Despite the many challenges Covid-19 has presented to their widespread support network, the last twelve months have seen a tremendous increase in demand for the services provided by regional charity Access Community Trust, including mental health and wellbeing care, supported housing and its expanding essential food provision service PINK Orange.

With lockdown restrictions slowly beginning to ease, the Trust is now looking to the future, after receiving a world-renowned employer award. The prestigious ‘World Class – Triple Star’ accolade for workplace engagement was provided by Best Companies.

Over the last year, the charity has increased its workforce to a team of over 160 individuals that continue to deliver services to those most vulnerable in our communities.

Judged against an all-encompassing 8-factor model, the triple star achievement marks the highest possible standard of workplace engagement, representing organisations that truly excel. With this award, the Lowestoft born charity has achieved a higher rating than many multinational giants and stands out as a Top100 organisation to work for in the UK including a Top30 charity.

Emma Ratzer MBE, CEO of Access Community Trust explains what this award means to the charity and it’s team going forward,

“This recognition is remarkable. Our team has been challenged continually over the past year, taking pride in their work, while adapting to the many obstacles thrown their way. It is a testament to how brilliant they all are. I think it is important to see that we are not just excelling in the support services we offer to our clients, but we are championing our internal company culture, support and engagement amongst our valued workforce.

 As a charity, we operate to support communities socially isolated in a variety of ways, and this mindfully enables our team to support each other, whenever needed. It’s that culture of kindness and understanding that I believe more organisations should be embracing, especially in times as uncertain as now”.

Following the announcement Jonathan Austin, Founder and CEO of Best Companies remarked,

“Access Community Trust should be very proud of their achievement, demonstrating ‘world class’ levels of engagement. This accreditation is recognition of all they have done to be a best company to work for, and always putting their people first.”

The trust has recently completed its Easter holidays campaign, which saw over 21,000 children and their households supported across Norfolk and Suffolk, through it’s ‘PINK orange’ meal kits project, by providing nearing 200 tonnes of ingredients to assist with the cooking of around 500,000 wholesome meals.

Later this month, the organisation will further enhance its wellbeing offering, by adapting two vacant high street shops in Gorleston and Kings Lynn and transforming them into walk in mental health cafes, which will offer crisis support to anyone locally that needs assistance. Called STEAM House, the welcoming cafés will open 7 days a week, until late into the evening.

After a busy Summer and Autumn school holiday service that saw the delivery of thousands of essential food kits to struggling families across Suffolk, regional charity Access Community Trust is finalising plans to run the service once again this Winter.

Demand for the charity’s PINK Orange service has increased intensely since its launch. With many more families seeking essential food assistance as the pandemic continues, the organisation made the decision to relocate its distribution hub to larger premises in Lowestoft this Winter. The new warehouse covers 4000sq feet, allowing for greater palletised storage and a larger workspace for increasing number of volunteer packers and drivers to remain safely socially distanced.

The importance of the service has not gone unnoticed with major supermarkets Morrisons and CO-OP providing an array of ingredients from customer donations and their own stock holding. This week regional brewer Adnams, who itself has been affected by the hospitality industry restrictions, pledged its support to the project by providing one of its fleet of lorries to help collect and deliver over 9 tonnes of ingredients from national food waste charity Fareshare.

Confirming the decision, Adnams International Development Manager Bradley Adnams said,

“The pandemic has created many challenges for families, businesses and communities. Adnams Community Trust programme continues to support many worthy causes across Suffolk. PINK Orange is a unique service in our heartland, which is addressing a continuing national crisis and we, as a responsible community-focused brewer are proud to help where we can.”

Community support continues to develop as Suffolk’s agricultural community including Alder Carr farm donate hundreds of sacks of wonky locally grown vegetables and fruit for the kits.

