A CHARITY which distributes funds raised or donated by businesses and individuals has donated £6,533 to 16 groups.

Grassroots director Sue Hawes said cutbacks in the statutory funding had hit charities hard.

She said: “The voluntary sector is having a tough time especially as statutory funding is getting more scarce.

“There are also so many good causes and everyone needs support.

“Our ethos is whatever we have, we want to spread that money among beneficiaries who deliver social benefits to others.

“We receive donations from kind-hearted people who want to help the community.”

Sue said the charity is always on the look out for more donations and also needs new trustees.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more is asked to call 01206 587000.

Among the groups which received cash were:

  • All Saints CoE VA Primary School in Dovercourt and Village Church of England VC Primary School in Ramsey received a total of £510 towards the purchase of Christian books.
  • Great and Little Horkesley Friendship Club for pensioners received £200 for the hall and transport. 
  • Monkwick Residents’ Association was given £400 towards the cost of its community fun day.
  • Active for Life in Point Clear, which provides activities for the over fifties, got £500 towards the cost of qualified trainers.
  • Mayday Self-Help Groups in Clacton, which helps people with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, has been granted £483 towards room hire costs.
  • Maze Cares, which empowers parents to cope with life with a child with additional needs, got £500 towards the set up and running costs of a new Harwich-based group.
  • North Essex Lymphoedema Support Group got £250 towards social activities.
  • Orchard Baptist Church in Berechurch, Colchester, has received £600 towards a community fun day.
  • Colchester Furniture Project, which helps disadvantaged and vulnerable people with donations of furniture and household equipment, received £500 towards running costs. 
  • The Invicta Foundation north-east Essex, which supports families of lost, wounded and sick Armed Forces personnel, was given £480 toward the costs of volunteer training to enable support group volunteers to recognise symptoms of mental health conditions.
  • Colchester Carers Centre, which provides respite for young carers and support to families, was given £250 towards the costs of a trip to Mercury Theatre.
  • Crossroads Care Tendring and Colchester, which provides support for carers, was given £400 for a Christmas meal outing for day centre users. 
  • Colchester Arts Centre received £500 to provide performances for 200 children with disabilitiess
  • Community Organisation for Problem Eating, a community- based counselling and support service for sufferers of eating disorders in Colchester, received £500 to help with running costs.
  • Click Dovercourt, a community- based informal learning group teaching computer skills to over fifties, received £400 towards the cost of a new laptop and printer.