Esh Charitable Trust, worth at least £1 million, was set up in 2005 as a result of a long-held dream of the shareholders of Esh Group, many of whom are employees who have received shares through our Employee Share Ownership Scheme.
Cash support, which Esh Group has always provided to the local community, was expanded and formalised by the establishment of a Charitable Trust. The shareholders agreed to donate £1million to this new charity over a five year period. This sum represents nearly 2% of annual profits and as such is a sincere and substantial commitment.
The aim is to support the causes in the North of England that have always been dear to the heart of the original founders of the Group – young people, lifelong learning, the environment and the local community. The Trust is managed by an independent Board of Trustees together with the County Durham Community Foundation.
For further information please go to the Esh Charitable Trust Website.
Durham County Cricket Club Foundation
Earlier in 2010, Durham County Cricket Club launched the Durham County Cricket Foundation, worth £500,000, with Esh Charitable Trust as their main community partner. The Foundation aims to provide inspiration, motivation and to raise self-esteem in the local community, based upon five activity pillars of Health, Education, Social Cohesion, Grassroots Sport and Club Development.
Thanks to the support from the Esh Charitable Trust, Durham County Cricket Foundation’s education programme aims to have contact with many more people in the region – working with 300 schools and deliver over 1,200 hours of education activity.
To read more about the Foundation click here
Grow with Esh
Now in its fifth year, Grow with Esh has been reaccreditted with a Big Tick at Business in the Community’s 2011 Awards. Since its launch Grow with Esh has enabled 100 schools and thousands of children across the region to run some amazing gardening projects. Grow with Esh is supported this year by a local entrepreneur and his company – ‘Raise a Tree’, as well as Northumbrian Water Ltd.
The scheme aims to help young people across the region to develop horticultural projects in or near their school grounds. Working as a competition the scheme not only enhances learning opportunities but provides pupils with hands-on experiences that they may not have previously had.
2010 winners
1st Place – Cleves Cross Primary School ‘Sow It, Grow It, Cook It, Eat It’ Project
2nd Place – Hemlington Hall Primary School ‘The Edible Garden’
3rd Place – Captain Cook Primary School ‘The Gardening Challenge’
To read more about Grow with Esh click here.
