CVST Annual General Meeting

Dignatories, volunteers, partners and staff attended the annual general meeting of Community Voluntary Services Tendring (CVST) on Wednesday, September 7.

Invited guests were treated to light refreshments while meeting old and new colleagues before the business meeting began at Tendring Education Centre’s atrium in Jaywick Lane, Clacton on Sea.

The evening included a short film about CVST and its achievements in the last financial year, the re-election of trustees Brenda Ellis and Bob Newman, and the election of a new trustee, Thea Roper. The accounts were presented and a financial report was given.

There were speeches from the Deputy Lieutenant of Essex Mrs Bonnie Hill, Tendring District Council Chairman, Cllr Peter Harris, Superintendent Shaun Kane from Essex Police, CVST chair Brenda Ellis BEM, and chief officer Sharon Alexander.

Sharon Alexander, said: “The evening was a great success.

“Sincere thanks to all the staff for everything you do from cooking to administration, finance to community development, from facilities to grant giving, supporting volunteers to social prescribing and more and to our amazing volunteers who contribute to the wellbeing of our community in so many ways.

“All of this collectively, as we have experienced, really does help to save lives.

“The past few years have seen unprecedented challenges across the voluntary sector and to CVST but we stepped up and went further than ever before to provide vital services and support to people living in this community and support was also given to fellow voluntary organisations and charities in Tendring.

“We look forward to the future, to continuing to put the community at the heart of everything we do and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CVST in 2023”

Brenda Ellis, CVST chairman, said: “I am so proud of CVST and so thankful to be part of the team and this extraordinary organisation.

“This past year has been desperate and challenging, but it has been like that for everyone in the community, not just CVST.

“Unfortunately, the coming year is going to be more so.

“As the Chair of CVST I would like to say thank you, to my staff, who are absolutely amazing, no matter what we the trustees, have thrown at them, no matter what we have said, can you do, will you do, because the community needs you, every staff member has risen to that challenge.

“It might not have been the job they were employed to do but they have been willing and happy to go above and beyond what their job descriptions says.”

Brenda shared her heartfelt thanks to all staff and volunteers on behalf of the Board of Trustees.