AN award-winning community initiative established by Essex Freemasons is celebrating five remarkable years of charitable activity across Thurrock and the surrounding areas, having generated more than £60,000 in fundraising income.

The Cross Keys Community Fund (CKCF) marked the milestone with its fifth annual Charity Ball on Saturday, 17 October, bringing supporters, friends and members of the local community together at Ye Olde Plough House in Bulphan.

The sell-out celebration was filled with laughter, friendship and entertainment, with guests enjoying the festivities well into the night and helping raise over £3,000 towards the Fund's ongoing charitable activities.

Established in 2022 at Cross Keys Masonic Centre in Chadwell St Mary, the Fund brings together local Freemasons, their families, friends and supporters in a shared commitment to charitable giving and community support.

Over the past five years, the Fund has supported more than 150 local schools, hospitals, care homes, charities and community groups, placing particular emphasis on smaller, often volunteer-led organisations whose invaluable work can sometimes go unnoticed.

From helping disadvantaged children and vulnerable adults to tackling loneliness and supporting families facing difficult circumstances, its contributions have made a meaningful difference across the local community.

David Barton, Chairman of the Cross Keys Community Fund and Provincial Community Engagement Lead for Essex Freemasons, said: "When we established the Fund five years ago, our ambition was simply to bring people together and make a positive difference in our local communities.

"To see what we've achieved is something we're all immensely proud of, but behind the figures are real people and organisations whose lives and circumstances we've helped improve.

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"I'm enormously grateful to our dedicated committee and everyone who has contributed to our success. Our fifth Charity Ball was a wonderful celebration, but there is still so much more we can do, and I'm excited about what lies ahead."

Looking ahead, the Cross Keys Community Fund remains committed to supporting local organisations, strengthening community relationships and helping those who need it most.