Giving to Essex Community Foundation's Acorn Fund right now means that for every £2 you give we will add £1. This is a great way to support local charities and voluntary organisations and make a real difference in your local community.

Each year, through our Acorn Fund we help charities, voluntary and community organisations working in Essex that provide a wide range of support to people in need.

Their work has been increasingly vital throughout the pandemic and continuing to support them is now more important than ever.

We want to raise £500,000 through the Acorn Fund Challenge and by matching your donations on a 2 to 1 basis this will increase to £750,000. If Gift Aid can be claimed on your donation, it nearly doubles the value.

Whatever amount you give, this is a great way to support your local charities. Thank you.

Grant A Smile, based in Epping Forest, recently received £11,540 from us to help them continue giving free, practical support for eligible families whose home life is affected by serious illness.

Joyce Obaseki from Grant a Smile said: The help we give can be life-changing, particularly for children who have had to become young carers because they have a parent who is seriously ill. We are very grateful for the grant from Essex Community Foundation. There are so many families who need the type of help we can provide which is impossible to find elsewhere.