A COUPLE of Braintree charities have received a welcome boost after being awarded thousands of pounds in funding.

Both the Braintree District Mencap Society and Braintree Youth Project Charity are now benefitting from grants handed out by the Essex Fund, an independent trust which supports voluntary charities set up to benefit the community.

The two groups were selected along with a further 18 charities in the county, and were presented with their share of the £93,237 grant money during a special ceremony at Chelmsford City Racecourse.

Braintree Mencap’s chief executive officer Yvette Wetton said:"We are so excited at Braintree Mencap to have been awarded £4,000 from the Essex Fund.

"This is going to make a really big impression on the way we delivery our services at Charles Leeks House and will make an enormous impact on the ways that we are able to support people with a learning disability and their families."

Nigel Warner, chairman of the Braintree Youth Project which recieved a £5,000 grant, added: "Every penny we receive enables us to support more young people in Braintree, to help them make the most of their opportunities and grow as people.

"Without it, they might be otherwise unable to find support and encouragement. Our hard-working volunteers, and the staff who support them, are deeply thankful for this grant, as are the many young people we serve.”