About Us
What was Heart of Pitsea?
Heart of Pitsea was a local community project, dedicated to everyone who lives, works or is educated within the defined Heart of Pitsea Boundary.
The project was run by a partnership of volunteers, all residents within this area. Their local knowledge, combined with their enthusiasm, ambitions and skills came together to create a dynamic team passionate about Pitsea. And the best bit? It was down to them how Heart of Pitsea spent its funding.
Heart of Pitsea was granted funding through the National Lottery Community Fund which was managed by an organisation called Local Trust under a scheme called ‘Big Local’ with 150 projects dotted around England.
The great thing about being a Big Local meant that Heart of Pitsea wasn’t told what to do by the local authority, the government or any national body! But it did receive support from a number local of organisations including Basildon Council, Essex Youth Services and the Basildon, Billericay and Wickford Council for Voluntary Service.
“We have a vision and our vision is for an engaged community
that creates opportunities for everyone and feels good about itself”
What did we do?
We ran weekly projects, which were all free to anyone who lives, works or is educated within the defined Heart of Pitsea boundaries. These included youth clubs for youngsters aged from 5-19 years of age, a Tuesday ‘Walk and Talk’ group and a fortnightly Pitsea Pots gardening volunteer group (on alternate Thursdays in the Market area).
An amazing group of young people took part in our Youth Forum and they decided how to spend their own budget, which funded activities for young people, including regular, free activity sessions for children at Pitsea Library.
Throughout the year we also hosted quiz nights, seasonal holiday fun days and our annual community Christmas event, all in and around Pitsea.
Heart of Pitsea was supported through Big Local and administered by Local Trust for the National Lottery Community Fund
