The Essex And Southend Sports Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~£185,000 - £250,000 (10-13 grants per year)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not specified
• Grant Range: Up to £2,000 (small grants) to £40,000+ (major grants)
• Geographic Focus: Essex, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock, and London Boroughs of Havering, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Newham, and Waltham Forest

Contact Details

• Website: www.easst.org.uk
• Email: mail@easst.org.uk
• Phone: 01245 360385
• Direct Contact for Applications: Joe Sims - 01245 243824 or jwh_sims@hotmail.co.uk
• Cricket Small Grants: Graham Jelley, Essex Cricket

Overview

The Essex and Southend Sports Trust (EASST) was established by Trust Deed dated 13 March 2002 (as amended by Scheme dated 25 July 2017). The Trust provides charitable grants in support of sport, particularly football, cricket, and tennis, within Essex and specified East London boroughs.

Between 2002 and 2020, EASST distributed 224 grants totalling approximately £1.74 million. The Trust has grown substantially, with permanent endowment funds increasing from approximately £1 million in 2003 to nearly £5.4 million by 2020. Annual income (year ending June 2024) was £295,818 with expenditure of £249,963.

EASST operates several grant-making partnerships, including a joint venture with Essex Community Foundation (the Essex and Southend Sports Charitable Fund) established in 2014, and a cricket small grants scheme with Essex Cricket in the Community launched in 2018. The cricket ground at Garon Park was renamed “The Peter Butler Oval” in 2022 in honour of the Trust's late Chairman, Peter Butler (1949-2021), who led the organisation for many years.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Direct EASST Grants

• Major grants for sports organisations: £10,000 - £40,000+
• Applications particularly welcome from sports clubs and organisations involved with sport
• Contact Joe Sims directly for applications

Cricket Small Grants Scheme (with Essex Cricket)

• Grants up to £2,000 for cricket organisations in Essex
• Total annual fund: £25,000
• Maximum 50% of project costs
• Available year-round via Essex Cricket

Essex and Southend Sports Charitable Fund (ESSCF) - with Essex Community Foundation

• Primarily supports individuals who could not otherwise realise their sporting potential
• Applications through Essex Community Foundation website
• ECF performs due diligence and seeks matching funding from other Essex sources
• Does not cover London borough applicants

Priority Areas

• Football: Community football programmes, particularly youth-focused initiatives (e.g., Premier League Kicks)
• Cricket: Club development, facilities, coaching, schools programmes
• Tennis: Facility development and access
• Sports facilities: Equipment, clothing, coaching for disadvantaged populations
• Youth sport: Educational initiatives using sport for young people under 25
• Disability sport: PAN disability programmes
• Women's and girls' sport: Female-specific sports sessions

What They Don't Fund

• Projects where grant would exceed 50% of total project costs
• Projects and individuals not based in Essex or qualifying East London boroughs
• Activities outside England and Wales charity law
• London borough applicants (for ESSCF fund only)

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Governance and Leadership

Current Trustees

• Linley Marion Butler - Appointed 1 October 2002
• Joseph William Henry Sims - Trustee (contact for grant applications)
• Rachel Louise Pearse - Appointed 27 January 2020
• Simon Hampton Butler - Appointed 22 January 2022

No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity.

Former Leadership

The Trust was led for many years by Peter Butler (1949-2021) as Chairman. An Essex County Cricket Club tribute stated: “He was an extremely kind and generous man who was not only a lifelong supporter of Essex County Cricket Club, but of cricket and sport in general. His passion was evident for everyone to see in his ongoing charity work as Chairman of Essex and Southend Sports Trust, which supported and funded sports initiatives and projects in the region.”

Peter Butler noted during his tenure: “EASST has contributed over £750,000 to grass roots cricket in Essex over the last 14 years by way of grants to 20 different cricket clubs and seven schools and other organisations.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Direct EASST Applications:

• Contact Joe Sims by phone (01245 243824) or email (jwh_sims@hotmail.co.uk)
• Trustees consider direct applications, particularly from sports clubs and organisations involved with sport
• Suitable candidates may be referred to the ECF's ESSCF fund

Cricket Small Grants (up to £2,000):

• Contact Graham Jelley at Essex Cricket
• Applications processed through Essex Cricket and signed off by EASST
• Grants cover maximum 50% of project/purchase costs

Individual Athletes (via ESSCF):

• Apply through Essex Community Foundation website
• Use their short online application form
• Contact: 01245 355947 or grants@essexcf.org.uk

Decision Timeline

• Not publicly specified
• Trustees meet to review and approve grants

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. In 2019/20, 10 grants were approved totalling £184,825.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified.

Application Success Factors

Based on EASST's documented priorities and funded projects:

• Geographic eligibility is strict: Projects must be based in Essex (including Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock) or the specified London boroughs (Havering, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham, Newham, Waltham Forest)

• Match funding is essential: EASST grants cannot exceed 50% of project costs. Demonstrate secured or committed funding from other sources

• Align with core sports: Football, cricket, and tennis are explicit priorities. Projects in these sports have strong track records of support

• Youth and community focus: Long-term partnerships like the 20+ year relationship with Southend United CET demonstrate commitment to youth development and community sport

• Demonstrate impact: Successful grantees like SUCET highlight specific outcomes such as “providing sporting access for children and young people within South East Essex”

• Consider partnership grants: Joint ventures with Essex Community Foundation and Essex Cricket offer additional pathways for appropriate projects

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Contact Joe Sims directly to discuss your project before formal application - the Trust welcomes direct approaches from sports organisations

1. Secure at least 50% match funding first - this is a firm requirement, not a preference

1. Check geographic eligibility carefully - the Trust operates only within defined Essex and East London boundaries

1. Cricket organisations should use the small grants scheme through Essex Cricket for projects up to £2,000

1. Individual athletes should apply via Essex Community Foundation's ESSCF fund rather than directly to EASST

1. Long-term relationships are valued - EASST has supported organisations like Southend United CET annually since 2003, suggesting they value ongoing partnerships

1. Emphasise grass-roots impact - the late Chairman's pride in supporting “grass roots cricket” across 20 clubs and seven schools indicates this is a key priority

References

• EASST Official Website -
• EASST Grants Page -
• EASST Accounts Page -
• Charity Commission Register - Charity 1092238 -
• Charity Commission Trustees Page -
• SUFC Community & Educational Trust - EASST continues funding - February 2021
• Essex Cricket - EASST launch small grant scheme - February 2018
• Essex-TV - The Essex & Southend Sports Trust support Southend FC initiative - December 2016
• Southend United - EASST pledge to match funding - June 2021
• Essex Cricket - Garon Park renamed The Peter Butler Oval - June 2022
• Essex Community Foundation - Apply for Support -