Introducing the Clacton Flow Fund!

Everyone’s a winner as local people in Clacton get to decide as three vital local charities go head-to-head for £1250 in cash from a popular Essex shopping centre.

Clacton Shopping Village is putting the money up through its new Clacton Flow Fund with voting taking place on its Facebook page and website to decide which charity gets the £750 jackpot with the runners-up sharing £500.

In the mix are three good causes, Martin’s United Foundation, Clacton FoodCycle and Inclusion Ventures with all votes to be counted and the results announced by the end of October.

All three work with the local community, Martin’s United Foundation with the homeless, Clacton FoodCycle providing a regular Monday lunchtime veggie feast and Inclusion Ventures across a range of services mainly aimed at younger people and including weekly Bike Kitchens to help keep people mobile.

Operations Manager for Clacton Shopping Village Leanne Pfrang said: “The Shopping Village is an integral part of the local community here in Clacton and is proving so popular as a shopping destination.

“Community is at the heart of everything we do at Clacton Shopping Village, from our events to the charitable causes we’ve supported in the past. There’s nothing that we like to do more than rally behind a cause that will further build the community.

“There has been a tremendous response already and for our first three nominated charities we have chosen Martin’s United Foundation, FoodCycle and Inclusion Ventures and we want people to cast their votes for them by voting online for their favourite local cause.”

Martin’s United Foundation are the most recently formed with Shama Martin finding that his work as a landscape gardener collapsed in the pandemic and he decided to do something different.

Shama, who knew what it was like to be homeless as a 16-year-old in London, said: “People were just calling me and cancelling so I always thought if you can’t help yourself, go and help others.

“I saw people who were homeless and others who were recovering addicts and I found out what they needed, I went on my Facebook page and asked people for help and donations and straight away there was a response.

“For these people money isn’t the answer, resources are the answer and what really helps them.”

Inclusion Ventures was set up 18 years ago to help vulnerable young people on the town’s Percy King Estate and has grown since then to provide a range of service for the community.

Youth and Family Worker and Team Leader Claire Britton said: “We began catering for young people aged seven to 11 and have expanded our services over the years.

“Among the most popular are our bike kitchens which are held weekly on Wednesdays in Clacton and Jaywick and where the community can come along and have their bikes fixed and made roadworthy.

“It’s free although people can make donations and our staff can fit inner tubes and tyres, carry out repairs and make the bikes safe so that they can be used to get to work, visit their families and get to appointments.

“The organisation began with young people and has expanded and the range of services and activities we provide now include yoga and cooking classes.

“We want to give people a good experience and we’re very proud of what we do for so many different people.”

Clacton FoodCycle feed up to 60 people every Monday lunchtime at the Baptist Church and can call on the efforts of up to 30 volunteers who help source food from local supermarkets and donors.

Volunteer Debbie Moore said: “Every Monday we serve a two-course vegetarian meal from the supplies we collect from the supermarkets and deliver to the church for 9am.

“Then Suzanne Griggs, our Cooking Project Leader, and her team prepare it ready for lunch for the people who have been referred to us or who have just heard about us by word of mouth.

“There’s always a board outside with the day’s menu on it and it’s not just for homeless people, it’s for anyone who needs it and the hosting project team give them bags to take away with toilet rolls, toiletries, shampoo and soaps, and we give them bread and any other food that’s left over.

“A lot of people are finding life really tough and in the school holidays they often bring their children along as well.”

To give back to your local community vote now!

It’s one person, one vote and voting starts on Tuesday, November 1, and closes at 12 noon on Tuesday, November 15, with the awards announcement following that week.

And the good news is that the Clacton Flow Fund will have another £1250 up for grabs in January for local charities and good causes.

Click Here to Vote Now!