A SERIES of charities in Mid Essex have been given a major cash boost thanks to a healthcare provider.

Provide has coughed up £45,000 as part of its charity foundation, which is managed by Essex Community Foundation.

Contact the Elderly has been handed £4,916 to survey the over-75s in Braintree and Chelmsford on their use of technology.

The scheme will aim to encourage participants to go online and connect with friends and family.

Crossroads Braintree and Chelmsford have meanwhile been handed £5,000 to continue an early intervention scheme for carers throughout mid-Essex.

The cash will be used to give them better access to support.

Notley-based charity PARC was given £3,312 to run a six-week course teaching young people with additional needs or disabilities how to take care of themselves, including hygiene and personal health care.

Representatives from the charities were invited to collect their cheques during a special tea party at Provide’s main offices in Colchester.

Chairman Derrick Lewis said: “At Provide, we recognise that supporting local charities is a very important part of our work and helps to underpin the social and care services that we offer.

“Our partnership with Essex Community Foundation means that we can effectively invest funds into voluntary organisations whose work complements our own.

“Bringing the voluntary groups together with our team was a great opportunity to speak with them in more detail about their work and to thank them for all that they do.”

A total of nine charities received grants from Provide, including Essex Dementia Care and St Clare Hospice.