LOCAL volunteers will continue to be supported by Basildon Council, which has agreed to continue providing a yearly £20,000 grant to Basildon, Billericay and Wickford Council for Voluntary Service (BBWCVS).

BBWCVS is a registered charity formed in 1979 and exists to promote, develop, support and represent a thriving voluntary and community sector across the borough, providing a range of services to meet the needs of and strengthen the sector.

The decision to award the grant funding to the local charity based in the George Hurd Centre was agreed by councillors at a meeting of the housing and communities committee.

Committee chairman Cllr Kerry Smith, said: "The council has awarded funding to BBWCVS for many years, which contributes towards the provision of advisory services for community and voluntary sector groups and organisations across the borough.

"The charity supports the development of new and existing organisations, which helps strengthen the sector, enabling groups and organisations to develop and be more sustainable in the longer term.

"This year the pandemic has meant they've had to adapt; and the charity was brilliant in assisting with the development of the Community Hub, which was the first set up in Essex and has provided vital support to our vulnerable residents ever since.

"The needs of the voluntary and community sector will continue to change as we move through and out of the pandemic, so I'm glad that we've been able to agree to this yearly £20,000 grant to show our support for this brilliant organisation as they continue adapting to support the sector as best they can."