Mental health charity receives £5,000 grant

A mental health charity in Harlow has received a welcome boost thanks to a £5,000 grant from Stansted Airport Community Fund (SACF). 

The Butterfly Effect Well-Being submitted a successful application to the Fund which supports local charities and community groups.

At its site at the Latton Bush Centre, the charity will use the money to create a new outdoor patio and storage area. 

The former caretaker's cottage was donated to the charity by Harlow Council and recently underwent a major renovation as part of BBC DIY SOS.

Angela Hannibal founded the charity in memory of her late mother who passed away in 2020. The centre offers classes, groups, and a safe place for those suffering from mental illness.

Angela said: 

“We are so grateful for the funding received from SACF as this will help us with our new storage area and patio for the garden room. It will help us with storing clothes and food for our food and clothes pantry. To help even more families and those that are struggling in these hard times.”

A cheque was presented recently to the charity by the SACF chair, Daniel Burford, along with special guests Robert Halfon MP, Harlow councillor, David Carter, Anita Harrison, London Stansted’s Customers Services Director.

Rt. Hon. Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow said: 

“I was delighted to visit Angie at the new site for the Butterfly Wellbeing Effect. Having supported Angie to secure the site in the first instance, it was great to see the work that has been done and to celebrate with her and the team, their success in receiving the £5,000 grant from the SACF. This fund offers grants to local charities, and I can think of no-one more deserving than Angie who has put so much hard work into setting up the Butterfly Wellbeing Effect to help Harlow residents who may be struggling with their mental health. I am also grateful to the work of Harlow Councillor, David Carter, who has worked with Angie and the Council to help further, meaning that the site will be rent-free for the next two years. I have no doubt that the work and support Angie is providing will continue to help many of our town’s residents in the years to come.”

Anita Harrison, London Stansted’s Customers Services Director, said: 

“I had the pleasure of visiting Butterfly Effect to see this grant being handed over to this amazing organisation that supports the community through its many programs. Giving back to the local community and making a lasting difference to those who are most impacted by airport operations are vital components of being a good neighbour. One of the ways we do this is through the SACF, which awards grants to charitable organisations and community groups in the local area.”

Daniel Burford, chair of the SACF, said: 

“On behalf of the Stansted Airport Community Fund, it was a pleasure to visit Butterfly Effect Well-Being, a charity based in Harlow that focuses on improving the quality of life for people suffering from mental illness, and award them a grant of £5,000, which will support the further development of their facilities."

The SACF offers grants of up to £5,000 to projects aimed at improving community life, the environment and conservation within a 10-mile radius of the airport. 

Founded in 2005, it’s part of a section 106 planning requirement and has donated over £1 million pounds to hundreds of organisations. 

Following the airport's successful planning application to serve up to 43 million passengers a year, it was relaunched in January 2023 to reinforce its ties and provide further support to the local community. 

Over the next decade, the airport will contribute £1.5 million to the fund, which will be topped up from fines levied against airlines who violate noise regulations. 

Since its relaunch, the SACF has donated £230,000 to local good causes. For more information about SACF visit https://www.stanstedairport.com/community/community-support/community-funds/ or email community@stanstedairport.com