Essex fire service raise over £4k for charity from festive events

The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service launched their Christmas Mission Gift Appeal, raising £4,263 in two months.

This was due to the generosity and hard work of staff, cadets and supporters who took part in car washes, Christmas grottos, bake sales, quizzes and other fundraising events.

Charitable - Waltham Abbey Fire Station firefighters at their charity car wash (Image: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service)

A total of £1,806.50 of the funds will go to the North Essex Support Team (NEST) which supports families in need at Christmas in Tendring.

A further £1,806.50 was donated to SAVS (Southend’s Council for Voluntary Services) supporting charities which work with children with cancer, children with special educational needs, and children from ethnic minority communities in Southend

A total of £450 – raised in Epping – was given to the Epping Forest District Council’s Christmas Giving Campaign.

Epping - Funds raised in Epping were given to the Epping area (Image: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service)

The fundraising effort was supported by teams from Colchester Red Watch, Chelmsford Red Watch, Rayleigh White Watch, Basildon Green Watch, Epping Fire Station, Waltham Abbey Fire Station, and Ongar Fire Station.

Cadet units at Orsett, Clacton and Baddow helped alongside Kelvedon Park cadet instructors with Kay Shelley and Jade Robinson in the fire services learning and development providing cakes for events.

Cadets - Cadet units across the county helped with the fundraising (Image: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service)

Scott Ford, group manager, said: “I want to thank all our firefighters, staff, cadets and supporters for their incredible efforts.

“The difference this money will make this Christmas is tremendous, and it shows what we can achieve together as Essex Fire.”