Eight charities across the east of England are sharing more than £25,000 from the Saffron Building Society Community Fund.

Among the recent charity grant recipients are Brightview Farm in Uttlesford, Dig It Community Allotment and Enterprise East Group CIC - both in Saffron Walden.

Saffron Building Society launched the Community Fund 12 years ago, to provide grants to charities, community groups and volunteer organisations, in partnership with Essex Community Foundation (ECF).

Claire Hunnable, community business partner at Saffron Building Society, said: "It’s a real privilege to be able to support our local communities with the Saffron Community Fund, and to see the impact this will make to each organisation brings us such joy.

"At Saffron Building Society, we do the right things for the right reasons and reaching out to worthy community causes across the East of England is paramount to us and our members.

"We also realise that so many community groups and charities may be unaware that such funding is available.

"If you know a group that could benefit from this, please tell them about the grants – and especially about the deadline for the next round of funding, which is at the end of this month."

Applications are reviewed by the Saffron community grant panel, which is made up of employees and building society members.

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The Saffron Community Fund is open for applications for its second round of 2024 grants, which closes on Friday, May 31.

To apply go to https://www.saffronbs.co.uk/saffron-community-fund-2024.

Caroline Taylor, chief executive at ECF, said: "The ongoing cost-of-living crisis is having a huge impact on local charities, as they struggle to balance an increase in demand for their services with rising costs.

"We’re pleased to again be working closely with Saffron to ensure their Community Fund will give these charities and organisations a welcome boost and make a significant difference in helping people across our region."

Other grants were allocated to Christian Youth Outreach Braintree District Trust, Happy Hill Essex CIO in Braintree, Small Acts of Kindness Trust in Bishop's Stortford, Special Needs and Parents Ltd in Brentwood and Stepping Stones Play and Learn group in Colchester.