Access Community Trust’s CEO Emma Ratzer MBE commented,

“Over the winter and festive period PINK Orange will deliver meal kits to over 18,000 households containing approx 40,000 children throughout Suffolk and Norfolk. This service is only possible due to a mix of funding from Suffolk and Norfolk Community foundations and ongoing donations from the public and businesses alike. We hope that with continuing community backing PINK Orange will ensure to support struggling families far into the New Year and beyond with essential food provision in our region.”

For more information on supporting the project visit www.pinkorange.co.uk

Town’s Rotary clubs unite to help homeless

The Rotary Clubs of Lowestoft, South and East Point have pooled resources to help those in greatest need throughout Lowestoft and surrounding areas, with a donation to homelessness charity, Access Community Trust. A cheque for over £1200 was presented to Emma Ratzer MBE, CEO of Access, to help with continuing support for the town’s most vulnerable individuals.

Rotary have numerous fund raising initiatives throughout the year, these include the iconic Santa’s sleigh, variety concerts and a sporting dinner. Funds are then donated to charitable causes, both at home and internationally.

President John Denby of Lowestoft’s South Club commented:

“In the coming weeks many will find themselves struggling due to Coronavirus and whilst the Government has stepped in to help many financially, sadly the plight of the homeless remains in question.

We are providing this money to Access to ensure they can continue to support those at greatest risk, both physically and mentally in these unprecedented times with the care they need.”

Access Community Trust currently operates nine specialist housing projects throughout Suffolk and Norfolk, alongside providing an emergency eight person homeless hub in central Lowestoft, for some of the most vulnerable individuals in our community.

Receiving the cheque, the Trust’s CEO thanked the clubs remarking,

“There has been no greater time that charities like Access need as much financial support as possible. We currently have over 200 individuals and families in our care. They are now finding themselves even more vulnerable and detached from society as the country locks down. It’s a big challenge for us, but we stand strong and committed to providing even greater support to these people thanks to the generosity of the Rotary Clubs and others that continue to provide donations to us”.

Regional Charity ranked 34th on Sunday Times Top 100 not for profit organisations debut

Marking their 45th Anniversary throughout 2020, Anglia based charity Access Community Trust has just received another reason to celebrate after being acknowledged for the 1st time as one of the Top 100 Best Employers to work for by The Sunday Times and Best Companies.

Employees of the Access team attended the annual event in London, where over 2000 people gathered to hear the results. With only two regional organisations making the list, Access Community Trust debuted into the list in 34th position.

Judged against an 8-factor model, the allocade reviewed how the charity embraces and engaged with its workplace team and empowers them to reach their full potential whilst ensuring a pleasant and rewarding place to work.

The Trust, established in 1975, continues to work tirelessly with local communities throughout Suffolk and Norfolk to combat homelessness and social exclusion whilst promoting positive wellbeing and employment through its range of social enterprises.

Emma Ratzer MBE, CEO of Access Community Trust, speaking at the event commented,

“As an organisation that helps so many in need within our region, it is imperative to have a strong, resilient and dedicated workforce, which delivers Access’s values to the best of their abilities. It is my belief that to ensure we deliver the best service to our clients, who we support daily, we continue to empower and develop our staff members to be the best that they can be.

To debut in The Sunday Times top 100 list at position 34 is humbling and I am so proud to be part of and lead a strong, growing and dedicated family of employees, that truly do care about each other and the charity’s aims. They strive to go that extra mile in what can sometimes be trying situations. This award is about and dedicated to them!”

To celebrate this accolade, the charity will be taking part in #BestCompaniesDay on Friday 28th February, where it invites customers of its social enterprise brand of coffee shops SAMS to help celebrate with a freshly brewed coffee for just £1, alongside providing colourful and healthy celebration fruit hampers to many of its projects for staff and clients to enjoy.

(Left to Right) Nick Rodrigues, Editor of The Sunday Times Best Companies Supplement, Access CEO Emma Ratzer MBE with team member Lisa McDowell

To view the full list of winners click here