Grant making charity marks 20 years of campaign in its ongoing battle to fight poverty in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Hackney
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In 2006, the East End Community Foundation distributed 100 care bags, filled with essential supplies to support older residents in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Hackney through its first Winter Appeal.
Two decades on and the grant-making charity and philanthropy advisor that’s based on the Isle Of Dogs, has set itself a target of raising enough money to send out 2,000.
To do that, it’s aiming to generate £100,000.
“There are about 20,000 older people defined as living below the poverty line in this area,” said Tracey Betts, chief executive of the EECF.
“The appeal first came about through listening to the people and organisations we work with.
“The 2,000 bags we distribute will all be going to people identified by the charities we work with, so we know they’ll be going to those in need.
“The contents of the bag alone cost about £30 and we tailor what’s inside depending on a person’s situation.
“For example, bags for residents in care homes don’t need so much food in them, but instead have things to help keep people occupied.
“They also contain essentials like blankets, hot water bottles and cupboard staples for those living independently – tea, soup, biscuits, chocolate and Christmas pudding.
“Some of the people we deliver to don’t see anyone from week to week – no family or carers. It’s also an opportunity for a conversation and perhaps a cup of tea.
“The appeal is part of the work we do to tackle pensioner poverty in east London.”
fighting poverty across three boroughs
Isolation, fear and, to some extent, pride, are all challenges the EECF works to overcome in its efforts to improve the lives of older people locally.
With the three boroughs it operates in suffering some of the highest levels of income deprivation for the elderly in the country, the charity also uses its appeal as a point of contact to introduce them to local services and help them claim any benefits they’re entitled to.
“Some are frightened things will be taken away from them as there are a lot of personal questions during an application,” said Tracey.
“Others don’t want to admit they need it, you have to tackle that element of pride.
“But this is money people are entitled to and, with pension credit, once you’ve been approved it’s there for life unless there’s a really major change to your circumstances.”
Tracey is appealing to businesses and individuals to support this year’s appeal and is well placed to speak on these matters.
Having grown up on the Isle Of Dogs and attended George Green’s School, she’s spent pretty much her whole career fighting poverty locally.
After working for the London Docklands Development Corporation, notably in the application of its grants programme, she became the director of the Isle Of Dogs Community Foundation in 1998, which became the EECF in 2012.
The charity distributes cash via grants from its own endowment fund and donations it receives to support local organisations.
It also advises corporations, helping them manage their own philanthropy effectively and efficiently.
Its comprehensive knowledge of the area, and the charities operating within it, means it has a granular level of expertise and a real appreciation of the size of the challenges faced by residents.
working to give people chances in life
“One of the issues we face increasingly here are the working poor – people who have two or even three jobs but are still under pressure to make ends meet,” said Tracey.
“Some are struggling to feed their children.
“We do a lot of work with schools to identify families and offer holistic packages to help address their issues.
“Right now it does seem as though times are getting tougher, but there are things we can do. Our Digital Inclusion project has been transformational.
“That’s all about getting kids connected so they have the technology and the ability to access the internet and do homework.
“But their families also use the facilities for job searches and to help with their mental health. The impact is much wider.”
Tracey is calling on businesses and organisations to work with the EECF to maximise that impact.
“Our remit is to tackle poverty,” she said. “What we say to corporates is that we know they have the money and we can help get it to the right place to make a difference.
“Companies can have as much or as little control as they like and can be fully engaged or anonymous and we’ll do all the evaluation and monitoring for grants made or projects undertaken.
“We can also match funding for certain projects.
“We’ve been doing this for 35 years – it’s not easy, but organisations can trust us to make the biggest impact possible.
“Through our Life Chances campaign we work with businesses to invest in young people in east London and to support older people too by funding charities that do good work over multiple years.
“With us working collectively in this way to sustain these organisations, they’re able to focus on the brilliant work they do.”
key details: East End Community Foundation’s Winter Appeal
The East End Community Foundation’s Winter Appeal is now accepting donations.
You can find out more about it and other ways to contribute to the charity’s work on its website here.
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