Voluntary and community organisations are invited to apply for a grant from the High Sheriffs’ Fund.

Up to £5,000 worth of grants are available for voluntary and community organisations who wish to apply for the Essex High Sheriffs’ Fund.

The grant was established to recognise initiatives that address crime, community safety and anti-social behaviour and is managed by the independent charitable trust Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

Projects that have received grants previously include a personal safety scheme for older people, educating young people about knife crime and deterring drug and alcohol abuse.

This year’s High Sheriff of Essex, James Bettley said: “The historic role of the High Sheriff is to promote law and order, and it also now encompasses encouraging and thanking those who work to ensure the safety of the residents of Essex and to improve the quality of their lives.

“There are an extraordinary number of voluntary and non-profit organisations working at the heart of our communities, and this is an opportunity for them to receive the recognition and support that they deserve.”

An independent panel of judges will review the applications and allocate the awards which will be presented at a ceremony in March 2020.

Since the Fund came under ECF’s management in 1997 it has distributed grants totalling over half a million pounds.

Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF said, “ECF is delighted to work with successive High Sheriffs, helping them to direct funding where it is most needed and tackle important issues at a local level.

“The grants team are on hand to speak with voluntary organisations about their work. Please call them on 01245 356018 to discuss making an application”.

ECF will be holding a Phone-In Funding Surgery on Tuesday, November 5, from 10am to 12 noon to speak with potential applicants about their work.

The deadline date for applications is Monday, December 2. For more information and to apply, visit www.essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk or call the grants team on 01245 356018.