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4th August 2025
Posted by Aston Avery
A special year of celebration has been launched by the county’s leading independent charitable trust, Essex Community Foundation (ECF) to mark its 30 th anniversary.
The Foundation is also celebrating a milestone in its grant-giving, having awarded £60 million worth of funding to good causes in Essex, as well as a new strategy which includes raising a further £30 million, and being a strong voice for the voluntary sector.
Nick Alston CBE DL, who has chaired ECF for nearly seven years, paid tribute to the generosity of Essex people when he welcomed the start of the Foundation’s anniversary year, at a special event held at Braxted Park.
He said:
“It’s remarkable to think it was 30 years ago that our visionary founders, Ian and Angela Marks, began rallying people to help bring to life what was, at the time, an ambitious new idea, the creation of Essex Community Foundation.
“That’s three decades of families creating legacies, of businesses stepping up, of communities placing their trust in the Foundation. Trustees, past and present, have asked big questions, listened to those closest to the issues and responded with care. Our supporters are the people who give and help us build a fairer, kinder, more connected county.
“If the last period has been about building momentum, the next will be about bold expansion. I am excited to launch this year-long anniversary celebration for ECF. Our 30th anniversary won’t just be retrospective. Looking to the future we will continue doing what we do best: connecting people who want to give, with communities who have ideas, passion, and urgent needs. Our theme is simple, 30 Years of Generosity.
“ECF’s 2030 Strategy is, rightly, ambitious and reflects a new strand of work. This is to be a strong, bold voice for the voluntary sector, which absolutely needs a seat at the table to help decide policies which affect the community. We are determined to use our influence to promote the vital role of civil society. This does not detract from our core purpose, which remains unchanged, inspiring philanthropic giving and supporting grassroots charities.”
Nick will be retiring as Chair of ECF in November. He continued:
“It has been a great honour to serve the Foundation, to work alongside such passionate trustees, talented staff, inspiring partners and committed supporters. I am an Essex boy through and through and I am looking forward to spending more free time in the county I love, with more walking and sailing. I am also looking forward to continuing involvement as a fundholder and to being an ambassador for ECF and spreading the word about its work.”
Nick said he is proud that ECF now manages more than 200 funds and has so far given grants totalling £60 million to voluntary and community groups in Essex. When he steps down as Chair in November, he will hand over the role to a fellow trustee, Atul Manek, who joined the Foundation in 2022, saying: “He is a man of vision, integrity and deep social purpose. His generosity, through his own family fund and his leadership as an ECF trustee, has helped shape where we are today. I know he will guide the Foundation with purpose and care and, with great rigour, will make sure that we have everything in place to take ECF forward.”
Paying tribute to Nick Alston’s work, Jenny Tolhurst, Lord Lieutenant of Essex and Patron of Essex Community Foundation said:
“As chair of ECF’s trustees Nick has left a lasting and deeply positive legacy, both for the Foundation and for the wider community it serves.
“His passion for Essex, generosity of spirit and unwavering commitment have shaped the Foundation’s development and enabled it to respond with strength and agility during times of real challenge.”
If you would like to make a donation, support local charities or leave a legacy, contact Perry Norton on 01245 355947 or email [email protected]. For more information visit essexcommunityfoundation.org.uk
