Harwich Haven Authority supports grass roots initiatives across Essex and Suffolk with a new £75,000 a year community fund

17 April 2018

Left to right. Judy Dow,  Head of Philanthropy, Suffolk Community Foundation. Neil Glendinning, CEO, Harwich Haven Authority, Jo Macaulay, Head of Communications, Essex Community Foundation

Harwich Haven Authority today announce the opening of a new £75,000 community fund that will be managed on behalf of the Authority by both the Essex and Suffolk Community Foundations.

Each year the Authority will make available £50,000 to support educational, environmental, maritime and community initiatives in and around Harwich, Dovercourt and Suffolk locations along the Rivers Stour and Orwell. In addition the Authority will also invest £25,000 yearly into an Essex-based endowment fund.

Established by act of Parliament in 1863, Harwich Haven Authority is the largest trust port in the East of England. As a not for profit organisation, with no shareholders, income is generated from pilotage and conservancy services that it delivers to ships visiting the Haven ports.

“As one of Harwich’s major employers we are very much at the heart of the community,” says Neil Glendinning, CEO, Harwich Haven Authority.
“Many of our employees live in and around the Haven and the Rivers Stour and Orwell – and we already support many great, grass-roots initiatives.

“We were, however, very keen to make our community giving strategy more cohesive to benefit as many groups and initiatives as we could in and around our area of jurisdiction. By drawing on the knowledge and experience of the Essex and Suffolk Community Foundations will enable us to maximise our giving programme to our stakeholders in the Haven.”

Caroline Taylor, Chief Executive of ECF said, “We are delighted to be working with Harwich Haven Authority, a locally-based company which is taking the lead through its community giving strategy. Working with ECF in this way will enable them to not only meet the needs of communities today, but provide a long-term financial resource to support the work of voluntary organisations tackling local issues the future.”

Suffolk Community Foundation added: ‘We are delighted to be working with Harwich Haven Authority to ensure vital funding reaches our many charities and community groups working tirelessly to tackle the hidden needs of Suffolk. On behalf of those groups we are really grateful for the ongoing commitment which will help make a real difference to so many’.
Further details about how to apply to the new Harwich Haven Authority Community funds can be found at https://hha.co.uk/about/community-fund/