart this week in 1964.
No 1 Dave Clark Five – Glad all over – also a number 1 in Ireland and New Zealand. USA no 6, Top 10 in four more countries. 2nd best selling single in the year
in UK.
No 4 Dusty Springfield – I only want to be with you – UK no 4, Top 10 in Austria and Ireland, USA no 12. Dusty’s first solo release.
No 8 Hollies – Stay – UK no 8, Sweden no 20. The groups 3rd single release.
No 17 Billy Fury – Do you really love me too? UK no 13. In his long career Billy only charted in the UK and Ireland.
George McCrae – Rock you baby – 1974 no 1 UK and 12 more countries, selling eleven million 45rpm singles globally. Chosen as one of the track by studio guest last week Chris and Bob Waters from Harlow. They talked about fundraising for Cancer Research and told us the Harlow group have raised over £100,000 since 1990.
Solomon Smith – Five spot note – From the album – Y’dig that.
Nathan Bawden – Diamonds in the rough – new release.
Next Friday my guest is Peter Livingstone, chairman of Essex Central Remap. This is one of four Remap groups in Essex.
The charity designs and makes, or adapts, equipment for people with disabilities if it is not commercially available.
More information at https://www.remap.info